James Madison Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-17-02-0329

To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 26 April [1783]

From Edmund Pendleton

Richmond April 26. 1789 [1783]

Dear Sir,

I am from hence to ⟨acknowled⟩ge the receipt of yr. two favrs. of the 8th. & since,1 the latter conveying the Official Authentication of the Account of peace,2 about which people began to entertain doubts, much encouraged by the Speculators—it is now fix’d, and we must turn Our thoughts to the realising it’s benefits. I find people here objecting to the Impost upon the score of danger from too much Independant power in Congress.3 My poor endeavours shall not be wanting to remove the Objections, as far as I can—surely Gentlemen should consider that withholding necessary Powers is an extream as Injurious to the Society, as giving unnecessary & dangerous ones, which would suggest the proper mean of giving just so much as is necessary. I am just told young Mr. Wormeley is elected for Middlesex4 & a Rod is preparing to whip him home again; I am sorry there should be an Occasion for bickering, and think he was very imprudent to come forth so hastily, before the conciliating Spirit had time to Operate. I believe the Suspected Tories of last Assembly, are generally return’d again, and one fellow who was then expelled for having Publicly damn’d Congress, Governors & all Public Officers, is rechosen & I suppose will be another sourse of dispute.5 I am hurried & must Suspend ’til my next What I meant further to say, except that I am always Dr sr. Yr. Affe.

Edmd. Pendleton

RC (owned by Richard Gilder, Jr., New York, N.Y., 1990). Misdated by Pendleton. Correct date supplied from JM’s docket and internal evidence.

1Letters not found.

2For the official word of the preliminary peace between the U.S. and Great Britain, see Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 10 Apr. 1783, and JM to Edmund Randolph, 10 Apr. 1783 (PJM description begins Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (1 vol. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986—). description ends , 6:446, 448 nn. 1–3, 449–50 and nn.).

3For the impost, see Virginia Delegates to Benjamin Harrison, 22 Apr. 1783 (PJM description begins Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (1 vol. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986—). description ends , 6:478–79 and n. 2).

4For Ralph Wormeley, Jr., see Edmund Randolph to JM, 7 Feb. 1783 (PJM description begins Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (1 vol. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986—). description ends , 6:208–9 n. 12).

5For the expulsion of James McCraw of Halifax County, see Edmund Randolph to JM, 27 Dec. 1782 (PJM description begins Robert J. Brugger et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison: Secretary of State Series (1 vol. to date; Charlottesville, Va., 1986—). description ends , 5:454, 456 n. 13). McCraw did serve in the House of Delegates in 1783 and again in 1794 and 1795 (Swem and Williams, Register description begins Earl G. Swem and John W. Williams, eds., A Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776–1918, and of the Constitutional Conventions (Richmond, 1918). description ends , pp. 17, 18, 41, 44).

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