301From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Your two letters of the 12 & 11. came duly to hand since my last. The power of Atty sent me proves sufficient. It will be necessary for you to have a proper one at Richmond to prevent another transfer hither. The weather has been so intensely cold that I have not yet gone out to the proper office with Saml. French’s Certificate. I am at a loss to account for Mr. Noe’s draught. I know of no...
302National University, [26 December] 1796 (Madison Papers)
On 21 December JM had reported the following resolution from the select committee established on 12 December, relating to the section of the president’s message recommending the establishment of a national university. “ Resolved , That it is at present expedient that authority should be given to enrol proper persons to receive in trust, pecuniary donations, in aid of the donations already...
303Memorial of Joseph Nourse, ca. 26 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Document not found. Ca. 26 December 1796. On 26 Dec. 1796 JM presented to the House of Representatives the memorial of Joseph Nourse, register of the treasury of the U.S., asking for an increase in salary. It was referred to the committee on the subject of compensation. Reported in New World , 27 Dec. 1796.
304Petition of John Porter, ca. 27 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Document not found. Ca. 27 December 1796. On 27 Dec. 1796 JM presented to the House of Representatives the petition of Porter, who was seeking compensation for his services during the Revolution. Reported in Claypoole’s Am. Daily Advertiser , 28 Dec. 1796. The petition was referred to the Committee of Claims, which disallowed it on 6 Jan. 1797 ( JHR Journal of the House of Representatives of...
305Petition of Hugh Lawson White, [30 December] 1796 (Madison Papers)
Hugh Lawson White had petitioned the House on 11 February 1795 seeking compensation for services as a private of mounted infantry during John Sevier’s campaign against the Cherokee Indians in September 1793. The petition was referred to the War Department until Secretary James McHenry reported against the claim on 24 December 1796. The House took up the matter again in a Committee of the Whole...
306To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of Dec. 19. has come safely. The event of the election has never been a matter of doubt in my mind. I knew that the Eastern states were disciplined in the schools of their town meetings to sacrifice differences of opinion to the great object of operating in phalanx, and that the more free & moral agency practised in the other states would always make up the supplement of their weight....
307To James Madison from James Monroe, 1 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have not heard from you since the adjourmt. of the last Congress or rather since you left Phila. after the adjourment. In my last I informed you that Adet was suspended & orders issued to seize British property in our bottoms & that the aspect here was a very menacing one, and in consequence my situation as the minister of our country a very disagreeable one, & wh. was made more so, after...
308To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 2 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 2 January 1797. Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 15 Jan. 1797 . Discusses purchases for Montpelier.
309To James Madison from John Hopkins, 3 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
By direction of General Jonathan Clarke I enclose you a draft for Two Hundred Dollars, the receipt of which you will be pleased to acknowledge to him to me. I am with great respect Sir Your Most Obt Servant RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM. Jonathan Clark (1750–1811), brother of George Rogers Clark, attended Donald Robertson’s school in King and Queen County and served as lieutenant colonel in the...
310To James Madison from Lawrence Taliaferro, 4 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Neither Mr. Robert nor Frances Brooke will offer to represent our Destrict in Congress, they both plead that it would ruin them in their prafesion which is their principal support, or they would feel themselves much gratified in the confidence repos’d in them by their fellow Citizens. There is three Gentlemen who offer, Mr John Dawson is one who we fear is not popular enough to succeed, the...
311Land Sales in Ohio, [5 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison submitted it to the mover whether it might not be more proper immediately to make the Enquiry of the proper department, without a committee. In general he did not see the necessity of a committee when the application could be immediately made to the department. Claypoole’s Am. Daily Advertiser , 7 Jan. 1797 (reprinted in Philadelphia Gazette , 9 Jan. 1797, and Gales’s Independent...
312From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 17 Ult. The election is not likely to terminate in the equilibrium of votes for which the Constitution has not provided. If the Vermont votes should be valid as is now generally supposed, Mr. Adams will have 71. & you 68. Pinkney being in the rear of both. It is to be hoped that the nicety & in truth the unpropitious casualty, of the choice of Mr. A. will lessen...
313To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of Dec. 25. is safely recieved. I much fear the issue of the present dispositions of France & Spain. Whether it be in war or in the suppression of our commerce it will be very distressing and our commerce seems to be already sufficiently distressed through the wrongs of the belligerent nations and our own follies. It was impossible the bank & paper-manie should not produce great &...
314To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 8 [January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. the other day yours of the 16th ult. inclosing a part of paines letter to the president (from 41 to 64) the appendix and the first number of Mr Pelham, which as a specimen of the writers design, and liberality of sentiment, does not exhibit him in a very favourable point of view. This man is not for a total but partial disorganisation, and as he belongs to or speaks from Connecticut...
315To James Madison from James Monroe, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. notice of my recall in Novr., Mr. Pinckney arrived here in decr. & I took my leave of this govt. on the first of Jany. so that you will perceive it was impossible unless I exposed myself & family to the danger & inconvenience of a winters voyage, to depart hence before the begining of April next, wh. we propose to do, in case a suitable passage can be obtained from any of the ports of...
316To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Judge Claiborne, of the state of Tennessee, has requested me to introduce him to you. He is travelling on to Philadelphia, with a view to solicit the appointment of district-judge in that state under the U. S. Altho’ a young man, his pretensions have been marked by the opinion, prevailing there, of his superiority over his present competitors, who formerly contested with him the seat on the...
317To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 8 January 1797. Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 22 and 29 Jan. 1797 . Discusses family matters and crops at Montpelier.
318Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [9 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 5 January JM had called up the report of the secretary of war on Poirey’s petition and moved that a bill be brought in. The House considered the matter in a Committee of the Whole on 9 January, with JM proposing that “provision ought to be made by law for settling the claim of M. Poirey” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.;...
319James and Dolley P. Madison v. Edward Heston, 10 January 1797 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 January 1797, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Dolley Madison and JM brought suit against Edward Heston to recover costs incurred by Dolley Madison and the late John Todd for nursing and burying Heston’s son, Isaac, in 1793. The plaintiffs abandoned the cause and agreed to a nonsuit. Ms ( InU ). 3 pp. Notes on the case taken by Jonathan Williams, who was associate judge of the court of...
320To James Madison from George Taylor, Jr., 11 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Being prevented by excessive hurry of Business at the office, from waiting on you in person, I take the liberty of reminding, you by a few lines, of my unpleasant situation as to salary being the same as it was when I last troubled you on the subject. I need not mention or urge to a gentleman of your independent Character, how irksome it must be to a feeling mind to be totally dependent on the...
321Petition of Gilbert Dench, [11 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole to consider the report of the Committee of Claims on Gilbert Dench ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1835–36). Messrs. Madison … were of opinion, that if Mr. Dench had any claim it was upon the state of Massachusetts, and not upon the United...
322Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [11 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
JM called up the bill on the claim of Poirey. The House went into a Committee of the Whole, rose, and reported the bill without amendment ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1839). Mr. Madison observed, that if he saw any danger from the precedent of making this provision, he should not be...
323Relations with Algiers, [13 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 10 January the House had considered a motion that a committee be appointed “to select such parts of the confidential communication sent … by a message of the President of the United States” on 9 January “as in their opinion may, with propriety, be printed.” JM, Ames (Massachusetts), Sherburne (New Hampshire), Davenport (Connecticut), Livingston (New York), Grove (North Carolina), and...
324From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought me your favor of Jany. 1. inclosing an unsealed one for Mr. A. & submitting to my discretion the eligibility of delivering it. In exercising this delicate trust I have felt no small anxiety, arising by no means however from an apprehension that a free exercise of it could be in collision with your real purpose, but from a want of confidence in myself, & the importance of...
325From James Madison to Robert R. Livingston, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have lately recd. a letter from Mr. Freneau, who formerly edited the National Gazette in this City, in which he tells me that he has removed from N. Jersey to N. York, and is associating himself with Mr. Greenleaf in the publication of a Daily & Biweekly papers. Having been acquainted with Mr. Freneau from our youths, and being sensible of his private worth, his literary talents, and his...
326From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last post brought me your favor of Jany. 2d. It will be well for you to send on your list of articles wanted as soon as possible. I hope Kyser will not disappoint us in the Clover Seed; and that other chances at Fredg. & elsewhere will be watched: As I shall get some at all events even here, I wish a Box to be made as soon as can be done. It will be the more necessary the more scanty the...
327To James Madison from Francis Corbin, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
It is a long time since I had the pleasure of writing to you, and as the Subject of this Letter will not be of a political or public, but altogether of a private and confidential kind, I ought, perhaps, to apologise for it. But I have always relied very much on your goodness and, I assure you, my opinion of it is still exalted and still undiminish’d. An excuse, therefore, would be...
328From James Madison to Robert Gamble, 15 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 15 January 1797. Acknowledged in Gamble to JM, 21 Jan. 1797 . Encloses newspapers and a bank note of $50 for Mary Coles Payne. Discusses political and international news.
329To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 16 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The usual accidents of the winter, ice, floods, rains, have prevented the Orange post from coming to Charlottesville the last postday, so that we have nothing from Philadelphia the last week. I see however by the Richmond papers a probability that the choice of V. P. has fallen on me. I have written the inclosed letter therefore to mr. Tazewell as a private friend, and have left it open for...
330To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 16 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 16 January 1797. Referred to in JM to James Madison, Sr., 5 Feb. 1797 . Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 13 Feb. 1797 . Encloses James Madison, Sr., to Joseph Chew, 15 Jan. 1797, on Kentucky lands and family matters (NHi).
331Relations with Algiers, [17 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison moved that the house should resolve itself into a committee of the whole, on the Algerine business, for which purpose he supposed it would be necessary to clear the house and galleries. Claypoole’s Am. Daily Advertiser , 18 Jan. 1797 (reprinted in Philadelphia Gazette , 19 Jan. 1797, Gales’s Independent Gazetteer , 20 Jan. 1797, New World , 20 Jan. 1797, Aurora General Advertiser ,...
332From James Madison to James Maury, 18 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Mason & myself lately recd. your packets of London papers by the Alex: Hamilton, which were very acceptable as they brought us the earliest accounts of some of the important articles contained in them. I send in return several packets by Capt: Joseph Prince, who is to sail from N. York, and to whom I can not conveniently transmit any thing of a more bulky nature. Capt: Prince is a brother...
333To James Madison from John Bacon, 18 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
It may be matter of surprize to you to receive a letter from a person whose name you, probably, may never have heard. I have been gratified by reading the printed debates in Congress on the important subject of the treaty-power . I have been particularly pleased with the political principles which, on various occasions, appear uniformly to have influenced your conduct. In the late debates in...
334To James Madison from Enoch Edwards, 19 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Before I left France Mr: Skipwith prepared the inclosed Papers —for you, & wished very much they should be published—but on a Conversation I had with Him I prevailed on him to retract from that Determination. He however left the Papers with Me & desired I would use my own Discretion as to what Use might be made of them. I have been a good deal indisposed since I had the Pleasure to see you...
335Additional Revenue, [19 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The report of the Committee of Ways and Means calling for additional revenue of $4,724,360 had been presented to the House on 12 January. The next day a Committee of the Whole began a lengthy debate on direct taxes (on land and slaves) and indirect taxes (on salt, sherry, wine, foreign spirits, tea, brown sugar, stamps, and windows, and including an increase in ad valorem duties on imports)....
336From James Madison to Horatio Gates, 20 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
During my recess in Virginia Mr. Jefferson put into my hands to be forwarded to you, your Letter Book which you had been so good as to leave with him. Considering the deposit as a precious one, I have been more anxious for a certain than a speedy Conveyance for it. The trip Mr. E. Livingston makes to N. York, furnishes an unexceptionable one, and I accordingly avail myself of it. We get our...
337Additional Revenue, [20 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House took up the resolution for direct taxes on land and on slaves reported by the Committee of the Whole on 19 January. Coit (Connecticut) called for the propositions for taxes on land and slaves to be put separately ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1932). Mr. Madison thought it...
338To James Madison from Robert Gamble, 21 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Your esteemed favor of the 15th: is at hand Covering a Bank note of Fifty Dollars for Mrs. Payne, which I will deliver her, as soon as she returns to Town. Polly & her are gone to Mrs. Winstons in Hanover about a Week past. They are however expected back in a day or two—polly having promised to return in time for the next dancing Assembly night Viz the 25th . The several packets of letters for...
339From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of Jany. 8th. You will find by the papers that the communication on French affairs, has been at length made. Being ordered to be printed without being read, I have no direct knowledge of its character. Some of the Senate where it has been read in part, represent it as well fitted to convert into an incurable gangrine, the wound which the friendship between the two Republics...
340From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought us the pleasure of yours, of Jany. 8th. Fanny did not bring the letter-types with her, and cannot say with absolute certainty where they are to be found. She is pretty confident however that she put them in the Closet upstairs, on the right hand shelf, among some books. The shortness of the crop of Corn at Black-Meadow is a proof of the ruinous tendency of perpetual...
341To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 8th. came to hand yesterday. I was not aware of any necessity of going on to Philadelphia immediately, yet I had determined to do it, as a mark of respect to the public, and to do away the doubts which have spread that I should consider the second office as beneath my acceptance. The journey indeed for the month of February is a tremendous undertaking for me, who have not been...
342Compensation to Public Officers, [26 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House, in a Committee of the Whole, considered a report for increasing the salaries of cabinet members and other public officials as well as for continuing the act of 30 May 1796 regulating the compensation of clerks throughout 1797. The act of 30 May 1796 was read to the committee ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington,...
343To James Madison from John Wilcocks, 28 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have occasion to send a commission to Williamsburg Virginia for the examination of a witness (on interrogatories) in a Law suit depending in the courts of this State: you will permit me to ask the favor of you to name two Gentleman to me as Commissioners for that purpose; You will pardon the liberty, with compliments to Mrs. Madison I have the honor to be Sir Your most humble Servt: RC ( DLC...
344From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours covering an unsealed letter to Mr. Tazewell came duly to hand, and will be turned to the use you wish. As you take the Philada. Gazette in which the Belligerent answer to Adêts note has been printed in toto, I refer to that for the posture & prospect of things with France. The British party since this overt patronage of their cause, no longer wear the mask. A war with France & an...
345From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
My last answered yours of the 8th. since which I have recd. no letter from you, nor a single line from my brother William since his return from Richmond; altho’ I have written him several letters. Fanny has a letter from Nelly Madison of the 10th. which gives an unpleasing account of her mother’s health. It mentions that you & my mother were expected at Mr. Macon’s in a few days; but as your’s...
346To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
After my return from Loudoun I came to this place, where I last post received your several favors to the 13th. I shall continue here untill the 10th. or 12th. next month when I shall return to Fredericksburg. It seems to be now well ascertaine⟨d⟩ that A. will be the p. & J. the Vice p. I have for a length of time considered Mr. A. as a friend to the British Nation and Government whr. he still...
347To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 15th. came to hand yesterday. I am very thankful for the discretion you have exercised over the letter. That has happened to be the case which I knew to be possible, that the honest expressions of my feelings towards mr. A. might be rendered mal-a-propos from circumstances existing & known at the seat of government, but not seen by me in my retired situation. Mr. A. & myself were...
348Manumitted Slaves, [30 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Swanwick (Pennsylvania) presented the petition of four manumitted slaves from North Carolina, requesting that Congress interpose whatever authority it could to relieve them and their families from harassment and efforts to return them to slavery ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 2015–18)....
349To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 30 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 30 January 1797. Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 13 Feb. 1797 . Discusses farm business at Montpelier.
350Military and Naval Appropriations, [31 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole on a resolution calling for appropriations for the military and naval establishments in 1797. Gallatin (Pennsylvania) offered an amendment striking out naval appropriations until the House had decided to complete the building of the frigates already authorized by law ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States …...