From James Madison to George Washington, 18 March 1787
To George Washington
New York March 18th. 1787
Dear Sir,
Recollecting to have heard you mention a plan formed by the Empress of Russia for a comparative view of the aborigines of the new Continent, and of the N. E. parts of the old, through the medium of their respective tongues, and that her wishes had been conveyed to you for your aid in obtaining the American vocabularies, I have availed myself of an opportunity offered by the Kindness of Mr. Hawkins, of taking a copy of such a sample of the Cherokee & Choctaw dialects as his late commission to treat with them enabled him to obtain, and do myself the honor now of enclosing it.1 I do not know how far the list of words made use of by Mr. Hawkins may correspond with the standard of the Empress, nor how far nations so remote as the Cherokees & Choctaws from the N. W. shores of America, may fall within her scheme of comparison. I presume however that a great proportion at least of the words will answer, and that the laudable curiosity which suggests investigations of this sort will be pleased with every enlargement of the field for indulging it. Not finding it convenient to retain a copy of the enclosed as I wished to do for myself, I must ask the favor of your amanuensis to perform that task for me.
The appointments for the Convention go on very successfully. Since the date of my last, Georgia, S. Carolina, N. York, Massts. & N. Hamshire have come into the measure. Georgia & N. Hampshire have constituted their Delegates in Congs. their representatives in the Convention. S. Carolina has appointed Mr. J. Rutledge, Genl. Pinkney, Mr. Laurens, Major Butler, and Mr. Chs. Pinkney late a member of Congs. The deputies of Massts. are Mr. Dana, Mr. King, Mr. Ghoram, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Strong. I am told that a Resolution of the Legislature of this State which originated with their Senate lays its deputies under the fetter of not departing from the 5th. of the present articles of Confederation. As this Resolution passed before the Recommendatory act of Congress was known, it is conjectured that it may be rescinded; but its having passed at all denotes a much greater prevalence of political jealousy in that quarter than had been imagined.2 The deputation of N. York consists of Col. Hamilton, Judge Yates and a Mr. Lansing. The two last are said to be pretty much linked to the antifederal party here, and are likely of course to be a clog on their Colleague. It is not doubted now that Connecticut & R. Island will avoid the singularity of being unrepresented in the Convention.
The thinness of Congs. has been an obstacle to all the important business before them. At present there are nine States on the ground but this number, though adequate to every object when unanimous, makes a slow progress in business that requires seven States only. And I see little prospect of the number being increased.
By our latest and most authentic information from Massts. it would seem that a calm has been restored by the expedition of Genl. Lincoln. The precautions taking by the State however betray a great distrust of its continuance. Besides their act disqualifying the malcontents from voting in the election of members for the Legislature &c. another has been passed for raising a corps of 1000 or 1500 men, and appropriating the choicest revenues of the Country, to its support.3 It is said that at least half of the insurgents decline accepting the terms annexed to the amnesty, and that this defiance of the law agst. Treason, is countenanced not only by the impunity with which they shew themselves on public occasions, even with insolent badges of their character, but by marks of popular favor conferred on them in various instances in the election to local offices.4
A proposition has been introduced & discussed in the Legislature of this State, for relinquishing its claim to Vermont, and urging the admission of it into the Confederacy.5 As far as I can learn difficulties will arise only in settling the form, the substance of the measures being not disliked by any of the parties. It is wished by those who are not interested in claims to lands within that district to guard agst. any responsibility in the State for compensation. On the other side it will at least be insisted that they shall not be barred of the privelege of carrying their claims before a federal Court, in case Vermont shall become a party to the Union. I think it probable if she should not decline becoming such altogether, that she will make two conditions if not more. 1. that neither her boundaries, nor the rights of her citizens shall be impeachable under the 9th. art. of Confederation.6 2. that no share of the public debt already contracted shall be allotted to her.
I have a letter from Col. Jno. Campbel dated at Pittsburg, from wch. I gather that the people of that quarter are thrown into great agitation by the reported intention of Congs. concerning the Mississippi, and that measures are on foot, for uniting the minds of all the different settlements which have a common interest at stake. Should this policy take effect I think there is much ground to apprehend that the ambition of individuals will quickly mix itself with the first impulses of resentment and interest; that by degrees the people may be led to set up for themselves, that they will slide like Vermont insensibly into a communication and latent connection with their British neighbours, and in pursuance of the same example, make such a disposition of the Western territory as will entice into it most effectually emigrants from all parts of the Union. If these apprehensions be not imaginary they suggest many observations extremely interesting to Spain as well as to the United States.
I hear from Richmond with much concern that Mr. Henry has positively declined his mission to Philada. Besides the loss of his services on that theatre, there is danger I fear that this step has proceeded from a wish to leave his conduct unfettered on another theatre where the result of the Convention will receive its destiny from his omnipotence. With every sentiment of esteem & affection I remain Dear Sir Your Obedt. and very hble Servt.
Js. Madison Jr.
RC (DLC: Washington Papers); Tr (DLC). Enclosure not found. Docketed by Washington.
1. Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina was one of five commissioners appointed by Congress to negotiate with the southern Indian tribes (Burnett, The Continental Congress, p. 628).
3. JM was referring to an act of the Massachusetts General Court as set forth in a proclamation by Gov. James Bowdoin on 16 Feb. 1787 granting conditional pardon to a majority of the followers of Daniel Shays. The act of 3 Feb. required insurgents to surrender their arms immediately and to subscribe to an oath of allegiance to Massachusetts. It prohibited them from serving as jurors, town officials, teachers, innkeepers, retailers of liquor, or voters. In his proclamation the governor set three years as the time limit for the prohibitions (Acts and Laws, Passed by the General Court of Massachusetts, 1787 [ 20510]). On 8 Feb. the General Court authorized the enlistment of up to 1,500 men for four months to put down any further uprisings. The troops were to be paid from the £40,000 appropriated by the legislature from impost and excise duties (Resolves of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1786–1787 [ 20514]: George R. Minot, The History of Insurrections in Massachusetts [Worcester, 1788], p. 126).
4. Most of the Shaysites ignored the proffered pardon and were willing to stand trial. Some towns not under martial law—Barre, Pelham, New Braintree—disregarded the disfranchisement and allowed insurgents to vote in the spring election. As a result many delegates sympathetic to the insurgents were elected to the state legislature (Starkey, A Little Rebellion, pp. 182–86).
5. On 15 Mar. 1787 Alexander Hamilton introduced a bill into the New York Assembly providing for Vermont’s independence. The bill met opposition from New York landowners who held title to tracts in Vermont. The Assembly passed the bill on 11 Apr. 1787. but it was defeated in the Senate (Williamson, Vermont in Quandary, pp. 175–76; , IV, 112–18, 126–41).
6. JM was referring to the second clause of Article IX of the Articles of Confederation, which gave Congress the power to appoint judges or commissioners to decide on appeals “in all disputes and differences now subsisting or that hereafter may arise between two or more States concerning boundary, jurisdiction or any other cause whatever.” JM evidently thought that Vermont would demand a guarantee that her boundaries and the land claims of her citizens remain intact, beyond the reach of congressional jurisdiction.