791Naturalization, [9 December] 1794 (Madison Papers)
On 8 December the House appointed JM chairman of a select committee to report a bill to amend the Naturalization Act of 1790. Mr. Madison gave notice that to-morrow, he should move for leave to bring in a bill, to amend an act for establishing a uniform system of naturalization in the United States. He did not wish to discourage foreigners who desired to incorporate themselves with the body...
792Settlement of the State Claims, [28 January] 1793 (Madison Papers)
The bill providing for a final settlement of state accounts with the United States was read a third time. Page moved the previous question (which took precedence), “Shall the main question, that the bill do pass, now be put?” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, 1789–1824 (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 2d Cong., 2d sess., 846, 850). Mr. Madison...
793Commercial Restrictions, [15 January] 1796 (Madison Papers)
Smith (Maryland) moved that a Committee of the Whole consider his resolution, introduced on 4 January, that foreign vessels be restricted from bringing into the United States any goods, wares, or merchandise except those that were the produce, growth, or manufacture of the nation to which the vessels belonged. Hillhouse (Connecticut) recommended referring the resolution to the Committee of...
794Appropriations for 1796, [19 January] 1796 (Madison Papers)
In the Committee of the Whole debate on the civil list for 1796, Williams (New York) moved to strike out the appropriation for officers of the Mint. Failing to persuade other members, he then limited his resolution to the appropriation for purchasing copper for the Mint ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th...
795For the National Gazette, 4 February 1792 (Madison Papers)
Power being found by universal experience liable to abuses, a distribution of it into separate departments, has become a first principle of free governments. By this contrivance, the portion entrusted to the same hands being less, there is less room to abuse what is granted; and the different hands being interested, each in maintaining its own, there is less opportunity to usurp what is not...
796VIII. Reply to Junius Americanus and Others, 9 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
The public attention having been drawn to the meaning of the constitution, as applied to two bills, one before the last, the other before the present session of Congress, the following candid view of this subject is submitted by one who has carefully attended to the whole discussion . By the article of the constitution the power of adjourning to another place is vested in the two houses,—whose...
797Memorandum for Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 31 January] 1791 (Madison Papers)
At war At Peace G. Britain from May 1689 to Sept. 1697 = 8y. 4.m. to May 1702 = 4y. 8.m. May 1702 to Aug. 1712 = 10. 3.
798Salary of the Vice-President, [16 July] 1789 (Madison Papers)
An annual salary of $5,000 was proposed for the vice-president. White objected to any salary being appropriated to the office. Mr. Madison. I do not concur, Mr. Speaker, in sentiment with my colleague on this subject. I conceive, sir, if the constitution is silent on this point, that it is left to the legislature to decide according to its nature, and its merits. The nature of the office will...
799Cabinet Secretaries’ Reports, [12 January] 1795 (Madison Papers)
On 30 December 1794 Washington sent to Congress a message submitting a report from the secretary of war. Written shortly before Knox left office, the report recommended, among other things, “‘That all persons who shall be assembled or embodied in arms, … for the purpose of warring against the Indians, … shall thereby become liable and subject to the rules and articles of war, which are, or...
800Excise, [15 January] 1795 (Madison Papers)
In his 19 November 1794 annual address to Congress, Washington urged “a definitive plan for the redemption of the Public Debt.” On 15 December Smith (South Carolina) reported from committee such a plan ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 3d Cong., 2d sess., 791, 894, 979, 1010). On 15 January the Committee of...