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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WEDNESDAY JUNE 4. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
WEDNESDAY JUNE 4.
The Report of the Committee for giving to the Army certificates
for land was taken up. After some discussion of the subject,
some members being for some agst. making the certificates transferable
it was agreed that the Report should lie on the table.
For what passed in relation to the Cession of vacant territory
by Virga. see the Journal.[105]
Whilst Mr. Hamilton's motion relating to Mr. Livingston, Secretary
of For. affrs was before the House, Mr. Peters moved, in
order to detain Mr. Livingston in office, that it be declared, by
the seven States present that the Salary ought to be augmented.
To this it was objected 1. that it would be an assumption of
power in 7 States to say, what 9 States ought to do. 2. that it
might ensnare Mr. Livingston. 3. that it would commit the present,
who ought to be open to discussion when 9 States should be
on the floor. The motion of Mr. Peters being withdrawn, that of
Mr. Hamilton was agreed to.
January 2, 1781, Virginia offered a cession of the whole territory claimed by
her northwest of the Ohio River, on condition that she be reimbursed for her
expenses in conquering and defending the ceded territory; that the inhabitants
be protected; that Congress fulfill the promises Virginia had made to George
Rogers Clarke and his officers and soldiers of grants of land for their services in
reducing the British posts; that further grants be made, if necessary, to her
continental and state troops; and that the land be used for the common benefit.
The land companies arrayed themselves against the cession, as it provided that
their claims should be considered void. November 3, a committee of Congress
reported that the lands, pretended to be ceded, belonged to the Six Nations of
Indians, and were under the government of New York. The subject came up
again in Congress September 6, 1782, and on October 29, the cession of all
rights, interests and claims of New York was accepted. Virginia's cession was
accepted September 13 substantially as originally offered. See also Rives's
Madison, i., 445, et seq.
Madison anticipated the discussion in the following letter of May 20 to Jefferson:
“For the tenor of the conditions on which Congs were formerly willing to
accept the Cession of Virga, I beg leave to refer to their resolutions of the
6 of Sepr & 10 of Octr 1780. I take it for granted you have the Journals.
The expunging of the article relative to State expenses was a subject of no less
regret with me than it is with you & for the same reason, but I acknowledge
that considering the probable defect of vouchers in Virga. and the ardor with
which the clause was supported from some other quarters, mine was much
diminished in the course of the discussion. On the last trial there were but
two or three States besides Virga. that favored it. S. Carolina's opposition to it
had great weight. After this clause was expunged it was thought improper to
retain the connective clause as Virga. will now be at liberty to confine her
accession to the revenue part of the plan, without enlarging her territorial
Cession or being deprived of the opportunity of annexing any Condition she
may think fit. The connective clause however could not have been carried I
believe either before or after the mutilation of the plan. Notwithstanding this
disappointment I adhere to my wishes not only that the revenue may be established,
but that the federal rule of dividing the burdens may be changed,
and the territorial disputes accommodated. The more I revolve the latter subject,
the less inducement I can discover to pertinacity on the part of Virga. and
the more interesting it appears to the Union.
“I am sorry your departure from Richmond became necessary before more of
the members were assembled. I make no doubt that useful impressions have
been left with those who were so & were susceptible of them. I shall keep in
mind the intimation relative to Mr. Short. The idea of adding a fraction of a
year to my Congressional Service is totally new, and even if it sd. prevail, will
not as far as I can see, coincide with my private convenience.”—Mad. MSS.
| The writings of James Madison, | |