61Relations with Algiers, [13 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 10 January the House had considered a motion that a committee be appointed “to select such parts of the confidential communication sent … by a message of the President of the United States” on 9 January “as in their opinion may, with propriety, be printed.” JM, Ames (Massachusetts), Sherburne (New Hampshire), Davenport (Connecticut), Livingston (New York), Grove (North Carolina), and...
62To James Madison from George Taylor, Jr., 11 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Being prevented by excessive hurry of Business at the office, from waiting on you in person, I take the liberty of reminding, you by a few lines, of my unpleasant situation as to salary being the same as it was when I last troubled you on the subject. I need not mention or urge to a gentleman of your independent Character, how irksome it must be to a feeling mind to be totally dependent on the...
63Petition of Gilbert Dench, [11 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
The House went into a Committee of the Whole to consider the report of the Committee of Claims on Gilbert Dench ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1835–36). Messrs. Madison … were of opinion, that if Mr. Dench had any claim it was upon the state of Massachusetts, and not upon the United...
64Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [11 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
JM called up the bill on the claim of Poirey. The House went into a Committee of the Whole, rose, and reported the bill without amendment ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.; Washington, 1834–56). , 4th Cong., 2d sess., 1839). Mr. Madison observed, that if he saw any danger from the precedent of making this provision, he should not be...
65James and Dolley P. Madison v. Edward Heston, 10 January 1797 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
10 January 1797, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Dolley Madison and JM brought suit against Edward Heston to recover costs incurred by Dolley Madison and the late John Todd for nursing and burying Heston’s son, Isaac, in 1793. The plaintiffs abandoned the cause and agreed to a nonsuit. Ms ( InU ). 3 pp. Notes on the case taken by Jonathan Williams, who was associate judge of the court of...
66Petition of Joseph-Léonard Poirey, [9 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
On 5 January JM had called up the report of the secretary of war on Poirey’s petition and moved that a bill be brought in. The House considered the matter in a Committee of the Whole on 9 January, with JM proposing that “provision ought to be made by law for settling the claim of M. Poirey” ( Annals of Congress Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States … (42 vols.;...
67From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor of the 17 Ult. The election is not likely to terminate in the equilibrium of votes for which the Constitution has not provided. If the Vermont votes should be valid as is now generally supposed, Mr. Adams will have 71. & you 68. Pinkney being in the rear of both. It is to be hoped that the nicety & in truth the unpropitious casualty, of the choice of Mr. A. will lessen...
68To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of Dec. 25. is safely recieved. I much fear the issue of the present dispositions of France & Spain. Whether it be in war or in the suppression of our commerce it will be very distressing and our commerce seems to be already sufficiently distressed through the wrongs of the belligerent nations and our own follies. It was impossible the bank & paper-manie should not produce great &...
69To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 8 [January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. the other day yours of the 16th ult. inclosing a part of paines letter to the president (from 41 to 64) the appendix and the first number of Mr Pelham, which as a specimen of the writers design, and liberality of sentiment, does not exhibit him in a very favourable point of view. This man is not for a total but partial disorganisation, and as he belongs to or speaks from Connecticut...
70To James Madison from James Monroe, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I recd. notice of my recall in Novr., Mr. Pinckney arrived here in decr. & I took my leave of this govt. on the first of Jany. so that you will perceive it was impossible unless I exposed myself & family to the danger & inconvenience of a winters voyage, to depart hence before the begining of April next, wh. we propose to do, in case a suitable passage can be obtained from any of the ports of...
71To James Madison from Edmund Randolph, 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Judge Claiborne, of the state of Tennessee, has requested me to introduce him to you. He is travelling on to Philadelphia, with a view to solicit the appointment of district-judge in that state under the U. S. Altho’ a young man, his pretensions have been marked by the opinion, prevailing there, of his superiority over his present competitors, who formerly contested with him the seat on the...
72To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 8 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 8 January 1797. Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 22 and 29 Jan. 1797 . Discusses family matters and crops at Montpelier.
73Land Sales in Ohio, [5 January] 1797 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Madison submitted it to the mover whether it might not be more proper immediately to make the Enquiry of the proper department, without a committee. In general he did not see the necessity of a committee when the application could be immediately made to the department. Claypoole’s Am. Daily Advertiser , 7 Jan. 1797 (reprinted in Philadelphia Gazette , 9 Jan. 1797, and Gales’s Independent...
74To James Madison from Lawrence Taliaferro, 4 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Neither Mr. Robert nor Frances Brooke will offer to represent our Destrict in Congress, they both plead that it would ruin them in their prafesion which is their principal support, or they would feel themselves much gratified in the confidence repos’d in them by their fellow Citizens. There is three Gentlemen who offer, Mr John Dawson is one who we fear is not popular enough to succeed, the...
75To James Madison from John Hopkins, 3 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
By direction of General Jonathan Clarke I enclose you a draft for Two Hundred Dollars, the receipt of which you will be pleased to acknowledge to him to me. I am with great respect Sir Your Most Obt Servant RC ( DLC ). Docketed by JM. Jonathan Clark (1750–1811), brother of George Rogers Clark, attended Donald Robertson’s school in King and Queen County and served as lieutenant colonel in the...
76To James Madison from James Madison, Sr., 2 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 2 January 1797. Acknowledged in JM to James Madison, Sr., 15 Jan. 1797 . Discusses purchases for Montpelier.
77To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 1 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
Yours of Dec. 19. has come safely. The event of the election has never been a matter of doubt in my mind. I knew that the Eastern states were disciplined in the schools of their town meetings to sacrifice differences of opinion to the great object of operating in phalanx, and that the more free & moral agency practised in the other states would always make up the supplement of their weight....
78To James Madison from James Monroe, 1 January 1797 (Madison Papers)
I have not heard from you since the adjourmt. of the last Congress or rather since you left Phila. after the adjourment. In my last I informed you that Adet was suspended & orders issued to seize British property in our bottoms & that the aspect here was a very menacing one, and in consequence my situation as the minister of our country a very disagreeable one, & wh. was made more so, after...
79To James Madison from Edmund Pendleton, 1796? (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 1796? . Described as a one-page letter about private matters in the lists probably made by Peter Force (DLC, series 7, container 2).
80Petition of Hugh Lawson White, [30 December] 1796 (Madison Papers)
Hugh Lawson White had petitioned the House on 11 February 1795 seeking compensation for services as a private of mounted infantry during John Sevier’s campaign against the Cherokee Indians in September 1793. The petition was referred to the War Department until Secretary James McHenry reported against the claim on 24 December 1796. The House took up the matter again in a Committee of the Whole...
81Petition of John Porter, ca. 27 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Document not found. Ca. 27 December 1796. On 27 Dec. 1796 JM presented to the House of Representatives the petition of Porter, who was seeking compensation for his services during the Revolution. Reported in Claypoole’s Am. Daily Advertiser , 28 Dec. 1796. The petition was referred to the Committee of Claims, which disallowed it on 6 Jan. 1797 ( JHR Journal of the House of Representatives of...
82National University, [26 December] 1796 (Madison Papers)
On 21 December JM had reported the following resolution from the select committee established on 12 December, relating to the section of the president’s message recommending the establishment of a national university. “ Resolved , That it is at present expedient that authority should be given to enrol proper persons to receive in trust, pecuniary donations, in aid of the donations already...
83Memorial of Joseph Nourse, ca. 26 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Document not found. Ca. 26 December 1796. On 26 Dec. 1796 JM presented to the House of Representatives the memorial of Joseph Nourse, register of the treasury of the U.S., asking for an increase in salary. It was referred to the committee on the subject of compensation. Reported in New World , 27 Dec. 1796.
84From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 25 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
I can not yet entirely remove the uncertainty in which my last left the election. Unless the Vermont election of which little has of late been said, should contain some fatal vice, in it, Mr. Adams may be considered as the President elect. Nothing can deprive him of it but a general run of the votes in Georgia, Tenissee & Kentucky in favor of Mr. Pinkney, which is altogether contrary to the...
85From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 25 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Your two letters of the 12 & 11. came duly to hand since my last. The power of Atty sent me proves sufficient. It will be necessary for you to have a proper one at Richmond to prevent another transfer hither. The weather has been so intensely cold that I have not yet gone out to the proper office with Saml. French’s Certificate. I am at a loss to account for Mr. Noe’s draught. I know of no...
86From James Madison to John Watts, ca. 23 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. Ca. 23 December 1796. Mentioned in JM to James Madison, Sr., 25 Dec. 1796 . Promises information requested by Watts on sale of Joseph Chew’s Kentucky land.
87From James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
The returns from N. Hampshire, Vermont, S. C. & Georga. are still to come in, & leave the event of the Election in some remaining uncertainty. It is but barely possible that Adams may fail of the highest number. It is highly probable, tho’ not absolutely certain, that Pinkney will be third only on the list. You must prepare yourself therefore to be summoned to the place Mr. Adams now fills. I...
88From James Madison to James Madison, Sr., 19 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
We have been concerned as well as disappointed in not having a single line from Orange since we left it. Fanny has written by every post; & has reminded you & complained of it. I have never even heard whether Mordicai got back safe or not. I refer to the letter to my brother William, for the state of things here, the price of wheat &c. You expressed a wish that some articles for Negro’s...
89To James Madison from Arthur Breese, 17 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 13h. May last, was handed me some time since by Mr. Vanwyck. He informed me that since he had seen you, Mr. Bailey & himself had agreed to take the Lot you sold them at the Estimated quantity 900. acres, Declining a Resurvey . I am inclined to believe that the Lot would more than hold out, Nine hundred Acres. I have the honor to be Sir with much Respect Your Very Obt. Sert....
90To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 17 December 1796 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. came to hand last night. The first wish of my heart was that you should have been proposed for the administration of the government. On your declining it I wish any body rather than myself: and there is nothing I so anxiously hope as that my name may come out either second or third. These would be indifferent to me; as the last would leave me at home the whole year, &...