351Notes for Speech in Congress, [22 April] 1790 (Madison Papers)
—will pay near ⅕ } ratio ⅙ —little more received 1/7 —Massts. pay little more than 1/7 } ratio 1/7 & ½ —receive more than ⅕ Distrust of Sts— ☞ sd. Sts done all they cd. —as Illinois claims— if rejected unjust if admitted dangerous Not beneficial to Natl. Govt. in present form Not just Not equalizing not practicable bare majority— Since 31. Mar: 1783 pd. to Treay. U. S.
352Assumption of the State Debts, [22 April] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The sixth resolution (see headnote to speech of 20 Apr.) was amended and approved on 21 April. The seventh resolution, “that immediate provision ought to be made for the present debt of the United States; and that the faith of government ought to be pledged to make provision, at their next session, for so much of the debts of the respective States, as shall have been subscribed upon any of the...
353Motion on the Death of Franklin, [22 April] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison rose and made the following motion: Mr. Speaker said he, Tho’ we have been informed not only thro’ the channel of the newspapers but by a more direct communication, of the decease of an illustrious character whose native genius has rendered distinguished services to the cause of science and of mankind in general, and whose patriotic exertions have contributed in a high degree to...
354To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 24 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
… [Encloses a pamphlet with the request] that you would not suffer it to go out of your hands without guarding against the possibility of its finding its way into a newspaper.… I shall next week send four or five copies of it to Mr. Jefferson. [Also encloses] Dr. Price’s Sermon preached before the Revolution Society in London.… It suggested to me an idea of your house addressing the national...
355To James Madison from Adam Stephen, 25 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
I reced the pleasure of your letter, and am greatly Obliged for your Sentiments on the Assumption of the State Debts. If it could be justly done, it would greatly contribute to the establishment of the Fœderal Government. The N E & S W parts of our Empire are not like to Assimalate, and Should the Devil bring about a dissolution—The N Englanders have such a Coasting Trade that Their imposts...
356Public Credit, [26 April] 1790 (Madison Papers)
FitzSimons moved to discharge the Committee of the Whole from that part of the secretary of the treasury’s report relating to assumption. After this motion passed, the Committee of the Whole completed its consideration of the resolutions. The House then took up the recommitted resolutions as amended. A sharp debate ensued over the first alternative of the sixth resolution, which allowed...
357From James Madison to the Governor of Virginia, 27 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
Information having been received here that some persons acquainted with the appropriation made at the last Session of Congress in favor of the officers & soldiers of the Virginia & N. Carolina lines of the late army, are taking advantage of the claimants who are ignorant of that provision, by purchasing their claims for very inconsiderable proportions of their amount, it became a question...
358To James Madison from the Governor of Virginia, 27 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
The act of the present Congress to prevent the exportation of goods not duly inspected, according to the laws of the several States, although it secures the execution of the state inspection laws, will not, I fear, procure to the States every benefit, which might be derived from it. By the Constitution of the United States, the several States are Authorized to lay such duties upon Exports as...
359To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 27 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have been looking most anxiously for the second communication, which you promised me, as soon as you should have had an interview with the President. Many times have I endeavoured to break in an easy way to my wife the necessity of my return to N. Y; in order to try her spirits, should I go off. As often has she been thrown into an agitation of real agony. Prepared as I am, I would have...
360To James Madison from George Washington, 27 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
If the weather will permit, & Mr Madison’s health suffer him to go out to day, the Presdt. would be glad if he would give him a call before he goes to the House. Tr ( MH : Sparks Transcripts).
361From James Madison to Mann Page, 27 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 27 April 1790. Mentioned in James Mercer to JM, 12 May 1790 . Passes along a recommendation for the vacant professorship at the Fredericksburg Academy.
362To James Madison from Edward Carrington, 30 April 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment come to Town and am favored with yours of the 10th. & 17th. Instant for which I beg you to accept my thanks. I am exceedingly happy in the majority having shifted sides upon the subject of the assumption of the State debts because I am certain that no measure could be carried in Congress more productive of discontent; nor do I think that any could be taken under...
363From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 2 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I wrote some days ago to my brother Ambrose since which little has taken place worth adding. The inclosed newspapers contain a sketch of what has been done in the House of Reps. I mentioned to my brother that I thought it better to ship or postpone the sale of Tobo. than to sell at the present price in the Country. I am more & more convinced that this will be prudent. The price has risen...
364From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 2 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I thank you very sincerely for the readiness with which you have complied with my troublesome request on the subject of the Stamp-Act. I made it on a supposition that you had been present at the proceedings of the Virga. Assembly, which I find was not the case. But, knowing the accuracy & extent of your intelligence on all such interresting occurrences, I consider the particulars with which...
365To James Madison from Edward Carrington, 3 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to be troublesome to you, but upon further examination of the Census Act, it appears to me that the penalties under which alone the people are compellable to render their returns truly, are without any practicable means of recovery: this will render them intirely nugatory unless a remedy is applied before the commencement of the business: as this Act Stands, together with that of...
366To James Madison from George Nicholas, 3 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 27th. of Feby. is now before me. The last act of the Virginia assembly on the subject of a seperation seems to have given general satisfaction. The opposition to that measure still continues but as far as I can hear the bulk of the people are in favor of it. Spain takes great pains to seduce our people to remove to their country. I have myself seen letters from the Governor...
367From James Madison to Benjamin Rush, 3 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 3 May 1790. Offered for sale in the Parke-Bernet Catalogue No. 468, May 1943.
368To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 4 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
As I know you lodge at Mrs. Ellsworths I take the liberty of troubling you wth. a request that you will oblige me so far as to engage a chamber for me in her house. And if possible one exposed to the South tho it should be in the upper story. I expect to leave Philadelphia for my fathers seat to Morrow, and shall return my sulkey from thence and proceed in the Stage so as to reach New York on...
369To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 4 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your proposition for doing justice to the late Army of the United States becomes both popular & practicable in proportion as it is contemplated. Many people are Converts to it, who at first considered it as impracticable & impolitic. Among these I have reason to believe is A Gentleman from South Carolina who bore a decided part in the Opposition to you on the floor of Congress. He is a...
370From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 6 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of Apl. 27. is this instant put into my hand. I have written to you all the letters that were promised, and have forborne to write others, because the cessation of yours led me to conclude that you had set out for N. Y. I am extremely sorry to find that this was not the case, but cheifly, on acct. of the cause of your delay. I can not suppose that under your circumstances any criticism...
371To James Madison from the Governor of Virginia, 7 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have the Honour to acknowlege the receipt of yours, of the 27th. Ultimo. Upon inquiring into the subject of the 4 months pay and Subsistence due to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, I am informed that the privates are not possessed, of any evidences of their Claims. The officers, have received warrants for the pay but have no acknowledgement from the public, for the subsistence...
372To James Madison from William Davies, 8 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
As the Virginia commissioner charged with settling the state’s accounts with the Union, William Davies had been in New York since early 1789 arranging and presenting vouchers and other evidence of the Virginia expenditures during the war. In conducting this business the commissioner worked closely with the Virginia delegation in Congress, particularly with JM, who was “zealous on this subject”...
373To James Madison from John Hoomes, 10 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I am informed that Capt. Twining has a Memorial before Congress. Permit me to inform you that I have reason to beleive that the Setting up a line of Stages from Suffolk to Savannah for the purpose of transporting the Public Mail was the principal Cause of his ruin & I know that his family is now in Great distress. Any Service that you can render him will lay an Obligation on Dr Sir Yr. Mo....
374From James Madison to the Governor of Virginia, 11 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
On the recipt of your letter on the subject of the Inspection law of Virginia, I communicated the matter to the Secretary of the Treasury. He sees no impropriety in his giving the requisite instruction to the Custom-House officers and having promised to do so, I shall decline an application to Congress. Since the late separation of the State debts from the national, the House of Reps. has been...
375To James Madison from the Reverend James Madison, 12 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I recd. your Favr. by Mr Randolph and shd. sooner have written to you, but that I waited for his Departure. I wished to congratulate you on a Motion made by yourself some Time past, which tho’ unsuccessful, in my opinion, does equal Credit to the Head & to the Heart: and I beleive, there are very few indeed, unconnected with the Business of Certificates, who think otherwise. The...
376To James Madison from James Mercer, 12 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your favour to Mr. Page, of the 27th Ulto. came to that Gentlemans hands as early as might be—but a Negociation being then on Hand between the Trustees of the Fredericksbg Academy and a Gentleman of Massachusets, who had undertaken to fill the vacant Professorship in our Academy on certain terms we cou’d not decide as to the Gent: mentioned by your Friend Doctor Johnston untill we shou’d hear...
377Notes on Navigation and Trade, [ca. 13 May] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Molasses Massts. has 60 distilleries. (Sheffd. p. 108) In 1769.—3,580,144. galls. of French & Surinam,—and only 299,678 of British Molasses were imported into N. America—(Id. 109) The Quantity of foreign Molasses imported into America, prior to the war, appears by the Custom house books to be greater than the quantity of rum imported there, altho’ the latter free from duty and molasses subject...
378Notes for Speech in Congress, [ca. 13 May] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Genl Observations— The progress of modern maxims tends to make Govt. & commerce free among all nations, which will reduce all nations to their natural advantages only. This, ours make desireable to us. If however monopolizing struggles shd. continue with a view to naval strength—No Nation can be so well off as U. S. because they possess bulky produce capable of employing mo⟨re⟩ tonnage and...
379Navigation and Trade, [13 May] 1790 (Madison Papers)
On 10 May the Committee of the Whole took up the report of a select committee on a petition from the merchants and traders of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This report recommended (1) that the tonnage on foreign vessels be raised from fifty cents to one dollar per ton, and (2) that foreigners be prohibited from carrying United States commodities to any port or place to which United States...
380To James Madison from John Dawson, 14 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for the information given in your letter of the 27th. uto. respecting the appropriation made at the last session of congress to pay certain arrears due to the officers & soldiers of the virginia line. The executive will readily cooperrate with you in any plan which will render a service to this class of our citizens & will feel a pleasure in being instrumental in doing them that...
381Navigation and Trade, [14 May] 1790 (Madison Papers)
JM moved to add to the resolution agreed to on 13 May the following words: “That from and after the day of next, the tonnage of all such vessels be raised to , and from and after the day of next, no such vessels be permitted to export from the United States any unmanufactured article, being the growth or produce thereof.” This motion was opposed by FitzSimons, Laurance, Sedgwick, and Smith of...
382Bill concerning Navigation and Trade, [17 May] 1790 (Madison Papers)
A BILL concerning the Navigation and Trade of the United States . Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the duty to be collected on all vessels, not built within the United States, and belonging wholly, or in part, to a citizen, subject or inhabitant of any foreign state, with which the United States shall not have...
383Pay Arrearages to Virginia and North Carolina Veterans, [17 May] 1790 (Madison Papers)
On 7 May Theodorick Bland informed the House “that in consequence of obtaining (as is supposed) a surreptitious copy from a public office” of the names of Virginia and North Carolina veterans to whom arrears of pay were due (see Wallace to JM, 25 Mar. and nn. 1–3 and 20 Apr. ), speculators had “fraudulently procured assignments of pay” far below their value. He accordingly presented a motion...
384From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 19 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
The President has been critically ill for some days past, but is now we hope out of danger. His complaint is a peripneumony, united probably with the Influenza. Since my last I have found that I did not go too far in intimating that the cause of your delay would forbid the smallest criticism on it. I earnestly pray that you may no longer have occasion to plead that apology. In consequence of a...
385To James Madison from James Monroe, 19 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 19 May 1790. Acknowledged in JM to Monroe, 1 June 1790 . Reports illness of his daughter.
386To James Madison from Edward Carrington, 20 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
It is probable some establishment of a Military Nature under the United States may be made at the Point of Fork, at present the grand deposit of the State. This deposit has for several years been under the care of Major Langham whome you lately saw at New York. He did much business of the kind in the Army, and frequently under my own direction. He has since given great satisfaction to the...
387To James Madison from William S. Grayson, 20 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I am sorry to trouble you at present with a letter considering your Time must be employed in greater matters, but, relying on your good Disposition I trust you will pardon it. But my father being lately dead you are the only effectual friend which I dare hope for any thing. I will explain to you my Situation with candour and hope you will comply with the request I have to make, from my fathers...
388To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 20 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I thank you for your last favor. It relieved me much. But an event of yesterday has given me a full view of my arrangements. Very unexpectedly a diminished fœtus appeared; manifesting, that it had lost every energy of life for more than four months. The gloom of our house is converted into general satisfaction, at the escape of our friend from the most critical danger. I have this moment...
389To James Madison from John Witherspoon, 20 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have just received a Letter on a very singular Subject which I will not write but inform You of at our first Meeting. It comes from a Clergy man of Nova Scotia of the Episcopal or roman catholic Church (for he does not say which) altogether unknown to me & contains a packet directed to a Mr Sterling Pleasant Mercht in Mecklenburg County Virginia with whom he says he is informed I am in...
390Queries concerning Jefferson’s Report on Weights and Measures, [ca. 20 May] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Quer. if a fixed temperature might not be got by referring to a thermometer—the freezing point—being the natural standard Quer. as to the inaccuracy of English calculations of London Pendulum. Quer. if mode of distributing actual standards thro’ the States sd. not be suggested at the close of the report. Quer. would not uniform cylinders be as eas[i]ly measured & judged of, as squares. Quer....
391From James Madison to the Governor of Virginia, 25 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
Previous to the receipt of your favor on the subject of the arrears to the Virginia line, a proposition for remedying the abuses which have taken place, had been made and was under consideration. It has since passed the two Houses in the form which corresponds with the idea suggested by you. I take the liberty of inclosing a copy, though it has not yet been submitted to the President. As soon...
392From James Madison to the Governor of Virginia, 26 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose a copy of the instruction given by the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of our inspection laws, which has been put into my hands for that purpose; and am with the highest respect, Sir, Your Most Obedt. humble servant, RC and enclosure ( Vi ). Enclosure in a clerk’s hand. Addressed and franked by JM. Docketed by a clerk, “Done June 5h. 1790.” See Governor of...
393To James Madison from Fontaine Maury, 26 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
It having been suggested to the Inhabitants of this place and Falmouth, that the people of the Lower Counties have presented a petition to Congress, praying the removal of the naval office to Urbanna, I have been solicited to request you will so far Interest yourself as to have the Business delayed, untill we can have an opportunity of forwarding from the Inhabitants of this Town a Petition,...
394To James Madison from Beverley Randolph, 26 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I am much obliged by your attention to the Business of the Inspection Laws of this State. I will thank You to request the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish me with a Copy of his Instructions to the Custom House officers on that Subject. I had Hopes that the Decision of the House of Representatives upon the assumption of the State Debts would have been final. No Proposition has been before...
395From James Madison to Ambrose Madison, 27 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment your favor of the 16th. The inclosed papers will shew you that the project of asuming the State debts is revived & likely to employ further time. I hope we shall be able to defeat it, but the advocates for it are inconceivably persevering as well as formidable in point of numbers. The bill for funding the other debt is gone thro’ and will pass the 3d. reading in the H. of...
396From James Madison to Eliza House Trist, 27 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
N. York May 27 [1790]. I have been some days in debt for your favor of the 19th. instant. I am glad the book for Browze arrived in time and was of the right sort. I had some doubts on the latter point. You have more than your share of the Influenza in the third attack of which you complain. I hope you are well of it by this time. It has spared very few in this place. I have had a full measure,...
397To James Madison from John Parrish, 28 May 1790 (Madison Papers)
The evening myself & Friends left New York thou gave it as thy opinion the subject that induced Friends had address’d Congress had better not be revived during the present Session unless some Instances should appear that any of the States were in the Practice of fiting out foreign Vessels for the African trade or American bottoms to supply foreigners with slaves which appears by the Voats of...
398To James Madison from John Hurt, June 1790 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Abstract. June 1790. JM endorsed this twelve-page manuscript: “Notes by the Revd. Mr. Hurt June 1790. on Rhamsay’s [ sic ] Histy Revol.” Hurt (1752–1824), apparently from Orange County, was with a Virginia brigade in the Continental line. His comments allude to actions and events where he was involved. A typical remark: “I believe it never was known only to a few, to this day, what havock was...
399From James Madison to James Monroe, 1 June 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 19th. of May has been duly received. The information relating to your little daughter has been communicated as you desired. I hope she is by this time entirely recovered. Your friends in Broad way were well two evenings ago. I have paid the money to Taylor, and hope you will take the time you intimate, for replacing my advances on your account. The assumption has been revived...
400To James Madison from Elias Langham, 1 June 1790 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to inclose you a letter from Col Carrington, which you will please deposit where you think best. I wish (whenever the Military Arrangmt. takes place) that my Application for an appointmt. may be understood, That if an Arrangemt. does not take place as I suggested in my first to you, I wish an Appointmt. to manage the Magazine Arsenal &c in Virga.—or to that Deposit that may...