2041From James Madison to Alexander Hamilton, [20 July] 1788 (Madison Papers)
Yours of yesterday is this instant come to hand & I have but a few minutes to answer it. I am sorry that your situation obliges you to listen to propositions of the nature you describe. My opinion is that a reservation of a right to withdraw if amendments be not decided on under the form of the Constitution within a certain time, is a conditional ratification, that it does not make N. York a...
2042To James Madison from Rufus King, 20 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
I most sincerely congratulate you on the decision of your convention, and am pleased to hear from your Colleague Mr. Brown that by this Time you have returned to New York. I am greatly indebted to you for the frequent information of the progress of your Convention, and should before now have made you my acknowledgements, had I not supposed that you was on your way to Congress, and that Letters...
2043From James Madison to George Washington, 21 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have deferred writing since my arrival here in the hourly hope of being enabled to communicate the final news from Poughkepsie. By a letter from Hamilton dated the day before yesterday I find that it is equally uncertain when the business will be closed, and what will be its definitive form. The inclosed gazettes state the form which the depending proposition bears. It is not a little...
2044From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 22 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed papers will give you a view of the business in the Convention at Poughkepsie. It is not as yet certain that the ratification will take any final shape that can make New York immediately a member of the new Union. The opponents can not come to that point without yielding a compleat victory to the federalists, which must be a severe sacrifice of their pride. It is supposed too that...
2045To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, 22 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
I wrote to you by the last post since which nothing material has turned up here. We are debating on amendments without having decided what is to be done with them. There is so great a diversity in the views of our opponents that it is impossible to predict any thing. Upon the whole however our fears diminish. Yrs Affecty I take the liberty for certain reasons to put the inclosed under cover to...
2046To James Madison from Moustier, 22 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
The case of Joseph Marie Anne Ferrier, a French ship captain accused of maritime barratry, is the subject of four documents printed in this volume (Moustier to JM, 22 July 1788; Virginia Delegates to Randolph, 25 July 1788 , and enclosure; Randolph to Virginia Delegates, 2 Aug. 1788 [first letter] ; and Jones to JM, 3 Aug. 1788 ). Martin Oster, French consul at Norfolk, had imprisoned Ferrier...
2047To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 23 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
Since you left Philadelphia I have kept my attention awake to the conduct of the most able—as well as the most active members of the late opposition. I find those who were excessively violent, active & unreserved in their opposition are perfectly silent. Their conduct carries more of ceasing to oppose, than of acquiescence. But some of the most sensible, cautious and artful characters express...
2048From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 24 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
Your two last unacknowledged favors were of Decr. 20. and Feby. 6. They were received in Virginia, and no opportunity till the present precarious one by the way of Holland, has enabled me to thank you for them. I returned here about ten days ago from Richmond which I left a day or two after the dissolution of the Convention. The final question on the new plan of Government was put on the 25th....
2049To James Madison from Thomas Pleasants, Jr., 25 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
Herewith you will recieve answers to the queries that you left with me—and tho’ they are not so pointed as I could wish, are as much so, as I could make them, without an investigation that time will not at present permit. If however they are too imperfect to answer the end of your enquiry, I will endeavour to obtain such farther information as may be Necessary. While engaged in this business,...
2050To James Madison from James Mchenry, 26 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
I am just returned from the Eastern shore of this state. I have been in every County save one, and find a laudable determination in each to make a choice of federal representatives for our ensuing assembly. I hope the time for commencing proceedings under the new Congress will favor this intention. If you have any data by which one may judge of the views or plan of the Antifederalists I beg...