James Madison Papers
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Report on Congressional Inspection of Departments, [17 June] 1782

Report on Congressional Inspection of Departments

MS (NA: PCC, No. 28, fol. 321). In JM’s hand. The docket reads: “Report of Mr Madison Mr Witherspoon Mr Izard On a Motion of Mr. Madison. passed June 17th, 1782. Committees to be appointed to examine into the conduct of Heads of Departments & report.” In the PCC there are at least two other copies of this report. One is apparently in James Duane’s hand (No. 142, II, 5–6) and the other in the hand of a clerk (No. 188, fol. 1). See Note on Motion To Appoint Examining Committees, 12 June 1782.

Editorial Note

By adopting this report, a majority of the state delegations obviously shared JM’s determination to remind the administrative departments of their subordination to Congress and of their obligation to be frugal and honest in the conduct of business. Believing that the Lees were unjustifiably accusing Robert Morris of “misfeasance” (Randolph to JM, 16–17 May, 21–24 May; JM to Randolph, 4 June 1782), JM may also have introduced his motion with the confident expectation that a close scrutiny of the Department of Finance would silence Morris’ enemies. If this was JM’s purpose, he perhaps contrived Arthur Lee’s appointment on 2 July to the committee “to enquire fully into the proceedings of the department of Finance, including the several branches of the same” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXII, 370; JM to Randolph, 16 July 1782). For Lee’s view of the committee, see Burnett, Letters description begins Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). description ends , VI, 429.

On 25 July Congress named Lee to be chairman of a committee to examine and report on “the application of the moneys of the United States in France” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXII, 416). Lee took full advantage of this welcome opportunity to examine and so to interpret the records of the Department of Finance as to cast suspicion, in his report of 20 November, upon the integrity of his other favorite antagonist, Benjamin Franklin (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXIII, 740–44). See also Amendment to Motion on Laurens’ Mission, 12 July 1782.

[17 June 1782]

It1 being expedient as well for the justification of such of the principals of the Civil Departments immediately under Congress, who duly administer the same, as for the more certain detection of such as may violate in any manner the important trusts consigned to them, that [p. 344] periodical & exact enquiries into their respective administrations be instituted,

It is hereby Resolved that2 on the 1st Monday in July and the 1st Monday in Jany in every year, five Committees composed each of five members shall be appointed; which Committees shall have it in charge to enquire fully, one of them into the proceedings of the Department of Finance, including the3 Several branches of the same, another into the proceedings of the Department of foreign affairs, another of the Department of war, another of the Department of Marine, Another4 of the post office and to report the result of their respective enquiries to Congress.5

first Monday in July6

1After mentioning the members of the committee to which JM’s motion of 12 June had been referred, the preface to this report in the printed journal closes by stating, “Congress agreed to the following resolution” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXII, 334).

2Following this word, JM at first wrote “every half year beginning with the first day of August next.” He then deleted the passage and interlineated “on the 3d Monday in Novr. in every year.” This, too, he replaced with the words shown in the text. These alterations probably reflect the course of the debate on the report in Congress.

3The next five words are a substitution for JM’s original “offices of Treasurer Controller & auditors of accounts.”

4The interlineation of this word and the next four words was probably made by JM in committee so as to repair the oversight of recommending in the report that five committees be named to inspect four departments.

5In pursuance of this resolution, Congress on 2 July appointed five committees of investigation, each comprising five members. JM was named chairman of the committee “to enquire fully into the proceedings of the department of foreign affairs.” He rendered the committee’s report on 18 September 1782 (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXII, 370; XXIII, 586–89).

6The first version of this isolated note, before JM revised it, read, “last Monday in July next.” He apparently jotted down these words during the debate in Congress and later inserted them in the report as a substitute for a part of the deletions mentioned in n. 2, above. The notation does not appear in either of the other copies of the report cited in the headnote.

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