1To James Madison from John Walker, 18 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 18 June 1789. Calendared in the lists probably kept by Peter Force (DLC: Madison Miscellany). The two-page letter was offered for sale in the Stan. V. Henkels Catalogue No. 694 (1892), which listed items from the McGuire collection of JM’s papers.
2From James Madison to Henry Lee, 21 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
It was fortunate that a duplicate of your letter to Mr. Jefferson went so soon from Alexandria. The copy in My hands did not find a conveyance fit to be trusted for a very long time—it cannot have reached him yet. I was determined to await a secure opportunity, and the intermission of the French Packet left such an one extremely rare. I was compelled at last to put it into the hands of a...
3To James Madison from [André Limozin?], 13 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 13 November 1789, Havre de Grace, France. Mentioned in JM to James Madison, Sr., 21 Jan. 1790 (IaU) and JM to Jefferson, 24 Jan. 1790 ( Boyd, Papers of Jefferson Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (19 vols. to date; Princeton, 1950—). , XVI, 126). Reports scarcity of bread and prices of wheat and flour. French government is offering bounty on wheat,...
4From James Madison to George Washington, 6 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
The arrival of R. H. Lee yesterday has made up a Quorum of the Senate. A Quorum in the other House was made on wednesday last. The ballots will be opened today unless an indisposition of Mr. Basset should prevent, which was not probable yesterday afternoon. The notifications to the President & Vice President will be left to the Senate. Mr. Charles Thomson will be the Messenger to the former....
5From James Madison to Edward Carrington, 12 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
I am just favd. with yours of the 30th. inst: and am glad to find your sentiments so decided as to the power of removal by the Presidt. Every letter to me, and as far as I know to others here, from Virga. ratifies the propriety of the decision of Congress. Our last discussions of moment have turned on the Compensations. The bill as gone to the Senate, allows Six dollars a day to the members of...
6Import and Tonnage Duties, [8 April] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison . I take the liberty Mr. Chairman, at this early stage of the business to introduce to the committee a subject, which appears to me, to be of the greatest magnitude; a subject, Sir, that requires our first attention, and our united exertions. No gentleman here can be unacquainted with the numerous claims upon our justice; nor with the impotency which prevented the late Congress of...
7Amendments to the Constitution, [14 August] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Under consideration was an amendment providing for one representative for every thirty thousand people until the number reached one hundred. Ames proposed a ratio of one for every forty thousand. Mr. Madison. I cannot concur in sentiment with the gentleman last up, that 1 representative for 40,000 inhabitants will conciliate the minds of those to the government, who are desirous of amendments;...
8From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 15 July 1789 (Madison Papers)
I have been favd. with yours of the 30 Ult. and thank you for your remarks on the Judiciary bill. I am glad to find you concurring in the decision as to the power of removal. It seems to meet with general approbation North of Virga. and there too as far as I yet learn. Mr. Pendleton is fully in opinion with you. So is Monroe I am told . The more the question is weighed the more proper I think...
9To James Madison from James Monroe, 19 July 1789 (Madison Papers)
Your favor advising of the passage of the tonage & impost bills by both houses I have recd. It was my intention to have remov’d to Albemarle & attended the Chancery next month thence. But as it will be better to leave Mrs. M. here in that interval than there, where she has comparitively but few acquaintance, have postpon’d our removal untill abt. the 15. of August. The contest between the two...
10To James Madison from Samuel Johnston, 22 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed Address was voted unanimously and contains, I believe, the genuine Sentiments of much the greatest part of the Inhabitants of this Country; The State of North Carolina having no Agent or any person in a publick Character at this time in New York, I take the liberty to request the favor of you to deliver it, my Motive for troubling you on this occasion rather than any one else,...
11Address of the President to Congress, [30 April] 1789 (Madison Papers)
The term had not yet been coined, but JM was ghostwriting speeches for Washington during the earliest stages of the first president’s tenure. Until Washington’s official family had been established by law and the offices filled, JM was the president’s confidential adviser. In his first dealings with Congress, Washington relied on him to give substance and tone to commonly held ideas on...
12To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 13 September 1789 (Madison Papers)
I returned home three or four days ago, under the vexatious operation of a quartan. I have been correcting it by medicine and hope in a day or two to subdue it. I shall immediately upon recovering my ability to do business with propriety, enter upon and complete the statement of my introductory ideas in Phila. Yrs. afftely. RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM.
13To James Madison from George Washington, 5 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
Notwithstanding the conviction I am under of the labour which is imposed upon you by Public Individuals as well as public bodies—Yet, as you have began, so I would wish you to finish, the good work in a short reply to the Address of the House of Representatives (which I now enclose) that there may be an accordance in this business. Thursday 12 O’clock, I have appointed to receive the Address....
14To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 September 1789 (Madison Papers)
I have sent to Havre the following packages, with directions to send them by the first vessel to New York to your address. TI. No. 29. A box of books. These were packed before I took a list of them, therefore I cannot inform you of it’s contents. I believe the whole are for you; tho’ should it be otherwise the person’s name will always be found written on or in the book. TI. No. 33. TI. No....
15To James Madison from James McHenry, 5 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
I did not learn till just now that you lodged in Town last night or I should have taken the liberty to have requested you to have called down, My brothers indisposition confining me almost entirely to his bed chambre. Col. Ballard formerly of your State is desirous of seeing you. He will have some business with Congress in which your good opinion may be of infinite service to him. He is...
16To James Madison from Thomas Thompson, 8 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
My Friend Mr. Thomas Pleasants read to me a Paragraph in a letter he wrote you, recommending me, shoud the New Government be adopted & consequent commercial arrangements take place, as a Candidate for the Consulship to the Kingdom of Portugal, at same time solliciting your interest wth. General Washington in my behalf; he also shewd me your answer. A Severe & tedious indisposition prevented me...
17To James Madison from Thomas Underwood, 20 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
Yours I recd. for which I thank you and am happy to hear that the Members of your honorable body agree so well in Political matters. I wish very much to know your oppinion of the public debt, that bears so hard on us whether it can be discharged in any short time without having recourse to direct taxes—and how the general oppinion runs respecting the Certificates due to the officers and...
18From James Madison to William Short, 21 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
Mr. George James of Virginia is recommended to me by a friend as of integrity and worth, and on that ground I take the liberty of introducing him to you. He is not sure that his objects in visiting Europe will carry him to Paris, but the possibility of such an event interests him in the means of becoming known to you, and I lend my aid for the purpose the more readily, as it affords an...
19To James Madison from William Short, 17 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
I recieved some time ago by Mr. James the letter of introduction you had given him for me. I hope I need not tell you how readily I am disposed at all times to do whatever may be agreeable to you—& particularly with how much pleasure I should have rendered any services in my power to Mr. James, had he remained here—the confusion & disorder which prevailed in Paris during the few days of his...
20To James Madison from Henry Lee, 9 [April] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Whenever I ask your aid to the promotion of the wishes of my friend, receive it on this express condition, that the public good must combine with the views of the gentlemen recommended. Very happy in the appointent [ sic ] of my old fellow soldier Lindsay to the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Parkers election, I desire only to entreat your attention to his compeer Mr. M. Livingston, should it be...
21Amendments to the Constitution, [15 August] 1789 (Madison Papers)
The committee took up the fourth amendment (containing a bill of rights) proposed by the select committee. The first clause, “No religion shall be established by Law, nor shall the equal rights of conscience be infringed,” was under discussion. Mr. Madison Said he apprehended the meaning of the words to be, that congress should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of it...
22Salaries for the Congress, [16 July] 1789 (Madison Papers)
A daily pay of six dollars for both senators and representatives was proposed. Sedgwick moved to reduce the representatives’ pay to five dollars. Mr. Madison Was of opinion that a discrimination was necessary; he observed, that it had been evidently contemplated by the constitution, to distinguish in favor of the senate, that men of abilities and firm principles, whom the love and custom of a...
23To James Madison from George Turner, 19 July 1789 (Madison Papers)
As many of the public offices are about to be disposed of, may I crave the favour of your influence? Having experienced your friendship on a former occasion, though I did not make use of the letter you favoured me with, I feel emboldened to offer you this additional trouble, which, I trust, you will excuse. I am unacquainted with the particular appointments which are, at this time, to be made,...
24From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 23 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
This will I expect be handed you by a young gentleman, Mr. Colden, the son of an amiable lady of that name within the circle of my acquaintance in this place. I need not apprize you that the family, of which Governour Colden is the Ancestor, is a respectable one. The young gentleman has been in Scotland for some years, pursuing his education, and with the approbation of his friends proposes to...
25To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 28 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
We have heard much of the di[s]agreement between the two Houses respecting titles and the rules to be established for their correspondence—if report speaks truth they have manifested a strong desire for titles and pre-eminence—how comes it that the doors where the Senate sit in their legislative capacity are shut and those of the representatives open—it appears to be equally proper and...
26To James Madison from Walter Jones, 15 September 1789 (Madison Papers)
Your Letter of the 18th. augt. found me so engaged in the usual Employment during our Autmn, that I have never had time to express my acknowlegements to you. The inestimable value of civil Liberty, like the gems, the precious metals, and fertile fields of the Earth, has ever made them the Common objects of robbery & usurpation—it is unfortunate that the first, tho infinitely most precious, is...
27Tonnage Duties, [5 May] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Jackson moved to lower the proposed duty on vessels from nations having commercial treaties with the United States from thirty to twenty cents, pointing out the burden high tonnage duties placed on the agricultural exporting states of the South. Mr. Madison . I believe every gentleman who hears the observations from the different quarters of this house, discovers great reason for every friend...
28To James Madison from John Dawson, [18 September] 1789 (Madison Papers)
By yesterday’s post of receiv’d your two letters dated on Monday and Wednesday. The legislature of this state have pass’d an act granting to Congress the Jurisdiction of ten miles square on any part they shall please, not [ sic ] have said nothing relative to the Susqh. I lament with you the decisions of the Senate on the subject of amendments. This circumstance added to the combination formd...
29To James Madison from Henry Lee, 8 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
The papers necessary to our European project are enclosed herewith—viz my power of attorney, your remarks which are so full that I can add nothing, the old plot of the canal which must be kept by you, and a copy sent, it being not fit—& my letr. to Mr. Jefferson. The last explains fully the manner which appeared to be best for us to embrace, but should any thing be improper, you can pass it...
30To James Madison from John Beckley, 13 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
In appealing to your Candor I feel a confidence that no apology will be necessary for the present mode of address. Before I left Virginia I communicated to my good friend Mr: Randolph, the reasons that induced me to become a Candidate for the appointment of Clerk to the House of Representatives of the United States, and for that purpose to relinquish the public situation in which I stood...
31From James Madison to James Maury, 21 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 21 June 1789. Acknowledged in Maury to JM, 13 Feb. 1790 (DLC). Introduces George James.
32From James Madison to George Washington, 20 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
It was my purpose to have dropped you a few lines from Philada. but I was too much indisposed during my detention there to avail myself of that pleasure. Since my arrival here I have till now been without a fit conveyance to the post office. You will recollect the contents of a letter shewn you from Mr. Innis to Mr. Brown. Whilst I was in Philada. I was informed by the latter who was detained...
33Import and Tonnage Duties, [9 April] 1789 (Madison Papers)
FitzSimons moved to add a number of articles to be given a specific duty, including some for the purpose of protecting home manufactures. Mr. Madison . From what has been suggested by the gentlemen that have spoken on the subject before us, I am led to apprehend we shall be under the necessity of travelling further into an investigation of principles than what I supposed would be necessary or...
34To James Madison from Alexander White, 17 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
I wrote you a Line from Philadelphia mentioning such Facts as had come to my knowledge respecting the sentiments of the People on Public Affairs. My Journey was fatiguing, the weather being excessive hot, and the Stages over-burdened with Passengers and Baggage. I reached Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon—and took breakfast before I sat out on Wednesday morning. Several Gentlemen waited on me who...
35To James Madison from Muscoe Livingston, 12 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
May I be permited My Good Sir, to Ask Your Friendly Aid on the Subject of Colo Lees Letter, which I here take the liberty to Inclose; & which Letter, I did intend to have don My Self, the Honor to deliver but that A trip to N York, will be attended with considerable Expence; & unless I can Meet with Some incouragement from you, & the Other Genttlemen I have taken the liberty to write to, I had...
36From James Madison to Richard Peters, 19 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
I have been much delighted with the extract from your collection of fables, and should have told you so sooner, were I less incumbered with a number of involuntary correspondencies, which stand in the way of those which my inclination would cherish. May I hope that “The wise Cooks & foolish Guests” is but a sample of the treat you meditate for your friends, out of the “Aunciente & connynge...
37To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 July 1789 (Madison Papers)
My last to you was of the 18th. of June. Within a day or two after, yours of May 9. came to hand. In the rest of Europe nothing remarkeable has happened; but in France such events as will be for ever memorable in history. To begin where my last left them, the king took on himself to decide the great question of voting by persons or by orders, by a declaration made at a Seance royale on the...
38From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 27 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
Since my last which was written on sunday last and included an introduction of young Mr. Colden who is to be the bearer of it from Scotland where he now resides, I have had the pleasure of yours of March 15. My former letters will have made known to you the obstacles to a licence for your visit to America. The new authority has not yet taken up your application. As soon as the auxiliary...
39From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 31 May 1789 (Madison Papers)
I have been favored with yours of the 19th. instant and thank you for the answer to Mr. St. John’s enquiries. The apprehensions of Mrs. Randolph give me unfeigned concern, but I indulge strong hopes that they proceed from an imaginary cause. There are so many symptoms which mimic the cancerous that it would be wrong to suffer appearances to prevail against the favorable chances. At the same...
40To James Madison from Hardin Burnley, 28 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
A few days ago I wrote a letter to Majr. Madison giving him some information on the general business of the present Session, which I suppose he has probably communicated to you. I now take the liberty of obtruding on you a short communication on the same subject. The revenue bill which proposes a reduction of the public taxes one fourth below the last year’s amount is with the Senate. Whilst...
41Tonnage Duties, [7 May] 1789 (Madison Papers)
JM moved to lower the tonnage duty on ships of countries which had no alliance with the United States from fifty to forty cents until the end of 1790, when it would be raised to seventy-five cents. Mr. Madison . As there is a great diversity of sentiment respecting the policy of the duty, I am very happy to find it is not prescribed by the geographical situation of our country; this evinces...
42To James Madison from Tench Coxe, 20 September 1789 (Madison Papers)
I am favored with your letter of the 18th. from wch. I find the ground of apprehension, particularly refer’d to by me, entirely removed. In regard to the probable effects of a position on Delaware or Susquehannah upon the Convention of Virginia could they have foreseen it, I am convinced they would have been fatal. I remember well that I learned from the letters of yourself and one or two...
43Import Duties, [9 May] 1789 (Madison Papers)
The impost bill, first read on 5 May, was under consideration by the Committee of the Whole. Tucker, seeking a general reduction of duties, moved to lower the tax on Jamaica rum to six cents a gallon. Mr. Madison . The right understanding of this subject is of great importance; the discussion has been drawn out to a very considerable length on former occasions. The chain of ideas on which the...
44To James Madison from Henry Lee, 14 March 1789 (Madison Papers)
Tomorrow I go from hence, Mrs. Lee as when you left her. If I forgot to fill up the power of attorney, please to insert Mr Jeffersons name. Yesterday the original papers went off in the Maryland bound to Bordeaux to the care of Mr. Mason Merchant there—I am told in three or four days the mail reaches Versailles from that port. Many applicants above & here, on each side of the river have waited...
45From James Madison to Samuel Johnston, 22 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 22 June 1789. Acknowledged in Johnston to JM, 8 July 1789 . Encloses President Washington’s reply to the address from North Carolina. Recommends the publication of both the address and the reply.
46From James Madison to [Nicholas Lewis?], 25 June 1789 (Madison Papers)
In a letter of March 15. from Mr. Jefferson I am requested to communicate to you the result of his application for leave to make a visit to America. The application was made long ago, but never decided on under the old Congress, nor taken up under the present Government till a few days ago. His wish is now complied with and notice that he has leave of absence will be forwith transmitted...
47To James Madison from Elias Langham, 11 April 1789 (Madison Papers)
I took the liberty some days ago to address a letter to you, relative to an Appointmt. that I wish to Solicit under the Federal Government. I then Observed that I shoud forward the best recommendations that I coud procure, for that Purpose. I now inclose such recommendations as I have procured & beg leave to request your Attention thereto. As I am unacquainted with the nature of making such...
48To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 18 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
The day before yesterday I returned hither from Leesburg. There I was confronted with Mr. Henry, and for three days we lay along side of each other, with our best cannon in action. It was a diverting scene, taken in the whole. My client Chas. Carter must have been defeated, if a single point of four had gone against him; and to obtain one, every thing was tried in the way of assertion,...
49Import Duties, [14 April] 1789 (Madison Papers)
The Committee of the Whole proceeded to set the amount of duty on each of the enumerated articles, beginning with rum. Sherman proposed fifteen cents per gallon; Laurance preferred twelve cents. Mr. Madison . I would tax this article with as high a duty as can be collected, and I am sure if we judge from what we have heard and seen in the several parts of the union; that it is the sense of the...
50From James Madison to Edmund Randolph, 21 August 1789 (Madison Papers)
For a week past the subject of amendts. has exclusively occupied the H. of Reps. Its progress has been exceedingly wearisome not only on account of the diversity of opinions that was to be apprehended, but of the apparent views of some to defeat by delaying a plan short of their wishes, but likely to satisfy a great part of their companions in opposition throughout the Union. It has been...