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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MONDAY APRIL 7. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
MONDAY APRIL 7.
The sense of Congs. having been taken on the truth of the
numbers reported by the Grand Committee, the no. allotted to S.
C. was reduced to 150,000, on the representation of the Delegates
reduction, but were unsuccessful. Those of Virga. also, on the
principle that Congs. ought not to depart from the relative numbers
given in 1775, without being required by actual returns which
had not been obtained either from that State or others whose
relation wd. be varied. To this reasoning were opposed the verbal
& credible information recd. from different persons & particularly
Mr. Mercer, which made the no. of Inhabitants in Va., after deducting
2/5 of the Slaves, exceed the number allotted to that State.
Congs. were almost unanimous agst. the reduction. A motion was
made by Mr. Gervais, 2d. by Mr. Madison to reduce the no. of
Georgia to 15,000., on the probability that their real no. did not
exceed it, & the cruelty of overloading a State which had been so
much torn & exhausted by the war. The motion met with little
support & was almost unanimously negatived.
A letter was recd. from Genl. Washington expressing the joy of
the army at the signing of the general preliminaries notified to
him & their satisfaction at the commutation of half pay agreed to
by Congs.[88]
“Your favor of the 29th. ult: was duly recd. yesterday. Your apprehensions
from the article in favor of British Creditors correspond with those entertained
by all whose remarks I have heard upon it. My hope is that in the definitive
treaty the danger may be removed by a suspension of their demands for a
reasonable term after peace.
“The publication of Mr. Morris's letters was neither previously assented to nor
known by Congress. Whether it was the act of Mr. M himself is even unknown
to them. After the injunction of secrecy was taken off, the curiosity of
any individual, or the interest of the printer might obtain copies for the press.
“The imperfect information brought by the French Cutter is all that we
have yet recd. relative to peace. It is reported from N. York that similar intelligence
had been brought thither by a Vessel from Lisbon. Hostilities however
continue to devour our commerce.
“The report on revenue of which I gave you the outlines is still in an unfinished
state; but in a way I flatter myself of being ultimately & substantially
adopted. The admission into the common mass, of all expenses of the war
not authorized by Congress, is the remaining article of difficulty. Even this
however under some qualifications is so respectably patronized & so intimately
linked with the article concerning the back lands that I do not despair altogether
of seeing that also finally comprehended. A change of the valuation of Lands
for the number of Inhabitants deducting 2/5 of the Slaves, has recd. a tacit sanction
& unless hereafter expunged will go forth in the general recommendation, as
material to future harmony & justice among the members of the Confederacy.
The deduction of 2/5 was a compromise between the wide opinions & demands of
the Southern & other States.
“A letter was recd. yesterday from Gen1. Washington in answer to a notification
from the Presidt. of the signing of the Gen1. preliminaries on the 20 Jany.,
expressing the joy of the army at the glorious event, and the satisfaction they
had recd. from the Act of Congs. commuting the half-pay &c.”—Madison to
Edmund Randolph, April 6, 1783. Mad. MSS.
| The writings of James Madison, | |