The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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TUESDAY, FEBY. 11. |
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TUESDAY, FEBY. 11.
The Rept. made by the Come. of the whole havg. decided that
ye. mode to be grounded on the return of facts called for from ye.
States ought now to be ascertained.
Mr. Rutledge proposed 2d. by Mr. Gilman, that ye. States sd. be
required to name Comrs., each of them one, who or any nine of
them sd. be appd. & empowerd. by Congs.. to settle the valuation.
Mr. Ghoram was agst. it as parting with a power which might be
turned by the States agst. Congs.. Mr. Wolcot agst. it; declares his
numbers of inhabitants as the rule; admits the difference
between freemen & blacks; and suggests a compromise by
including in the numeration such blacks only as were within 16
& 60 years of age. Mr. Wilson was agst. relinquishing such a
power to the States, proposes that the commissioners be appd.
by Congs., and their proceedings subject to the ratification of
Congs., Mr. Mercer was for submitting them to the revision of
Congs., & this amendment was recd.. Mr. Peters agst. the whole
scheme of valuation, as holding out false lights & hopes to the
public. Mr. Rutledge thinks Comrs. appd. by the States may be
trusted as well as Comrs. appd. by Congs., or as Congs. themselves.
Mr. Wilson observes, that if appd. by the States they will bring
with them the spirit of agents for their respective States—if
appd. by Congs. they will consider themselves as servants of the U.
S. at large & be more impartial.
Mr. Ghoram, 2ded. by Mr. Wilson, proposes to postpone in order
to require the States to apps. Comrs., to give Congs. information
for a basis for a valuation.—On the question N. H. no, Mas: ay,
R. I. ay, Cont. ay, N. Y. ay, N. J. ay, Pa. ay, Va. no, N. C. no, S. C.
no, so it was decided in the negative.
To make the resolution more clear, after the words "or any
nine of them," the words "concurring therein" were added. Mr.
Rutledge says that subjecting the acts of the Comrs. to the revision
of Congs. had so varied his plan that he sd. be agst. it.—On the
main question N. H. ay, Mas: ay, R. I. ay, Cont. ay, N. Y. no,
N. J. no, Pa. ay, Va. ay (Mr. Madison no), N. C. ay, S. C. ay, so it
was agreed to & the resolution declaring that a mode sd. now be
fixed struck out as executed. The whole report was then committed
to a special Come. consisting of Mr. Rutledge Mr. Ghoram
& Mr. Gilman to be formed into a proper act.[46]
"The valuation of the lands of the U. S. as directed by the articles of
Union has employed & puzzled Congress for the past week; and after all the
projects & discussions which have taken place, we seem only to have gone round
in a circle to the point at which we set out. The only point on which Congress
are generally agreed is that something ought to be attempted; but what
that something ought to be, is a theorem not solved alike by scarcely any
two members; and yet a solution of it seems to be made an indispensable
preliminary to other essays for the public relief. The Deputation from the
army is waiting the upshot of all these delays & dilemmas.
"When I mentioned to you the subject of your conversation with Dr.
McClurg, I ought to have added that one reason which influenced the resig—
of Mr. Livingston was an expence experienced of three thousand dollars beyond
the salary. I wish this circumstance not to be withheld as it must be material
in the case, and it would be a real affliction to me to be accessory to a disappointment.
For the same reason it is incumbent on me to observe that I hold
it to be very uncertain whether [the] place in question will be within the option
of our friend, as I hold, indeed, the continuance of the place itself to be a little
precarious.
"Mr. J. is detained at Baltimore by the danger wch. besets the capes. The
situation he writes me is far from being a pleasant one and yet I fear the avidity
& vigilance of the enemy will prevent his being quickly relieved from it. Mr.
Mercer filled up the remaining blank in the Delegation on Wednesday last.
"This city is full of reports concerning peace, but they all come by the way
of the W. I., and are the more uncertain as they come too thro' mercantile
channels. The fall of goods which is taking place augurs well, however."—
Madison to Edmund Randolph, February 11, 1783. Mad. MSS.
| The writings of James Madison, | |