James Madison Papers

Edmund Randolph to Virginia Delegates, 3 August 1788

Edmund Randolph to Virginia Delegates

Richmond August 3d. 1788.

Gentlemen,

A Copy of the inclosed resolution was formerly sent to you. No answer now appearing on our files, we take the liberty of transmitting a second copy, and requesting, that the decision of Congress, if already made may be notified to us, & that if your body has not yet decided, something definitive may be immediately urged: The subject is rendered more pressing by the situation of our accounts with the United States.1 I have &c.

FC (Executive Letter Book description begins Executive Letter Book, 1786–1788, manuscript in Virginia State Library. description ends ). In a clerk’s hand. Enclosure not found.

1The enclosure was probably the resolution of the Virginia General Assembly of 29 Oct, 1787 relating to the settlement of accounts between Virginia and the U.S. The resolution requested Congress to authorize the Continental commissioner for settling these accounts to accept the ledgers of the state auditor and treasurer as “authentic documents” in support of those claims for which the vouchers had been destroyed during the British invasion of Richmond in 1781. The Virginia delegates introduced a motion to this effect on 20 Aug., which was referred to the Board of Treasury. The Board of Treasury agreed that the entries of the auditor and treasurer could be submitted as evidence, but not as “valid Documents of Claim” (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXXIV, 443–44, 503–6).

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