James Madison Papers

Edmund Randolph to Virginia Delegates, 30 June 1788

Edmund Randolph to Virginia Delegates

Richmond June 30. 1788.

Gentlemen

I do myself the honor of inclosing for your consideration intelligence just received from Colo. Joseph Martin, formerly our Indian agent.1 I have the honor gentlemen to be with great respect Yr. mo. ob. serv.

Edm. Randolph

RC and enclosure (PCC); FC (Vi). FC in a clerk’s hand. RC docketed by a clerk.

1Martin had been discontinued as Virginia’s Indian agent after Congress appointed a superintendent of Indian affairs for the Southern Department, but he continued to send unofficial reports to Randolph (PJM description begins William T. Hutchinson et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (vols. 1–10, Chicago, 1962–77; vols. 11—, Charlottesville, Va., 1977—). description ends , IX, 336 and n. 1; CVSP description begins William P. Palmer et al., eds., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (11 vols.; Richmond, 1875–93). description ends , IV, 395–96 and passim). On 20 June 1788 Congress appointed him agent of the Cherokee nation (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXXIV, 247). The enclosed papers were copies of Martin’s 11 June 1788 letter to Randolph and its enclosures, which contained an account of an unprovoked attack by white marauders on a Cherokee town near Chota (CVSP description begins William P. Palmer et al., eds., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (11 vols.; Richmond, 1875–93). description ends , IV, 452–55). In response to frequent violations of the Treaty of Hopewell by the inhabitants of Franklin, Congress on 1 Sept, 1788 issued a proclamation declaring its firm determination to enforce that treaty. JM was a member of the committee that drafted the proclamation (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). description ends , XXXIV, 304 n. 1, 310, 342–44, 368–71, 476–79).

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