To James Madison from the Governor of Virginia, 14 March 1789
From the Governor of Virginia
Richmond March 14th. 1789
Gentlemen,
Some difficulties having occurred in the settlement of the Accounts of this state with the United States between the agents of the two parties; the Executive have thought it proper to send forward Colonel Davies immediately to the seat of the fœderal government there to represent the particular situation of this business. He is instructed in all cases of difficulty to confer with you. Permit me therefore to recommend him to your assistance and attention in all things belonging to the object of his journey.1
In pursuance of the directions of the general assembly, I do myself the honour to forward to you a resolution of that honourable body of the 13th. of December last together with the Account and Vouchers of the expenditures of this state in the defence of her frontier inhabitants since the cession of Western territory.2 I have the honour &c.
B. R.3
FC (
). Addressed to the Virginia representatives and senators in Congress. In a clerk’s hand. Enclosures not found.1. Col. William Davies had accepted an appointment as counsel to settle the Virginia account with the U.S. in September 1788 ( , III, 32 n. 1; , IV, 490–91; , IV, 287). For his role in this complicated business, which soon became intertwined with the controversy over the assumption of state debts, see Ferguson, Power of the Purse, pp. 215–18, 314–24.
2. On 13 Dec. 1788 the General Assembly adopted a resolution requiring the Virginia delegates to Congress “to obtain a credit for this State with the United States” for money spent in protecting its citizens from Indian attacks in the Northwest Territory ( , Oct. 1788, p. 97).
3. Beverley Randolph.