331Relations with Algiers, [17 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison moved that the house should resolve itself into a committee of the whole, on the Algerine business, for which purpose he supposed it would be necessary to clear the house and galleries. Claypoole’s Am. Daily Advertiser , 18 Jan. 1797 (reprinted in Philadelphia Gazette , 19 Jan. 1797, Gales’s Independent Gazetteer , 20 Jan. 1797, New World , 20 Jan. 1797, Aurora General Advertiser ,...
332From James Madison to James Maury, 18 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Mason & myself lately recd. your packets of London papers by the Alex: Hamilton, which were very acceptable as they brought us the earliest accounts of some of the important articles contained in them. I send in return several packets by Capt: Joseph Prince, who is to sail from N. York, and to whom I can not conveniently transmit any thing of a more bulky nature. Capt: Prince is a brother...
333To James Madison from John Bacon, 18 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
It may be matter of surprize to you to receive a letter from a person whose name you, probably, may never have heard. I have been gratified by reading the printed debates in Congress on the important subject of the treaty-power . I have been particularly pleased with the political principles which, on various occasions, appear uniformly to have influenced your conduct. In the late debates in...
334To James Madison from Enoch Edwards, 19 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Before I left France Mr: Skipwith prepared the inclosed Papers —for you, & wished very much they should be published—but on a Conversation I had with Him I prevailed on him to retract from that Determination. He however left the Papers with Me & desired I would use my own Discretion as to what Use might be made of them. I have been a good deal indisposed since I had the Pleasure to see you...
335Additional Revenue, [19 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The report of the Committee of Ways and Means calling for additional revenue of $4,724,360 had been presented to the House on 12 January. The next day a Committee of the Whole began a lengthy debate on direct taxes (on land and slaves) and indirect taxes (on salt, sherry, wine, foreign spirits, tea, brown sugar, stamps, and windows, and including an increase in ad valorem duties on imports)....
336From James Madison to Horatio Gates, 20 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
During my recess in Virginia Mr. Jefferson put into my hands to be forwarded to you, your Letter Book which you had been so good as to leave with him. Considering the deposit as a precious one, I have been more anxious for a certain than a speedy Conveyance for it. The trip Mr. E. Livingston makes to N. York, furnishes an unexceptionable one, and I accordingly avail myself of it. We get our...
337Additional Revenue, [20 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House took up the resolution for direct taxes on land and on slaves reported by the Committee of the Whole on 19 January. Coit (Connecticut) called for the propositions for taxes on land and slaves to be put separately ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1932). Mr. Madison thought it...
338To James Madison from Robert Gamble, 21 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Your esteemed favor of the 15th: is at hand Covering a Bank note of Fifty Dollars for Mrs. Payne, which I will deliver her, as soon as she returns to Town. Polly & her are gone to Mrs. Winstons in Hanover about a Week past. They are however expected back in a day or two—polly having promised to return in time for the next dancing Assembly night Viz the 25th . The several packets of letters for...
339From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of Jany. 8th. You will find by the papers that the communication on French affairs, has been at length made. Being ordered to be printed without being read, I have no direct knowledge of its character. Some of the Senate where it has been read in part, represent it as well fitted to convert into an incurable gangrine, the wound which the friendship between the two Republics...
340From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
The last mail brought us the pleasure of yours, of Jany. 8th. Fanny did not bring the letter-types with her, and cannot say with absolute certainty where they are to be found. She is pretty confident however that she put them in the Closet upstairs, on the right hand shelf, among some books. The shortness of the crop of Corn at Black-Meadow is a proof of the ruinous tendency of perpetual...
341To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 22 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of the 8th. came to hand yesterday. I was not aware of any necessity of going on to Philadelphia immediately, yet I had determined to do it, as a mark of respect to the public, and to do away the doubts which have spread that I should consider the second office as beneath my acceptance. The journey indeed for the month of February is a tremendous undertaking for me, who have not been...
342Compensation to Public Officers, [26 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House, in a Committee of the Whole, considered a report for increasing the salaries of cabinet members and other public officials as well as for continuing the act of 30 May 1796 regulating the compensation of clerks throughout 1797. The act of 30 May 1796 was read to the committee ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington,...
343To James Madison from John Wilcocks, 28 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have occasion to send a commission to Williamsburg Virginia for the examination of a witness (on interrogatories) in a Law suit depending in the courts of this State: you will permit me to ask the favor of you to name two Gentleman to me as Commissioners for that purpose; You will pardon the liberty, with compliments to Mrs. Madison I have the honor to be Sir Your most humble Servt: RC ( DLC...
344From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours covering an unsealed letter to Mr. Tazewell came duly to hand, and will be turned to the use you wish. As you take the Philada. Gazette in which the Belligerent answer to Adêts note has been printed in toto, I refer to that for the posture & prospect of things with France. The British party since this overt patronage of their cause, no longer wear the mask. A war with France & an...
345From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
My last answered yours of the 8th. since which I have recd. no letter from you, nor a single line from my brother William since his return from Richmond; altho’ I have written him several letters. Fanny has a letter from Nelly Madison of the 10th. which gives an unpleasing account of her mother’s health. It mentions that you & my mother were expected at Mr. Macon’s in a few days; but as your’s...
346To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 29 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
After my return from Loudoun I came to this place, where I last post received your several favors to the 13th. I shall continue here untill the 10th. or 12th. next month when I shall return to Fredericksburg. It seems to be now well ascertaine⟨d⟩ that A. will be the p. & J. the Vice p. I have for a length of time considered Mr. A. as a friend to the British Nation and Government whr. he still...
347To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 30 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Your’s of the 15th. came to hand yesterday. I am very thankful for the discretion you have exercised over the letter. That has happened to be the case which I knew to be possible, that the honest expressions of my feelings towards mr. A. might be rendered mal-a-propos from circumstances existing & known at the seat of government, but not seen by me in my retired situation. Mr. A. & myself were...
348Manumitted Slaves, [30 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Swanwick (Pennsylvania) presented the petition of four manumitted slaves from North Carolina, requesting that Congress interpose whatever authority it could to relieve them and their families from harassment and efforts to return them to slavery ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 2015–18)....
349To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 30 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 30 January 1797. Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 13 Feb. 1797 . Discusses farm business at Montpelier.
350Military and Naval Appropriations, [31 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole on a resolution calling for appropriations for the military and naval establishments in 1797. Gallatin (Pennsylvania) offered an amendment striking out naval appropriations until the House had decided to complete the building of the frigates already authorized by law ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States …...
351To James Madison from Stephen Moylan, 2 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
The north wall of your house, in which I live has been built so bad, that every rain penetrates, and in time must give way. I dare say Mrs. Maddison is not unacquainted with this Circumstance, I know her good Mother Mrs. Payne was not. Shall I have the house preserved, by remedying the deffect, or must it remain as it is, I cannot be at the expence of doing it myself, if not allowed me in my...
352Post Offices and Post Roads, [2 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole on a bill for discontinuing and establishing various post roads within the United States. The last clause of the bill, authorizing the postmaster general to discontinue carrying mail on any road not producing more than one-fifth of the costs within three years, caused considerable debate ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress...
353To James Madison from Joseph Chew, 3 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
It has been thought Necessary to Secure to Sir John Johnson the two Thousand acres of land I have in Bourbon County Kentucky that I should pass Deeds to Some persons in the States to hold it for him. I have therefore Executed and passed Deeds to Robert & John Watts Esquires of New York and by Agreement the land is to be disposed of within or at the End of Eighteen months. I now my Dear friends...
354From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 5 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of giving notice that we shall have the pleasure of seeing you here soon, but that letters written before the 7th. would arrive before you leave home. Nothing occurs to alleviate the crisis in our external affairs. The French continue to prey on our trade. The British too have not desisted. There are accounts that both of them are taking our East-India-men. This is an...
355From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 5 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have red. since my last your two letters of the 10th. & 23d. Ult, which came by the same mail. That referred to as of the 16th. inclosing a letter to Mr. Chew has not yet come to hand. R. Smith’s land would be a very convenient appendix to my farm at Sawney’s; but I find I dare not venture on the purchase particularly at the price stated. What little surplus I may be able to save out of my...
356To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 5 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
By the last mail from this place I acknowledged the rect. of your favors to the 16th. last month among them the first part of T. P’s letter to the president which had been somewhere delayed as I recd. the other part sometime before. This weeks mail altho’ it arrived on Friday evening (the usual time) has yet furnished neither letters or papers as the Young man who keeps the P. Office went from...
357To James Madison from Robert Gamble, 7 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have taken the liberty of enclosing to you a power of attorney to draw from the Treasury of the United states the sum of 54 Dolls. 39 Cents, being a dividend of 2 pr. Centum, re-imbursement, which was payable at The Loan office here Jany 1796. But owing to an ommission between myself & Mr. Hopkins the Officer of Loans—the Matter was overlooked till the time elapsed by Law—which requires all...
358Petition of Anna de Neufville, [7 February] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 3 February 1797 Anna de Neufville had presented a petition to the House on behalf of herself and her infant daughter, “praying compensation for services rendered” by her late husband during the Revolution. It was referred to a committee of five headed by JM ( JHR Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (9 vols.; Washington, 1826). , 2:678). Mr. Madison, from the...
359To James Madison from James Swan, 10 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recommend to you personally & to the Delegates from your state in general, the cause of Mrs. De Neufville, widow of the deceased Mr. John De Neufville, Mercht at Amsterdam. He had for a long time before his death been in very, very narrow circumstances, caused by the ruin he brought on himself by a blind zeal for the support of the liberty & independence of this Country. His widow is totally...
360From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 11 February 1797 (Madison Papers)
After several little turns in the mode of conveying you notice of your election, recurrence was had to the precedent of leaving the matter to the Senate, where on the casting vote of Mr. Adams, the notification was referred to the President of the U. States, in preference of the President of the Senate. You will see in the papers the state of the votes, and the manner of counting & proclaiming...