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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FRIDAY, FEBY. 7. |
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
FRIDAY, FEBY. 7.
On motion of Mr. Lee who had been absent when the Report
was yesterday negatived, the matter was reconsidered. The
plan of taking the sense of Congs. on the several points as yesterday
proposed by Mr. Madison, was generally admitted as
proper.
The first question propd. in Come. of the whole by Mr. Madison,
was: Q: Shall a valuation of land within the U. S. as directed by
the Articles of confederation be immediately attempted?—8 ays
N. Y. only no. The States present were N. H., Mas. Cont. N. Y.
N. J. Pa. Va. N. C. S. C. R. I. 1 member, Mard. 1do.
By Mr. Wilson,
Q. Shall each State be called on to return to the U. S. in
Congs. assd. the no. of acres granted to or surveyed for any person,
and also the no. of buildings within it? 8 ayes—N. C. no—supposing
this not to accord with the plan of referring the valuation
to the States, which was patronized by that Delegation. A
supplement to this question was suggested as follows.
Q. Shall the male inhabitants be also returned, the blacks &
whites being therein distinguished? ay, N. C. no for the same
reason as above. Cont. divided.
By Mr. Madison,
Q. Shall the States be called on to return to Congs. an estimate
of the value of its lands with the building & improvements
within each respectively? After some discussion on this point in
whch. the inequalities which wd. result from such estimates were set
forth at large; and effects of such an experiment in Virga. had
been described by Mr. Mercer, and a comparison of an Average
valuation in Pa. & Va. which amounted in the latter to 50 PCt. more
than in the former, altho' the real value of land in the former
was confessedly thrice that of the latter had been quoted by Mr.
Madison, the apprehensions from a reference of any thing more
to the States than a report of simple facts increased, and on the
vote the States were as follows: N. H. Mas N. J. Pa. Va. no Mr.
Bland ay Mr. Lee silent Cont.: N. C. S. C. ay, N. Y. divd.: so it
passed in the negative.
By Mr. Madison,
Q. Shall a period be now fixed beyond which the rule to be
eventually estabd. by Congs. shall not be in force? ay, unanimously.
By Mr. Madison,
Q. What shall that period be? Cont. was again for 3 years,
which being rejd. 5 yrs. passed unanimously.
By Mr. Madison,
Q. Shall the rule so to be estabd. have retrospective operation
so far as may be necessary for liquidating & closing the accts. between
the U. S. & each particular State? Ay—Cont. no. Mr.
Dyer & Mr. Mercer understood this as making the amt. of the
several requisitions of Congs., and not of the paymts. by ye. States,
the standard by which the accts. were to be liquidated and thought
the latter the just quantum for retrospective appointment. Their
reasoning however was not fully comprehended.
| The writings of James Madison, | |