Thomas Jefferson Papers
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To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 11 February 1783

From James Madison

Philada. Feby. 11th. 1783.

Dear Sir

Your favor of the 31 of Jany. was safely brought me by Mr. Thomson. That of the 7. instant came by yesterdays mail. The anecdote related in the first was new to me; and if there were no other key, would sufficiently decypher the implacability of the party triumphed over. In answer to the second I can only say at this time that I feel deeply for your situation: that I approve of the choice you have made among its difficulties, and that every aid which can depend on me shall be executed to relieve you from them. Before I can take any step with propriety however it will be expedient to feel the sentiments of Congress, and to advise with some of my friends. The first point may possibly be brought about by your letter to the Secy. of F. A. which I suppose came too late yesterday to be laid before Congress, but which will no doubt be handed in this morning.

The time of Congress since you left us has been almost exclusively spent on projects for a valuation of the land, as the federal articles require; and yet I do not find that we have got an inch forward towards the object. The mode of referring the task to the States which had at first the warmest and most numerous support seems to be in a manner abandoned; and nothing determinate is yet offered on the mode of effecting it without their intervention. The greatest misfortune perhaps attending the case, is that a plan of some kind is made an indispensable preliminary to any other essay for the public relief. I much question whether a sufficient number of States will be found in favor of any plan that can be devised, as I am sure that in the present temper of Congress a sufficient number cannot who will agree to tell their Constituents that the law of the Confederation cannot be executed, and to propose an amendment of it. Congress yesterday received1 from Mr. Adams several letters dated September not remarkable for any thing unless it be a display2 of his vanity, his prejudice against the French Court and his venom against Doctr. Franklin. Other preparations for the post do not allow me to use more cypher at present.

I have a letter from Randolph dated Feby. 1. confirming the death of his aunt. You are acquainted no doubt with the course the estate is to take. He seems disposed in case he can make a tolerable compromise with his Father’s creditors to resign his appointment under the State and go into the Legislature. His zeal for some continental arrangement as essential for the public honor and safety forms at least one of his motives, and I have added all the fuel to it in my power.

My neglect to write to you heretofore has proceeded from a hope that a letter would not find you at Baltimore; and no subject has occurred for one of sufficient importance to follow you. You shall hence forward hear from me as often as an occasion presents, until your departure forbids it. The Ladies and Gentlemen to whom I comunicated your respects, return them with equal sincerity and the former as well as myself very affectionately include Miss Patsy in the object of them.

I am Dr. Sir Yr. Sincere friend,

J. Madison Jr.

RC (DLC: Madison Papers). Dft (Madison Papers); endorsed. Coded passages appear in both.

The letters Received from Mr. Adams, as acknowledged by Livingston on 13 Feb. 1783, were those “of the 6th, the 7th, the 17th, the 19th, and the 23d of September” (Wharton, Dipl. Corr. Am. Rev. description begins The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, ed. Francis Wharton description ends , vi, 250; however, letters of Adams of the dates 6, 7, 17 [bis], and 23 are printed in same, v, 703–709, 733–4, 735–8, and 750–2, indicating that one of Adams’ letters of the 17th was erroneously dated and should have been the 19th). Livingston did not agree with Madison’s estimate. In his letter of acknowledgment to Adams he said: “They contain important and useful information; and that particular of the 6th is replete with matter which deserves an attention that I lament not having it in my power to give it at this moment, as the express by which this goes to Baltimore is on the wing” (same, vi, 250).

1This and subsequent words in italics were in code and were decoded interlineally by Madison in both RC and Dft (though less completely in latter), employing Code No. 1.

2Madison first wrote “full” before “display” and then struck out the first word. This deletion appears in both RC and Dft. Then, or at a later time, he interlined “fresh” in Dft, making the passage read “a fresh display,” &c. But since the interlineal decoding was done in RC by Madison after TJ’s death when Madison borrowed his own letters to TJ (failing to return the present one) and since the decoded passages in RC are in pencil, as is the word “fresh,” it is clear that this was an afterthought added half a century later by Madison and that TJ read the passage as given above, not as “a fresh display.”

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