1Proposals to Furnish Delegates Copies of Papers to Be Debated, [ca. 28 December] 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 23, fol. 79). Docketed: “Report of Comee. on Motion of Mr. Middleton Decr. 28. 1781 Mr. Middleton Mr. Clymer Mr. Clark for furnishing the members of Congress with printed Reports before debated.” The first of the proposals shown below is in Edmund Randolph’s hand, the second in JM’s. Resolved, that the secretary upon application to him made for that purpose furnish a copy...
2Note for Report on Prisoners of War, [29 July] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 19, VI, 399). Having received Washington’s letter of 9 July enclosing copies of his correspondence with Sir Guy Carleton concerning a possible exchange of American seamen for British soldiers ( Virginia Delegates to Harrison, 16 July 1782 , and n. 9), Congress on 15 July referred these dispatches to a committee comprising John Witherspoon, JM, and John Rutledge ( JCC...
3Comments on the Cost of the War, [31 July] 1782 (Madison Papers)
Printed copy ( Thomson, “Debates,” Charles Thomson, “Debates in the Congress of the Confederation from July 22d to September 20th, 1782,” Collections of the New-York Historical Society , XI (1878), 63–169. p. 75). See Comments on Instructions to Peace Commissioners, 24 July 1782 , headnote. On 31 July 1782 Congress resumed the debate begun the day before on the problem of how, in view of an...
4Motion on Exchange of Prisoners of War, [22 August] 1781 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al ., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, 1904–37). , XXI, 893). On motion of Mr. [James] Madison, seconded by Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, Resolved , That in case General Burgoyne shall have been exchanged for the honble Henry Laurens, credit shall be given for the officers which may be received for him in the...
5Board of War to Virginia Delegates in Congress and Motion of Delegates, [22 December] 1780 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Journals of the Continental Congress , XVIII, 1181–82). The letter of 21 December from the Board of War has not been found, but it is summarized in the Journals , preceding the motion made the next day. For the possible context of this item, see Matthias Halsted to Virginia Delegates, 17 December 1780 , and n. 2. The delegates for Virginia laid before Congress a letter, of 21,...
6Motion on Commissaries of Prisoners of War, [3 July] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 149, I, 480). In JM’s hand. That the Secretary at War be authorized to appoint proper persons to take charge of the prisoners of war at the said places until the said Commissaries shall be discharged from their arrests, or Congress shall otherwise direct Following “said,” JM wrote and deleted “trials shall be had.” On 3 July the secretary at war informed Congress that the...
7Motion to Request Report from Superintendent of Finance and Secretary at War, [6 June] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, I, 321). This motion was written by JM. At its close, “pass’d” was added, probably by Charles Thomson. Docketed in an unknown hand: “Motion of Mr Madison Seconded by Mr Bland Passed June 6th 1782.” That the Superintendant of Finance & Secretary at War report to Congress the steps taken by them in consequence of the reference made to them on the day of Congress adopted...
8Report on Rations for Prisoners of War, [10–11 June] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 36, I, 323). In JM’s hand. Docketed: “Motion of Mr Madison seconded by Mr Scott June 10. 1782 Referred to Mr Madison Mr Cornell Mr Boudinot Read June 11. 1782 postponed for the purpose of taking up a motion of Mr Midleton.” Charles Thomson’s “Register of Reports from Boards, Offices, and Committees of Congress, 1781–1785” notes that the report was “filed 8 Aug. 1782” ( NA :...
9Amendment to Report on War Department, [16 January] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 27, fol. 153). In JM’s hand. *That at all times in the absence of the Secretary at War, the Assistant be authorised to transact all such business within the department as shall be assigned to him by the said Secretary, who shall be responsible for the conduct of the Assistant By letters of 11 and 14 January, respectively, addressed to the president of Congress, Secretary at...
10Report on German Prisoners of War, [5 June] 1782 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 28, fols. 67, 75–76). The report and the words, “Rept. of Committee on the German Prisoners,” written parallel with the right-hand margin of the cover, are in JM’s hand. The cover also bears the docket, not by JM: “Report of Comee. respectg. german prisoners Debated May 15. 1782. June 5. 1782. Referred, except the last clause, to the Comr. in chief Secry at War and Super....