121From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 20 August 1785 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 18th. of March never reached me till the 4 inst. It came by post from N. York, which it did not leave till the 21. of July. My last was dated in April, & went by Mr. Mazzei who picked it up at N. York and promised to deliver it with his own hand. The machinations of G. B. with regard to Commerce have produced much distress and noise in the Northern States, particularly in Boston,...
122From James Madison to Caleb Wallace, 23 August 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 12th. of July was safely deliverd to me by Mr. Craig. I accept with pleasure your propos’d exchange of Western for Eastern intelligence and though I am a stranger to parental ties can sufficiently con[c]ieve the happiness of which they are a source to congratulate you on Your possession of two fine sons & a Daughter. I do not smile at the Idea of transplanting myself into...
123From James Madison to Ambrose Madison, 20 September 1785 (Madison Papers)
I recd. yesterday yours of the 9 inst. You will do well in hastening the exaction of a Deed from Jones, as you have now actually paid part of the purchase money. His death or a refusal of his wife to concur in a conveyance will produce much perplexity, and possibly Loss. The result of further enquiry here is more favorable than the information contained in my last. I find that Tobo. of the...
124From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 3 October 1785 (Madison Papers)
In pursuance of the plan intimated in my last I came to this City about three weeks ago, from which I continued my trip to New York. I returned last night and in a day or two shall start for Virginia. Col: Monroe had left Philada. a few days before I reached it, on his way to a treaty to be held with the Indians about the end of this month on the Wabash. If a visit to the Eastern States had...
125From James Madison to George Washington, 20 October 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 20 October 1785. In a letter of 29 October from Washington to JM he refers to JM’s “favor of the 20th.” with an enclosure, which contained suggestions of a suitable form for Washington’s letter to the General Assembly requesting the donation to some public institution of the Assembly’s gift of canal shares to Washington.
126Bills for a Revised State Code of Laws, [31 October] 1785 (Madison Papers)
A revision of the Virginia code of laws was already overdue when the colony forsook its royal allegiance in 1776. Changing circumstances made it necessary to enact new laws in the transition from colony to commonwealth while retaining the bedrock of English common law. JM was barely on the legislative scene and no lawyer, but he was more than an interested spectator as Jefferson attempted to...
127Act for Establishing Religious Freedom, [31 October] 1785 (Madison Papers)
I. Whereas Almighty God hath created the mind free; that all attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the Holy author of our religion, who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in his Almighty power...
128From James Madison to George Washington, 11 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I recd. your favor of the 29th. ulto. on thursday. That by Col. Lee had been previously delivered. Your letter for the Assembly was laid before them yesterday. I have reason to believe that it was received with every sentiment which could correspond with yours. Nothing passed from which any conjecture could be formed as to the objects which would be most pleasing for the appropriation of the...
129Draft of Resolutions on Foreign Trade, [ca. 12 November] 1785 (Madison Papers)
1. Resd. that to vest Congs. with authority to regulate the foreign trade of the U. S. wd. add energy & dignity to the federal Govt. 2. Resd. that the unrestrained exercise of the powers possessed by each State over its own commerce may be productive of discord among the parties to the Union; and that Congs. ought to be vested with authority to regulate the same in certain cases. 3. Resd. that...
130Resolution Calling for the Regulation of Commerce by Congress, 14 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
Whereas, the relative situation of the United States has been found on trial, to require uniformity in their commercial regulations, as the only effectual policy for obtaining in the ports of foreign nations, a stipulation of privileges, reciprocal to those enjoyed by the subjects of such nations in the ports of the United States; for preventing animosities, which cannot fail to arise among...
131From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 15 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I acknowledged from Philada. your favor of the 11 of May. On my return to Orange I found the copy of your Notes brought along with it by Mr. Doradour. I have looked them over carefully myself & consulted several judicious friends in confidence. We are all sensible that the fre [e] dom of your strictures on some particular measures and opinions will displease their respective abettors . But we...
132Act Securing the Copyright for Authors, 16 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I. BE it enacted by the General Assembly , That the author of any book or pamphlet already printed, being a citizen of any one of the United States, who has not transferred to any other person or persons the copy or copies of such book, or pamphlet, share, or shares thereof, his heirs and assigns, or the person or persons who have purchased or acquired such copy or copies, share or shares, in...
133Amendments to the Act Conveying Canal Shares to George Washington, [16 November] 1785 (Madison Papers)
I. Whereas by an act, intituled “An act for vesting in George Washington, esq. a certain interest in the companies established for opening and extending the navigation of James and Potowmack rivers,” and reciting, “that whereas it is the desire of the representatives of this commonwealth to embrace every suitable occasion of testifying their sense of the unexampled merits of George Washington,...
134From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 18 November 1785 (Madison Papers)
I rcd. yrs. by Capt. Barbour who I hope will enquire as to Turpin in the land office. I wish you rather to confide such business to friends coming here who can be relied on than to refer it to me. I am so little Master of my time, and the Office is removed so far out of the way that I cannot be relied on. I will endeavor to get the Journals for you soon. The price of Tobo. forbids the sale of...
135Notes for Debate on Commercial Regulations by Congress, 30 November–1 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Genl. Regns. necessary ⟨thro: the States⟩ 1. Counteract foreign plans 2. encourage Ships & Seamen 3. manufactures 4. revenue 5. frugality — articles of luxury easily smuggled 6. embargoes in war. Delaware ————— necessary to prevent animosity. contention:
136From James Madison to Ambrose Madison, 1 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
As I write by Mr. Porter to my father I shall not repeat the news from the Assembly. I have nothing from Philada. later than my last which I sent by Mr. William Walker with a letter for you from the back Country put into my hands by Col. John Campbell. Tobo. does not command more than four dollars cash or 28/. part goods. If an oppy. offers and you can send me some fresh butter either from...
137From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 1 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 1 December 1785. Mentioned in JM’s 1 December 1785 letter to his brother Ambrose . Contained news about the activities of the Assembly.
138From James Madison to James Monroe, 9 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Supposing that you will be at New York by the time this reaches it I drop a few lines for the post of today. Mr. Jones tells me he informed You that a substitute had been brought forward to the commercial propositions which you left on the carpet. The subject has not since been called up. If any change has taken place, in the mind of the House, it has not been unfavorable to the idea of...
139From James Madison to George Washington, 9 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 30. Novr. was received a few days ago. This would have followed much earlier the one which yours acknowledges had I not wished it to contain some final information relative to the commercial propositions. The discussion of them has consumed much time, and though the absolute necessity of some such general system prevailed over all the efforts of its adversaries in the first...
140Resolutions on Kentucky Statehood, 12 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
… Fifth ,—That the use and navigation of the river Ohio, so far as the territory of the proposed State, or the territory which shall remain within the limits of this Commonwealth, lies thereon, shall be free and common to the citizens of the United States, the respective jurisdictions of this Commonwealth, and of the proposed State over the river as aforesaid; shall be concurrent only with the...
141From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., ca. 13 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. ca. 13 December 1785. Mentioned in JM’s letter to his brother, Ambrose, 15 December 1785 . In the letter to his father, 24 December 1785 , JM wrote that the previous letter had concerned the miscarriage of the Assize Court bill.
142From James Madison to Ambrose Madison, 15 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
I wrote to my father a day or two ago by Col: Burnley to which I refer. The principal step since taken by the H. of Delegates has been the rejection of a bill on which the Assize scheme depended. The majority consisted of 63 agst, 49. Yesterday the vote of the Speaker decided in the affirmative a resolution to repeal the Act which permits Masters to free their slaves. I hope the bill which...
143Act Giving Executive the Power to Deal with Aliens, 15 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
BE it enacted by the General Assembly , That it shall and may be lawful for the governor, with the advice of the council of state, to apprehend and secure, or cause to be apprehended and secured, or compelled to depart this commonwealth, all suspicious persons, being the subjects of any foreign power or state, who shall have made a declaration of war, or actually commenced hostilities against...
144From James Madison to James Monroe, 17 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Since my last by the preceding post the fate of the Assize laws has been determined by a negative in the H. of Delegates on the Bill on which its execution depended. The majority consisted of 63 agst. 49. A reform of the County Courts is the substitute proposed by the adversaries of the Assize, and if it can be put into any rational shape, will be received by the other side as auxiliary to the...
145Bill Providing for Installment Payments on British Debts, 19 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Whereas by the 4th art: of the Definitive Treaty of peace between the U. S. of America & G. B. it was stipulated among other things by the contracting parties, “that Creditors on either side shall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value in sterling money of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted”. Be it therefore enacted by the Genl. Assembly that so much of all...
146Act Concerning Statehood for the Kentucky District, 22 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
I. Whereas it is represented to be the desire of the good people inhabiting the district known by the name of the Kentucky district, that the same should be separated from this commonwealth whereof it is a part, and be formed into an independent member of the American confederacy, and it is judged by the general assembly that such a partition of the commonwealth is rendered expedient by the...
147From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 24 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
My last informed you of the miscarriage of the Assize scheme. It has been followed with an attempt to reform the County Courts, which will probably end in the appointment of four months in which the Courts shall be confined to Docket business & compelled to dispatch it. A Bill is depending for the payment of British debts, nearly on the model of that which fell thro’ last year. It is extremely...
148From James Madison to James Monroe, 24 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
The proceedings of the Assembly since my last dated this day week have related 1. to the Bill for establishing Religious freedom in the Revisal. 2. a Bill concerning British debts 3. a Bill concerning the Proprietary interest in the Northern Neck. 4. for reforming the County Courts. The first employed the H. of Delegates several days; The preamble being the principal subject of contention. It...
149Act Ratifying the Chesapeake Compact with Maryland, [ca. 24–26 December] 1785 (Madison Papers)
I. Whereas , at a meeting of the commissioners appointed by the general assembly of the state of Maryland and Virginia, to wit: Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Thomas Stone, and Samuel Chase, esquires, on the part of the state of Maryland, and George Mason and Alexander Henderson, esquires, on the part of the state of Virginia, at Mount-Vernon, in Virginia, on the 28th day of March, in the year...
150From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 27 December 1785 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Js. Davis has just handed your favor of the 24. inst. It is too late to revise the proceedings relative to the Trustees of Beverley. The Act authorises the Commssrs who are to settle your accounts to make a reasonable allowance for your trouble. I cannot get a copy of the Act without paying the £10. Capt. P. Barbour will inform you of Dean’s answer to his application. He carried a letter...