The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
| II. |
TO JAMES MADISON. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO JAMES MADISON.
Hon'd Sir,—Jno. Tucker & Joe got down this forenoon,
with articles sent. I shall execute your instructions
as to the advertizements, and the Revised
laws, if I can get at the latter time eno' in the morning.
I will do the same as to the French Dicty for
Mr Taylor if I can effect it in time; if not I will make
use of the first succeeding opportunity. I can give
you no account of the Key of the Trunk. I suppose
it must have been dropped or taken off & not replaced,
Trunks. I omitted in my letter from Fredg. to mention
that I had directed 2 bolts of Oznabergs to be
sent along with the other articles from Philada. but as I
did it on the like condition of price & quality being
approved by Mr H. it is uncertain whether any of
the articles will come. I intended it merely as an
experiment.
Paper money was the subject of discussion this day,
and was voted by a majority of 84 vs 17, to be
" unjust, impolitic, destructive of public & private
confidence, and[83]
of that virtue which is the basis of
Republican Government." Our Revenue matters
have also been on the anvil, several changes in our
taxes are proposed, and it is not unlikely that some
will take place. Duties on imports will be urged as
far as they can be guarded agst smuggling by land, as
well as by water. Govr Henry declines a reappointt,
but does not come into the Assembly. The Attorney
or R. H. Lee, probably the former, will supply his
place. We learn that great commotions are prevailing
in Massts. An appeal to the Sword is exceedingly
dreaded. The discontented it is said are as numerous
as the friends of Govt and more decided in their
what may be the effect. They profess to aim
only at a reform of their Constitution and of certain
abuses in the public administration, but an abolition
of debts public & private, and a new division of
property are strongly suspected to be in contemplation.
We also learn that a general combination of
the Indians threatens the frontier of the U. S. Congs
are planning measures for warding off the blow, one
of which is an augmentation of the federal troops to
upwards of 2000 men. In addition to these ills, it is
pretty certain that a formidable party in Congs are
bent on surrendering the Missispi. to Spain for the
sake of some commercial stipulations. The project
has already excited much heat within that Assembly
& if pursued will not fail to alienate the Western
Country & confirm the animosity & jealousy already
subsisting between the Atlantic States. I fear that,
altho' it should be frustrated, the effects already produced
will be a great bar to our amendment of the
Confederacy which I consider as essential to its continuance.
I have letters from Kentucky which inform
me that the expedition agst the Indians has prevented
the meeting which was to decide the question of their
Independence. It is probable the news relative to
the surrender of the Misspi. will lessen the disposition
to separate. If the bacon left behind by Jno. should
not have been sent it need not be sent at all. Fresh
butter will from time to time, continue to be very
acceptable. My best regards to my mother and the
family.
The vote appears in the Journals of the House of Delegates as 85 to 17.
The resolution was: "Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, [of
the whole] that the petition of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Brunswick
and Campbell, praying for an emission of paper money, are unreasonable and
ought to be rejected; and that, in the opinion of this committee, an emission
of paper money would be unjust, impolitic and destructive of public and private
confidence, and of that virtue which is the basis of republican government."
Nevertheless, petitions praying for an emission of paper money were received
by the House December 7.
| The writings of James Madison, | |