101From James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, 23 September 1789 (Madison Papers)
The pressure of unfinished business has suspended the adjournment of Congs. till saturday next. Among other articles which required it was the plan of amendments, on which the two Houses so far disagreed as to require conferences. It will be impossible I find to prevail on the Senate to concur in the limitation on the value of appeals to the Supreme Court, which they say is unnecessary, and...
102Reporting of House Debates, [26 September] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Burke moved that the House no longer permit reporting of the debates, but he later withdrew the motion. Tucker then moved that the House sanction an accurate and impartial publication of the debates. Mr. Madison Thought it improper to throw impediments in the way of such information, as the house had hitherto permitted from the purest motives; but he believed it equally improper to give the...
103Location of the Capital, [26 September] 1789 (Madison Papers)
The Senate amended the residence bill by substituting for the Susquehanna site a district adjoining Philadelphia, including Germantown. Mr. Madison . However different our sentiments, with respect to the place most proper for the seat of the federal government, I presume we shall all agree, that a right decision is of great importance; and that a satisfactory decision is of equal moment to the...
104Location of the Capital, [28 September] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Debate continued on the Senate amendment to substitute Germantown for the Susquehanna site. Mr. Madison Contended that the amendment proposed by the senate, was a departure from every principle adopted by the house; but he would not trouble them with a recapitulation of arguments, which, he feared, would be unavailing; he wished, however, that the house would provide against one inconvenience,...
105From James Madison to Henry Lee, 4 October 1789 (Madison Papers)
I Meant to have acknowledged your favor of the 8th Ult. by your brother, but in the hurry of the occasion missed even the pleasure of seeing him after the adjournment. He will give you the details of our proceedings, particularly on the subject of the seat of Government. I am extremely afraid that the hopes of the Potomac do not rest on so good a foundation as we wish. Every circumstance which...
106From James Madison to Alexander Hamilton, [ca. 5 October] 1789 (Madison Papers)
The bearer will deliver two of your books which have been some time in my hands. I add to them a pamphlet recd. not long since from France. I can not recommend it because I have not read it. The subject tho’ a hackneyed is an interesting one, and the titles of some of the chapters promising. You will soon discover how far it may be worth your perusal. The inclosed letter to Genl. Schuyler...
107From James Madison to Philip Schuyler, 5 October 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 5 October 1789, New York. Acknowledged in Schuyler to JM, 1 Nov. 1789 , and enclosed in JM to Hamilton, ca. 5 Oct. 1789 . Asks Schuyler to contact John Taylor of Albany regarding a contract with JM and James Monroe to buy 900 acres in the Mohawk Valley.
108From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 8 October 1789 (Madison Papers)
A concurrence of motives has detained me here since the adjournment of Congress. One of them has been a hope of your arrival within the time. I set off tomorrow for Philada. where I shall remain some days, and not without a continuance of the same hope. I need not tell you how much pleasure I should feel in making my journey to Virginia coincide with yours, nor with how much patience I should...
109Memorandum for George Washington, [ca. 8 October] 1789 (Madison Papers)
On the supposition that the business can be more properly conducted by a private Agent at London, than a public Minister at a third Court, the letter and instructions for the former character appear to be well adapted to the purpose. If any remark were to be made, it would relate merely to the form, which it is conceived would be made rather better by transposing the order of the two main...
110Memorandum on an African Colony for Freed Slaves, [ca. 20 October] 1789 (Madison Papers)
Without enquiring into the practicability or the most proper means of establishing a Settlement of freed blacks on the Coast of Africa, it may be remarked as one motive to the benevolent experiment that if such an asylum was provided, it might prove a great encouragement to manumission in the Southern parts of the U. S. and even afford the best hope yet presented of putting an end to the...
111From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 1 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
In the letter left for you in N. York on my leaving that place I omitted to mention to you three names which solicit a Clerkship in the office which will be under your direction. They are Mr. Fisher, Mr. Smith, & Mr. Orr. The first has vouchers of his pretensions which will enable You to decide readily on them. The second is a son of Merriwether Smith. I am not personally acquainted with him,...
112From James Madison to William Irvine, 1 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 1 November 1789, Fredericksburg. Acknowledged in Irvine to JM, 15 Nov. 1789 . Encloses JM’s letter to Jefferson of 1 Nov. 1789 .
113From James Madison to Alexander Hamilton, 19 November 1789 (Madison Papers)
I was too much indisposed for some time after the receipt of your favor of the 12 Ocr. to comply with the request in it, and since my arrival here and recovery I have till now been without a conveyance to the post office. The supplemental funds which at present occur to me as on the whole most eligible are 1. An excise on home distilleries. If the tax can be regulated by the size of the Still...
114From 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...
115From James Madison to George Washington, 5 December 1789 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have been furnished with the inclosed copy of the letter from the Senators of this State to its Legislature. It is well calculated to keep alive the disaffection to the Government, and is accordingly applied to that use by the violent partizans. I understand the letter was written by the first subscriber of it, as indeed is pretty evident from the stile and strain of it. The...
116From James Madison to George Washington, 4 January 1790 (Madison Papers)
After being detained 8 or 10 days beyond the intended commencement of my Journey, by the critical illness of my mother, I am now subjected to a further delay by an attack on my own health. A slight complaint in my bowels which I first felt on the day of my arrival here (friday last) very suddenly took the form of a pretty severe dysentery. With the aid of Docr. Stuart who has been good eno’ to...
117Receipt to the Treasurer, [24 October 1775] (Madison Papers)
Received twenty pounds for the Use of Colo. James Maddison for collecting Arms by Warrant from the Committee of Safety. Ms ( Vi ). Entered in the Treasurer’s Office Receipt Book, probably by Robert Carter Nicholas. Signed by JM.
118From James Madison to the Governor of Virginia, [20 May 1783] (Madison Papers)
… Notwithstanding the numerous arrivals from Europe, we receive no other information than what passes through the public prints. Sir G. Carlton in answer to a letter from General Washington on the subject of the provisional Treaty repeats the same sentiments regarding the Negroes, which he advanced in the Conference at Orange Town; entering a Caution however against their being considered as a...
119From James Madison to Jacob Read, [17 February 1784] (Madison Papers)
… You will receive this from the hand of Mr. James Maury, who wishes to be known to Congress as a candidate for their favorable notice at the time of filling up consular missions to Europe. The confidence I have in his qualifications for such a service induces me to recommend him in the warmest terms to my friends remaining in Congress and to you in particular. He is a gentleman of sound...
120From James Madison to Tench Coxe, 20 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have received and forwarded your letter and pamphlet to Mr. King. The latest information from Boston makes it probable that every aid to the federal cause will be wanted there. The antifederal party have forced such reinforcements in the Insurgents, and the province of Maine which is afraid of creating obstacles to her separation, that there is the most serious reason to apprehend the...