301From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 4 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. of Jany. inclosing one of Sepr. last did not get to hand till a few days ago. The idea which the latter evolves is a great one, and suggests many interesting reflections to legislators; particularly when contracting and providing for public debts. Whether it can be received in the extent your reasonings give it, is a question which I ought to turn more in my thoughts...
302To James Madison from Andrew Ellicott, [4 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Latitude Note These Longitudes though sufficiently correct for common Geographical purposes, will nevertheless be rendered more accurate, when the Meridional Tangent to the west end of Lake Ontario, is carried on to the north boundary of Pennsylvania. Longitude, from the Meridian of Philadelphia ° ′ ″ ° ′ ″ Fort Erie 48.. 53.. 17 N 3.. 39..
303To James Madison from Edward Carrington, 5 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I am favored with yours of the 24. Ult. and am much releived by it from apprehensions that your indisposition, of which I had heard by several hands, was of so serious a Nature, as, at least to detain you on the way longer than it has. I hope you have perfectly recovered. I thank you for your remarks upon my appointment under the fedl Govt. I shall never pretend to an intire indifference upon...
304To James Madison from Walter Jones, 5 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have had Such advantage from our past correspondence, as to make it my Interest and Inclination to acknowledge it, and at the Same time to assure you of the pleasure I shall take in the renewal of it, So far as is perfectly convenient to you. We have as yet heard very little of the proceedings of your present Session, tho we doubt not that the most interesting Subjects will Come under yr....
305To James Madison from Tobias Lear, 7 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
In obedience to the command of the President of the United States, I have the honor to enclose you a letter from Peyton Short Esquire resigning his Commission of Collector of the Port of Louisville in Kentuckey, and to request that you will be so good as to consult with Mr. Brown, and any other Gentlemen from Virginia who are acquainted with characters in that part of the Country, upon a...
306From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 7 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have consulted with Mr. Brown on the subject of a Successor to Mr. Short. He is apprehensive that the reasons which induced Mr. S. to decline his appointment will have the same weight with any other person who could be recommended. He names Col: Richard Taylor as worthy of the appointment, and as not more likely to follow the example of Mr. Short, than any other fit person within his...
307Census, [8 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
A six-month time limit was proposed to complete the census. Mr. Madison said, that some states had been in the practice of taking a census, but to others it was a new business; and this consideration should demand a longer time. But there was another consideration—the marshal might die, during the time of transacting his business; the President must be made acquainted with this, and it would...
308To James Madison from William Cavenough, 10 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
Pardon the liberty I take in addressing myself to you, who I have not the Honor to be Known to. My presuming on this freedom, is as much from the severity of my present unhappy Situation, as from a persuasion, that you are a Gentleman of Humanity who can make allowances for improprieties, which are the Offspring of Necessity and real distress: The World sir has severely frown’d upon me, and...
309From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 11 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
By the last mail I acknowledged the receipt of your favor of the 9th. Ult: and hazarded a few remarks on the subject of that of Sepr. last from Paris. The newspapers forwarded by me from time to time will have exhibited something of the complexion of the politics here, particularly as they relate to the public debt. On this subject the H. of Reps. is at this moment deliberating. All that can...
310Slave Trade Petitions, [11 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
FitzSimons presented an address of the fall 1789 meeting of the Quakers of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the western parts of Maryland and Virginia. Laurance presented one from the New York Quakers. These petitions urged Congress to consider measures leading to the abolition of the slave trade. A debate arose over a motion to refer the petitions to a committee. Mr. Madison. The...
311Discrimination between Present and Original Holders of the Public Debt, [11 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
On 8 February the Committee of the Whole took up Secretary Hamilton’s report on public credit. FitzSimons submitted eight resolutions which served as a framework for the debate. The first declared “that adequate provision ought to be made for fulfilling the engagements of the United States, in respect to their foreign debt.” This passed unanimously. The second resolution called for “the...
312Slave Trade Petitions, [12 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
A memorial from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, signed by Benjamin Franklin and calling upon Congress to give its “serious attention to the subject of slavery” and to “step to the very verge” of its powers to discourage the slave trade, was read. Debate resumed on a motion to commit the Quaker petition that had been presented the previous day and read a second time on this day....
313To James Madison from James Maury, 13 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
Since my Respects of 6 October, I have your favor of 21 June by Mr James, who did not come here, but sent it from London. I should have been happy to have attended to him had he passed this way. It is not in my power by this opportunity to hand you Sales of your Tobaccoes by the Venus and Cyrus—this last named Consignment is under considerable Inconvenience & disadvantage for having been...
314From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 14 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
We proceed slowly in business. The Report of Mr. Hamilton has been, of late, the principal subject of debate. On the foreign debt the vote has been unanimous. On the domestic, a reduction of the transferred principal has been brought into view by several arguments and propositions. My idea is that there should be no interference of the public in favour of the public either as to principal or...
315To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I received your favor of Jan. 24. the day before yesterday; the President’s of the 21st. was 16 days getting to my hands. I write him by this occasion my acceptance, and shall endeavor to subdue the reluctance I have to that office which has increased so as to oppress me extremely. The President pressed my coming on immediately, and I have only said to him in general that circumstances,...
316From James Madison to Edward Carrington, 14 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 14 February 1790. Acknowledged in Carrington to JM, 2 Mar. 1790 . Explains his motion in Congress to discriminate between the original and present holders of public securities.
317To James Madison from “Foreigner,” 17 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to ask your attention to that part of the domestic debt which is registered in the name of foreigners. There are circumstances attending this portion of the debt which, in addition to the usual obligations of justice, give peculiar force & solemnity to the demands of present holders of the Certificates. It should be observed that the first transfers of the domestic debt to...
318To James Madison from John Nicholson, 17 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have taken the liberty of inclosing you copies of a number of letters I have written to a friend in Congress published at his request relating to the important subject of finance now before that honorable body. The practicability of effecting a separate provision for original holders, I am well convinced of. I have carried into effect a similar plan in Penna. adopted by the Legislature with...
319To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 18 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I expected that the establishment of the federal Goverment, and the reformation of the Constitution of Pennsylvania would have gratified all my wishes for the prosperity of my Country, and have left me to enjoy in private life the pleasures of science and professional pursuits. But I find I cannot be an indifferent Spectator of the great Question which now agitates your house. It involves in...
320Discrimination between Present and Original Holders of the Public Debt, [18 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
On 15 February the Committee of the Whole resumed consideration of JM’s amendment. JM listened silently for the next three days as numerous speakers attacked his proposal. Mr. Madison next rose and observed that the opponents of his proposition had imposed on its friends not only a heavy task, by the number of their objections, but a delicate one by the nature of some of them. It had been...
321Discrimination between Present and Original Holders of the Public Debt, [19 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Speaking against JM’s motion, Burke said that many officers and soldiers had received conspicuous marks of gratitude for their services, notably in appointments to civil offices. Mr. Madison. If paper, or the honor of statues or medals, can discharge the debts of justice, payable in gold and silver, we can not only exonerate ourselves from those due to the original holders, but from those of...
322To James Madison from John Baylor, 20 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have taken the Liberty of requesting the favour of you to transact an affair of the greatest consequence to my poor Brother George’s Estate, his Acct with united States as an Officer of the 3d Regiment of Light Dragoon, is yet unsettled, a Statement of which by Capt: Barret one of his officers and also his Deposition respecting the Accts: are in Mr. Pearce’s office, or with the Commissioners...
323Assumption of the State Debts, [24 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
After the defeat of JM’s discrimination amendment, the second and third resolutions proposed by FitzSimons (on 8 February) were approved. The fourth resolution, “That the debts of the respective states ought, with the consent of the creditors, to be assumed and provided for by the United States,” had been under consideration for two days. Mr. Madison Observed, on the measure, that the...
324To James Madison from John Dawson, 26 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
You’ll be pleasd to accept my thanks for your favour of the 31st ulto which I recievd in due time. I am by no means astonishd at the reports of the two Secretaries given rise to a variety of opinions. The subjects to which they refer are both incricate [ sic ], and the interest of different persons will induce them to adopt various opinions. Mr. Hamilton’s plan, altho it discovers knowledge &...
325To James Madison from Samuel Vaughan, Jr., 26 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
With this letter you will receive a Pamphlet, you was so obliging as to lend me, & which from inadvertency I never returned. I was much surprised on opening my things here to find it among them. I congratulate you most heartily on the facility you are likely to meet with in the various objects of the Legislature. It was always my opinion that you might be bolder, particularly in your...
326Assumption of the State Debts, [26 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
JM’s amendment to the assumption resolution was still before the Committee of the Whole. On 25 February, White moved to confine the assumption to the surplus funds a state had “advanced beyond its just and equal proportion of the expences, incurred in the defence of the common rights of America.” After two days’ debate, this motion was defeated by a vote of 32 to 18. Mr. Madison Then begged...
327From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have not yet recd. a single line from Orange since I left it. The letter from my brother when at Alexa. is the only written information that I have had the pleasure of, A few lines from Mr. Hite excepted. These gave me an account of my sisters marriage, and added that about that period my mother was better. I am anxious to hear more on that subject, and indulge my hopes that her health will...
328To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 27 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
In answer to your polite letter, I have only to repeat my congratulations to you for the honor you have done to the claims of justice and patriotism by your motion. The small number of the minority that rose to support it, does not lessen its merit. The decision upon that great Question will leave a stain upon our Country which no time nor declammation can ever wipe away. History will decide...
329To James Madison from George Washington, [28 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
I return Mr. Jefferson’s letter with thanks for the perusal of it. I am glad he has resolved to accept the Appointment of Secretary of State, but sorry it is so repugnant to his own inclinations that it is done. Sincerely & Affectly. I am—Yrs. RC ( NjP ); Tr ( MH : Sparks Transcripts). RC addressed by Washington; docketed by JM late in life: “G. Washington—no date / 1789–90.” For dating of the...
330From James Madison to Walter Jones, 28 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 28 February 1790. Acknowledged in Jones to JM, 25 Mar. 1790 . Reports recent illness.