1To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, ca. 20 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 20 January 1790. Acknowledged in JM to Pendleton, 4 Mar. 1790 . Recommends Dr. David Morrow for a federal appointment.
2To James Madison from Alexander Hamilton, [post 20 January?] 1790 (Madison Papers)
If Mr. Madison should be disengaged this Evening Mr. Hamilton would be obliged by an opportunity of conversing with him at his lodgings for half an hour. If engaged this Evening he will thank him to say whether tomorrow Evening will suit. RC ( DLC ). Addressed by Hamilton.
3From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 21 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
An indisposition on the road retarded me so much that I was not able to take my seat in Congs. till yesterday. It began at Dumfries with a slight complaint in my bowells. On my arrival at George Town it took the form of a Dysentery and was pretty severe for some days. With the aid of my friend Docr. Stuart who was so good as to see me every day, I was in a condition to prosecute my journey in...
4To James Madison from Jacquelin Ambler, 22 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
I did myself the pleasure to write you and enclosed the £100. Bond cancelled—with the Auditor’s Receipt in full discharge thereof. I hope the letter arrived safe. It will give us all here very great satisfaction to hear you are perfectly recovered. I am Dear Sir With very great esteem & regard Your obedt Servt The enclosed failed to reach Mr. Page before he left home; will you do me the favor...
5From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 24 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
A dysenteric attack at Georgetown with its effects retarded my journey so much that I did not arrive here till a few days ago. I am free at present from the original complaint, but a little out of order with the piles generated by that or the medicine it required. The Cato in which were the busts of P. Jones and the box of books for myself never arrived till the day before yesterday, having...
6From James Madison to Edward Carrington, 24 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 24 January 1790. Acknowledged in Carrington to JM, 5 Feb. 1790 , and mentioned in JM to Carrington, 2 Feb. 1790 . Discusses Carrington’s appointment as federal marshal for the Virginia district.
7To James Madison from Henry Lee, 25 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to make known to you the bearer Docr. Morrow. He was early engaged in the service of the U States as a naval surgeon. He continued in this employment thro various vicissitudes, suffering extreme hardships, & acquitted himself with honor & reputation. He understands that naval hospitals will be established & wishes to resume his old employment. His knowledge, his amiability of...
8A Note on the Sources of Madison’s Speeches in the Second and Third Sessions of the First Congress, 25 January 1790–8 … (Madison Papers)
As explained in the preceding volume, the editors have followed contemporary sources rather than the Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, 1789–1824 (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). in presenting the texts of JM’s speeches in Congress ( PJM William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77; vols. 11—,...
9Census, [25 January] 1790 (Madison Papers)
A bill “providing for the actual enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States” was under consideration by the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Madison Observed that they had now an opportunity of obtaining the most useful information for those who should hereafter be called upon to legislate for their country if this bill was extended so as to embrace some other objects besides the bare...
10Census, [26 January] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison presented a schedule, which he moved should be inserted in lieu of that annexed to the bill, viz. Free white males, under 16; free white males, above 16; white females, free blacks, and slaves, the heads of families, &c. And he likewise proposed that a particular schedule should be included in the bill, specifying the number of persons employed in different professions and arts,...
11To James Madison from Nathaniel Gist, 27 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
I must beg leave to request the favor of you to write to me, soon as convenient, in respect to the business you were good enough to undertake to transact for me in Congress. Should you be at a loss for any information relative to the matter, I shall be obliged to you to apply to the President, who is acquainted with every circumstance: Or if it be necessary for me to attend in New York, you...
12To James Madison from the Governor of Virginia, 29 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
The information required by the inclosed resolution of the General Assembly to be laid before Congress will be forwarded to you by mr. Matthew Anderson a Merchant of Character. I have taken the liberty to address these papers to your care as I supposed there was not a more proper channel through which they could be presented to the View of the fœderal Legislature. I should have written upon...
13From James Madison to Eliza House Trist, 31 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
New York Jany. 31. 1790. I wrote last week a letter accompanying the favor for Mrs. Ross, which I put into the hands of Mr. Bailey. He was to have returned to Philada. in the course of the week, but I find he is still here, and may possibly be still longer detained. He expects however to set out tomorrow morning. Mr. Randolph is not yet arrived. We have heard of his being in Philada. and...
14From James Madison to John Dawson, 31 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 31 January 1790. Acknowledged in Dawson to JM, 26 Feb. and 14 Mar. 1790 . Says the official reports of Hamilton and Knox have led to a variety of reactions.
15To James Madison from Robert Ballard, [ca. 1 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has wrote the Officers of this Port, for the exact Sum, each Officer has received, up to the first of January. I hope the Secretary is of Opinion that our Fees are too small and that he will lay a Statement thereof before Congress, for Their Consideration. I have estimated on a frugal Plan the Sum I must expend for the Support of my Family, and find it will...
16From James Madison to Edward Carrington, 2 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I sent to Col: Innis a few days ago Copies of the Reports of Mr. Hamilton & Mr. Knox, with a request that in case you should be in Town you might have a perusal of them. It was not then in my power to send separate Copies; besides that they are too voluminous to be multiplied without exceeding the due share of room in the conveyance. The former Report is to be considered on monday next. Amidst...
17Census, [2 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Livermore objected that carrying out JM’s proposed census of the trades and professions was impracticable. Sedgwick asked why “the learned professions … clergy, physicians, and lawyers, were left out” (N.Y. Daily Gazette , 4 Feb. 1790). Mr. Madison. If the object to be attained by this particular enumeration be as important in the judgment of this house, as it appears to my mind, they will not...
18Naturalization, [3 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
The first clause of the naturalization bill, requiring one year’s residence by aliens for citizenship and an additional residence of two years to be capable of holding either a state or federal office, was under consideration. Tucker moved to strike out the one-year residence requirement in order to permit aliens to purchase and hold lands immediately upon taking an oath of allegiance. Mr....
19Madison’s Rebuttal to “The Earth Belongs to the Living” Precept, 4 February 1790 (Editorial Note) (Madison Papers)
JM’s cogent reply to Jefferson’s famous 6 September 1789 letter with its radical proposition that “the earth belongs to the living, not to the dead,” now needs little introduction to the serious scholar. Yet there were generations of Americans who studied Jefferson without knowledge of Madison’s philosophical chiding of his fellow Virginian; an oversight corrected since the 1940s by the...
20From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 4 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 9th. of Jany. inclosing one of Sepr. last did not get to hand till a few days ago. The idea which the latter evolves is a great one, and suggests many interesting reflections to legislators; particularly when contracting and providing for public debts. Whether it can be received in the extent your reasonings give it, is a question which I ought to turn more in my thoughts...
21To James Madison from Andrew Ellicott, [4 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
Latitude Note These Longitudes though sufficiently correct for common Geographical purposes, will nevertheless be rendered more accurate, when the Meridional Tangent to the west end of Lake Ontario, is carried on to the north boundary of Pennsylvania. Longitude, from the Meridian of Philadelphia ° ′ ″ ° ′ ″ Fort Erie 48.. 53.. 17 N 3.. 39..
22To James Madison from Edward Carrington, 5 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I am favored with yours of the 24. Ult. and am much releived by it from apprehensions that your indisposition, of which I had heard by several hands, was of so serious a Nature, as, at least to detain you on the way longer than it has. I hope you have perfectly recovered. I thank you for your remarks upon my appointment under the fedl Govt. I shall never pretend to an intire indifference upon...
23To James Madison from Walter Jones, 5 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have had Such advantage from our past correspondence, as to make it my Interest and Inclination to acknowledge it, and at the Same time to assure you of the pleasure I shall take in the renewal of it, So far as is perfectly convenient to you. We have as yet heard very little of the proceedings of your present Session, tho we doubt not that the most interesting Subjects will Come under yr....
24To James Madison from Tobias Lear, 7 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
In obedience to the command of the President of the United States, I have the honor to enclose you a letter from Peyton Short Esquire resigning his Commission of Collector of the Port of Louisville in Kentuckey, and to request that you will be so good as to consult with Mr. Brown, and any other Gentlemen from Virginia who are acquainted with characters in that part of the Country, upon a...
25From James Madison to Tobias Lear, 7 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
I have consulted with Mr. Brown on the subject of a Successor to Mr. Short. He is apprehensive that the reasons which induced Mr. S. to decline his appointment will have the same weight with any other person who could be recommended. He names Col: Richard Taylor as worthy of the appointment, and as not more likely to follow the example of Mr. Short, than any other fit person within his...
26Census, [8 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
A six-month time limit was proposed to complete the census. Mr. Madison said, that some states had been in the practice of taking a census, but to others it was a new business; and this consideration should demand a longer time. But there was another consideration—the marshal might die, during the time of transacting his business; the President must be made acquainted with this, and it would...
27To James Madison from William Cavenough, 10 February 1790 (Madison Papers)
Pardon the liberty I take in addressing myself to you, who I have not the Honor to be Known to. My presuming on this freedom, is as much from the severity of my present unhappy Situation, as from a persuasion, that you are a Gentleman of Humanity who can make allowances for improprieties, which are the Offspring of Necessity and real distress: The World sir has severely frown’d upon me, and...
28From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, [ca. 11 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
By the last mail I acknowledged the receipt of your favor of the 9th. Ult: and hazarded a few remarks on the subject of that of Sepr. last from Paris. The newspapers forwarded by me from time to time will have exhibited something of the complexion of the politics here, particularly as they relate to the public debt. On this subject the H. of Reps. is at this moment deliberating. All that can...
29Slave Trade Petitions, [11 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
FitzSimons presented an address of the fall 1789 meeting of the Quakers of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and the western parts of Maryland and Virginia. Laurance presented one from the New York Quakers. These petitions urged Congress to consider measures leading to the abolition of the slave trade. A debate arose over a motion to refer the petitions to a committee. Mr. Madison. The...
30Discrimination between Present and Original Holders of the Public Debt, [11 February] 1790 (Madison Papers)
On 8 February the Committee of the Whole took up Secretary Hamilton’s report on public credit. FitzSimons submitted eight resolutions which served as a framework for the debate. The first declared “that adequate provision ought to be made for fulfilling the engagements of the United States, in respect to their foreign debt.” This passed unanimously. The second resolution called for “the...