Motion on Instructions to Francis Dana, [27 May] 1782

Motion on Instructions to Francis Dana

MS (NA: PCC, No. 36, II, 137). In JM’s hand. Docketed by him: “Motion of Mr. Madison seconded by Mr. Rutledge[.] Passed May 27 1782.”

Editorial Note

When Robert R. Livingston, secretary for foreign affairs, asked Congress to approve his proposed letter of 10 May to Francis Dana, he suggested the advisability of recommissioning Dana as minister resident rather than as minister plenipotentiary at the court of St. Petersburg (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXII, 259). JM apparently favored this drastic reduction in Dana’s rank (JM to Randolph, 23 April, and n. 14; 14 May 1782, and n. 10). On 27 May, after JM and Rutledge succeeded in having Congress postpone a paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of Livingston’s draft of a dispatch to Dana, JM introduced and Rutledge seconded the present motion (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXII, 301).

[27 May 1782]

That Mr. Dana be instructed not to present his letters of Credence to the Court of Petersburg untill he shall have obtained satisfactory assurances that he will be duly recd. and recognized in his public Character.1

1. Immediately after adopting this motion, Congress “Ordered, That the copy of the letter [of 10 May] be returned to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXII, 301). Clearance for this dispatch to Dana probably was delayed by the discussion in Congress occasioned by the recommendations of Morris, Livingston, and the committee appointed to report on salaries, staff, and places of residence of the diplomatic personnel of the United States (Report on Salaries of Representatives Abroad, 28 May 1782, and nn. 1, 6, 12, 13). Livingston wrote to Dana on 29 May, enclosing his letter of 10 May and a copy of JM’s motion (Wharton, Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols.; Washington, 1889). description ends , V, 446–47).

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Source Project: Madison Papers
Title: Motion on Instructions to Francis Dana, [27 May] 1782
Author: Madison, James
Date: 27 May 1782

Reference

Cite as: “Motion on Instructions to Francis Dana, [27 May] 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-04-02-0127. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, vol. 4, 1 January 1782 – 31 July 1782, ed. William T. Hutchinson and William M. E. Rachal. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1965, pp. 274–275.]