51Circular Letter from John Dawson, 20 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
After fourteen days delay, on yesterday the President sent to us the inclosed important, intemperate, and unconstitutional Message, which is referred to a Committee of the whole on the State of the Union. Circumstances prove clearly to my mind, that the fixed policy of our Administration will involve us in the war on the part of Great-Britain—an event which I very much dread, but which I fear...
52To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 15th. Since that, yours of the 12th. is recieved. Since that too a great change has taken place in the appearance of our political atmosphere. The merchants, as before, continue, a respectable part of them, to wish to avoid arming. The French decree operated on them as a sedative, producing more alarm than resentment. On the Representatives differently. It excited...
53To James Madison from John Dawson, 29 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your favour & attended immediately to its contents. We are now in committee of the whole on the president’s message of the 19th. Int., on which three resolutions which I presume you have seen, have been brought forward & I believe will be agreed to—it certainly will be highly important to collect the sentiments of the people, & forward them as soon as possible. New England...
54To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 29 March 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 21st. Your’s of the 12th. therein acknoleged is the last recd. The measure I suggested in mine of adjourning for consultation with their constituents was not brought forward; but on Tuesday 3. resolutions were moved which you will see in the public papers. They were offered in committee to prevent their being suppressed by the previous question, & in the commee. on the...
55To James Madison from John Dawson, 5 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your favour of the 26th. ultimo, & now enclose you an insurance & a letter for Mrs. Madison, to whom I beg you to present me with much respect. You have seen that on the 19th. of the last month the president sent to us a message, & that in consequence of a request from our house his instructions, & all the despatches from our commissioners were sent to us confidentially —for...
56To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 29th. ult. since which I have no letter from you. These acknolegements regularly made and attended to will shew whether any of my letters are intercepted, and the impression of my seal on wax (which shall be constant hereafter) will discover whether they are opened by the way. The nature of some of my communications furnishes ground of inquietude for their safe...
57To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
So much of the communications from our envoys has got abroad, & so partially that there can now be no ground for reconsideration with the Senate. I may therefore consistently with duty do what every member of the body is doing. Still I would rather you would use the communication with reserve till you see the whole papers. The first impressions from them are very disagreeable & confused....
58To James Madison from John Dawson, 12 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I herewith enclose you a copy of the late communications from our envoys [in] Paris —& send a copy of the instructions to your brother William—both have been publishd by the Senate contrary to the sense of a very large majority of our house—I leave it to you to determine on their object. Altho things have an unpleasant aspect, owing in my judgement, to the infamy of some individuals, & to the...
59To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you two letters on the 5th. inst. since which I have recd yours of the 2d. I send you, in a separate package, the instructions to our envoys & their communications. You will find that my representation of their contents, from memory, was substantially just. The public mind appears still in a state of astonishment. There never was a moment in which the aid of an able pen was so...
60To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 19 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 12th. & then acknoleged your last at hand of the 2d inst. The sensations first occasioned by the late publications have been kept up and increased at this place. A petition from the merchants & traders & others was so industriously pushed as to have obtained a very extensive signature. The same measure is pursuing in New York. As the election of their governor comes on...
61To James Madison from Stephen Moylan, 25 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
The taxes, added to the rent, is more than I can afford to pay for the house I live in. There is an article in our original agreement which gives you the power to disposess me by Six months notice. It was that you may avail yourself therof, that I mentiond, in my letter of the 27th. Septem. last, I woud not be your Tennant Subject to payment of the Taxes. I am still of that sentiment—if you...
62To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 April 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 19th. since which your’s of the 15th. is recieved. I well remember the recieving that which inclosed a letter to Muhlenburg, but do not exactly recollect how I sent it. Yet I have no doubt I sent it by my servant, that being my constant practice. Your note from Baily I shewed to Genl. Van Cortlandt who was going to N. York. On his return he told me he would pay the note...
63To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 26th since which yours of the 22d. of April is recieved acknowleging mine of the 12th. so that all appear to have been recieved to that date. The spirit kindled up in the towns is wonderful. These and N. Jersey are pouring in their addresses offering life & fortune. Even these addresses are not the worst things. For indiscreet declarations and expressions of passion may...
64To James Madison from John Dawson, 8 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
Mrs. Madison’s letter has been deliverd, & I have paid Bache ten dollars agreeably to your request, & enclose you his reciept. On yesterday we limited the land tax to one year, which I do expect will defeat the provisional army bill now under discussion—it is now discoverd, that the eastern members, who so readily run into heavy expences, are alarmd when the[y] come to make provision for the...
65To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 3d. inst. since which yours of Apr. 29. is recieved. A day or two after I arrived here J. Bringhurst called on me. Since that moment I have never seen him nor heard of him. He cannot therefore be here. But I have put your letter & draught into the hands of mr. Barnes, & desired him to get Bohemian glass from Donath. I will myself look to the locks & hinges. But both...
66To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the 10th. Since that I have recieved yours of the 5th. I immediately sent a note to Carey to forward his paper to your brother as you desired. The first vote of any importance on the alien bill was taken yesterday. It was on agreeing to the 1st. section, which was carried by 12. to 7. If all the Senators in town had been present it would have been 17. to 7. The...
67To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 24 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
My last was of the 17th. since which yours of the 13th. is recieved. The Alien bill of the Senate still hangs before them. Some of it’s features have been moderated, which has so much disgusted it’s warmest friends that some of them have declared they will vote against it, so that I think it possible they may reject it. They appear to be waiting for one from the house of repr. worse I think...
68To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 24th. since which yours of the 20th. is recieved. I must begin by correcting two errors in my last. It was false arithmetic to say that two measures therein mentioned to be carried by majorities of 11. would have failed if the 14. absentees (wherein a majority of 6. was ours) had been present. 6 coming over from the other side would have turned the scale, and this was...
69To James Madison from Richard Taylor, 1 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have waited with a great deal of patience in expectation of some step beeing taken for conveying to me the Land I Bought of your Brother & Self & as to myself I [am] no ways uneasy but haveing Disposed a part the parties who have purchased are very restless and some of them will not pay the purchase money till they gett a Title therefore hope you will take the Necessery stepts taken to gett...
70To James Madison from Stephen Moylan, 4 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your bill for 75 dollars appeard & was paid the 11th of last month, I have had the painters estimate it will amo[u]nt to 50 dollars at the utmost, the good it will do the house will far exceed the expence, which I will be as saving in, as if my own property—as soon as I have your answer I will begin. With great respect I am sir Your obedient Servant RC ( DLC ).
71To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 7 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 31st. since which yours of the 27th. of May is received. The alien bill, when we had nearly got through it, on the 2d. reading, (on a report from the commee. of the whole) was referred to a special committee, by a vote of it’s friends (12) against 11. who thought it could be rejected on the question for the 3d reading. It is reported again, very much softened, and if...
72To James Madison from James Monroe, 8 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I presume you have seen Mr. Adams attention to me in his reply to an address from Lancaster. I send you however a copy in the enclosed gazette. I also send an extract from an oration delivered by Judge Addison of Pensylva. wh. seems to have collected all the calumnies heretofore circulated agnst me. My friends in Phila. think some attention due to the publication of this judge & Mr. Dawson...
73To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 14 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 7th. since which yours of the 3d. is recieved. Your next (which I shall still be here to recieve) will probably acknolege mine of May 31. and will perhaps be your last as you would see by mine of the 7th. that I should leave this on the 20th. which I still purpose. The new citizen or naturalization bill is past the Senate also. It requires 14. years residence to make a...
74To James Madison from Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg, 17 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
Since the Receipt of Your Letter of the 28th ult. I have heard that Barbara peters intends shortly to come to Philada. in order to pursue her Claim to the House she sold, but which I fear she never will be able to recover. Not having found out the Scrivener in whose Hands you have left the Deed of Trust, I examined the Office & find a Deed on Record there from Conrad Keller to Jno. Todd in...
75To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 21 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 10th. inst. is recieved. I expected mine of the 14th. would have been my last from hence, as I had proposed to have set out on the 20th. But in the morning of the 19th. we heard of the arrival of Marshall at New York, and I concluded to stay & see whether that circumstance would produce any new projects. No doubt he there recieved more than hints from Hamilton as to the tone...
76To James Madison from Snowden and McCorkle, 25 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
In May, 1797, Mr John Beckley gave us your name as a subscriber for twelve copies of the History [of the] United States, for 1796, and which books we forwarded to you by Mr Monroe, the August following, with the bill; but have never received an answer. You would much oblige us, by forwarding the amount, (12 dolls) to Mess. Snowden & North, merchants, Philada. As the printing of this work has...
77To James Madison from Henry Tazewell, 28 June 1798 (Madison Papers)
I send you inclosed two papers from which you may form some opinion of the temper prevalent here—but principally to make you acquainted with a fact very interesting to the Southern States. By Fenno’s paper you will discover that some french people, both black and white have arrived in the Delaware from St. Domingo. The true state of this business will be misrepresented in Virga. It stands...
78To James Madison from John Dawson, 5 July 1798 (Madison Papers)
On tuesday I recievd your letter of the 25 of the last month. Mr. Jefferson I presume calld on you & inform[ed] you of our movements here—since he went away we have been going on in the old way—today we have passd resolutions for raising 12 additional regiments of infantry & 6 companies of horse—on which a bill is orderd in, & will doubtless pass. The sedition bill, under the name of an act to...
79To James Madison from Henry Tazewell, 12 July 1798 (Madison Papers)
I send you inclosed the amendments made by the H of R to our Sedition Bill —they have been agreed to this day in the Senate—and these Amendments with the parts of our Bill that were retained now form the Sedition Act, which awaits the president’s approbation only, and which it will certainly receive. The principle having obtained, the modifications are of no great moment, because they may be...
80Circular Letter from John Dawson, 19 July 1798 (Madison Papers)
After a session of somewhat more than eight months, congress adjourned on Monday last, to meet on the first Monday in December. The senate was detained on Executive business; and have adjourned to day. Many laws have been past, a list of which I enclose to you, and send a copy of those which are printed to your court for the use of the county—Some of these are highly important, and claim your...
81To James Madison from J. Beale Bordley, 24 July 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have long wanted an opportunity for introducing to you my little Essays on Husbandry; especially because, as Mr. Volney informed me, your attentions are greatly in that way. With this by a Colo. Adams, are five Essays: Sketches on Rotations of Crops, last Edition—Answers to Queries of the Board of Agriculture, London—Design of a mere Grass Farm—Another on Pasturing & soiling Cattle—and one...
82To James Madison from James Monroe, 25 September 1798 (Madison Papers)
If you can conveniently I will thank you to furnish to Mr. Jones for me abt. £45. wh. I am to pay at Fredbg. under an engagment wh. cannot be delayed. I have adjusted my affr. with Pickett by the payment of ⅔ ds. the amt. and otherwise securing him in the balance in three months, so that I am freed from that difficulty. This was done by the sale of my military land. I shall probably be down,...
83To James Madison from John Chew, ca. October 1798 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. October 1798. Mentioned in John Chew to JM, 20 Oct. 1799 . Informs JM of the death of Joseph Chew and requests information on lands that Chew claimed.
84To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 26 October 1798 (Madison Papers)
The day after you left us, I sat down and wrote the petition I mentioned to you. It is not yet correct enough, & I inclose you a copy to which I pray your corrections, and to return it by the next post, that it may be set in motion. On turning to the judiciary law of the US. I find they established the designation of jurors by lot or otherwise as now practiced in the several states ; should...
85To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 November 1798 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 31. has been duly recieved and the corrections suggested are thankfully adopted. The petition will be offered for signature at our court the day after tomorrow. Richardson has been in a great measure prevented doing any thing this week by the weather, which has been too cold for laying mortar. He has still 2. or 3. days work of that kind to do, which is indispensable, and about...
86To James Madison from Carter B. Harrison, 9 November 1798 (Madison Papers)
I have lately seen in a Richmond paper Zakh Burnleys advertisement of 1600 acres of Land in your County seven miles above the Court house. I am disposed to become a purchaser of some good Land in that part of the State. Can I get the favor of you to let me know the price & your opinion of its real value? If you think the purchase adviseable I will if possible see it on my way to Philada....
87To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 November 1798 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Richardson has been detained by several jobs indispensible to the progress of the carpenters, & to the securing what is done against the winter. When will Whitton be done with you? Or could you by any means dispense with his services till I set out for Philadelphia? My floors can only be laid while I am at home, and I cannot get a workman here. Perhaps you have some other with you or near...
88To James Madison from John Dawson, 24 November 1798 (Madison Papers)
I am thus far on my way to Philadelphia, from whence I shall write to you as soon as I have any thing worthy communicating—in the mean time I will thank you for your sentiments about the situation of M. Lyon, and what steps we ought to take as it regards the constitution, and policy. I have some reason to think that another attempt will be made to expel him. Accept my best wishes! RC ( DLC )....
89To James Madison from James Monroe, 7 December 1798 (Madison Papers)
I observe in the Aurora a letter signed Junius wh. seems to incite the respectable marshall of France to continue his essays agnst me in a manner best calculated to forward the views of his prompter. I suspect that piece was written, either by the volunteer aid or the inspector genl. I am surprised such a piece shod. have been introduc’d in that paper without a comment. I gave Mr. Dawson the...
90To James Madison from John Dawson, 9 December 1798 (Madison Papers)
By the enclosd speech you will find that the tone of the president is much changed, and that we may still hope for peace —what has producd this, or how far he is sincere, we cannot yet determine—in a few days we shall be able to form a better judgement—we have nothing late from Europe, nor can we form an opinion of the temper of our body—they do not appear to be in Spirits. Yrs. with much...
91To James Madison from John Dawson, 2 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your letter, & enclosures by Mr. Jefferson, to all of which I shall pay particular attention. By the public papers you will observe the number of members who have been absent—this circumstance has prevented our attempting any thing of consequence—however many of them have lately come in, & we have reason to expect others in a few days, when we shall make an effort for the repeal...
92To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 3 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
I have suffered the post hour to come so nearly on me that I must huddle over what I have more than appears in the public papers. I arrived here on Christmas day, not a single bill or other article of business having yet been brought into Senate. The P’s speech, so unlike himself in point of moderation, is supposed to have been written by the military conclave, & particularly Hamilton. When...
93To James Madison from Hubbard Taylor, 3 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
Majr Welch’s starting sooner than I expected I have only time to inclose you a letter from Colo. Geo. Nicholas, to Colo. C. M. Thrusten, in answer to one written to B. Thrusten, who was desired to shew it to Colo. Nicholas. It is universally approved of in this state. You no doubt have seen the Resolutions passed by our assembly, there were only 3 descenting to one, 2 to another & only one to...
94To James Madison from John Dawson, 7 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
I have recievd your two favours of the 16 & 28 of december, & their enclosures, to which I paid immediate attention. You observe how slowly we move on in congress—the criminal absense of nine of our members, while they are on the floor to a man, has prevented our attempting any thing, & it is matter of astonishment that they have not effected every thing—a declaration of war might be obtaind...
95To James Madison from John Moody, 7 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
Although My Acquaintance with you is a Very Small [one] I have taken the liberty To Address you. In Porcupines Paper of 27h. & 28h Decmber is a piece under the Signature (of a True federalist Though a Virginian) Dated the 10h. of December Implicating a Number of My frends Incoludeing you and myself in a Very Scurillious Manner. As I am Not a Publick Speaker on Politicks and Persueing the...
96To James Madison from John Dawson, 15 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
We have no mail on this morning, which prevents my hearing from Virginia. The president has not yet made the promisd communication, nor can we account for it—attempts made to cast censure on Logan for his trip to Europe have recoild on the authors, whose conduct has been wonderfully imprudent & unwise —at present we are engagd on the old subject of a Bankrupt law, which after taking up much...
97To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
The forgery lately attempted to be plaid off by mr. H. on the house of representatives, of a pretended memorial presented by Logan to the French government, has been so palpably exposed as to have thrown ridicule on the whole of the clamours they endeavored to raise as to that transaction. Still however their majority will pass the bill. The real views in the importance they have given to...
98To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 January 1799 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the 16th. since which yours of the 12th. is recieved and it’s contents disposed of properly. These met such approbation as to have occasioned an extraordinary impression of that day’s paper. Logan’s bill is passed. The lower house, by a majority of 20. passed yesterday a bill continuing the suspension of intercourse with France, with a new clause enabling the President to...
99To James Madison from John Dawson, 5 February 1799 (Madison Papers)
By the saturdays mail I recievd your favour —the one due on today is not yet in, altho it is evening, owing I presume to the badness of the roads. Within the last ten days we have had several petitions for the repeal of the alien & sedition laws, & have reason to look for more, & from quarters where least expected. Hartley is in an unpleasant situation, his district having in general petitiond...
100To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 5 February 1799 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you last on the 30th. Jan. since which yours of the 25th. is recieved. At the date of my letter I had only heard the bill for the eventual army read once. I concieved it additional to the Provisional army &c. I must correct the error. The bill for the Provisional army (about 10,000. men [)] expires this session without having been carried into execution. The eventual army (about...