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 JUNE 10. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TUESDAY JUNE 10.
The Report on the Cession of Virga was taken up. Mr. Elseworth
urged the expediency of deciding immediately on the Cession.
Mr. Hamilton joined him, asserting at the same time the right of
the U. States. He moved an amendment in favor of private
claims. Mr. Clarke was strenuous for the Right of the U. S., and
agst. waiting longer, (this had reference to the absence of Maryland
which had always taken a deep interest in the question.) Mr.
Ghorham supported the policy of acceding to the Report. Mr.
Fitzsimmons recommended a postponement of the question, observing
that he had sent a copy of the Report to the Maryland
Delegates. The President was for a postponement till the sense
of N. Jersey be known. The Delaware Delegates expecting instructions
were for postponing till Monday next. It was agreed
at length that a final vote should not be taken till that day. Mr.
opportunity might be lost by the rising of the Legislature of
Virga.
Mr. Hamilton & Mr. Peters with permission, moved for a recommitment
of the Report, in order to provide for Crown titles
within the territory reserved to the State. Mr. Madison objected
to the motion, since an amendment might be prepared during the
week & proposed on monday next. This was acquiesced in. It
was agreed that the President might informally notify private
companies & others as well as the Maryland Delegates of the
time at which the Report would be taken into consideration.
The order of the day for appointing a Secretary of Foreign
Affairs was called for, & none having been put in nomination, the
order was postponed. Mr. Bland then nominated Mr. Arthur
Lee. Mr. Ghorham nominated Mr. Jefferson, but being told he
would not accept, then named Mr. Tilghman. Mr. Higginson
then nominated Mr. Jonathan Trumbull. Mr. Montgomery
nominated Mr. George Clymer. It was understood that Genl
Schuyler remained in nomination.[108]
“Mr. Livingston has taken his final leave of the Department of Foreign
Affairs. He would have remained, if such an augmentation of his salary had
been made as would have secured him against future expense. But besides the
disinclination of several members to augment salaries, there was no prospect of
a competent number of States for an appropriation of money until he must
have lost the option of Chancellorship of New York. No successor has been
yet nominated, although the day for a choice has passed. I am utterly at a loss
to guess on whom the choice will ultimately fall. Arthur Lee will be started,
if the defect of a respectable competitor should be likely to force votes upon
him.
“The general arrangement of the foreign system has been suspended by the
thinness of Congress, in part, and partly by the desire of further information
from Europe. I fear much the delay will be exceedingly protracted. Nothing
but final resignations of the Minister abroad, and the arrival of Foreign Ministers
here, will effectually stimulate Congress into activity and decision on the
subject. How far, and at what time, the first cause will operate is precarious.
The second seems less so.”—Madison to Jefferson, June 10, 1783, Madison
Papers (1840).
On the same day he wrote to Edmund Randolph—
“We have recd. the instruction relative to com̃ercial Treaties. The principle
on which it is founded corresponds precisely with my idea. But I know not
how far the giving an opportunity to the States of exercising their judgments
on proposed Treaties will correspond in all cases with the doctrine of the
Confederation which provides for secrecy in some such cases. The deviation
however if there be any is trivial, and not being an intended one can have no
ill consequences. No progress has been made towards a Treaty with G. B.
owing partly to a desire of hearing further from Europe & partly to the paucity
of States represented in Congs. It would seem that the plan of regulating the
Trade with America by a Parliamentary Act has been exchanged by the present
Ministry for an intended Treaty for that purpose. Mr. Laurens was asked by
Mr. Fox whether the American Ministers had powers for a commercial Treaty.
His answer was that he believed so: that a revocation of Mr. Adams's powers
had appeared some time ago in print, but he considered the publication as
spurious. From this it wd seem that this Act of Cong had never been
communicated by the latter to his colleagues. He lately complained of the
revocation in a very singular letter to Congr. I consider it as a very fortunate
circumstance that this business is still within our controul, especially as the
policy of authorizing conditional Treaties only in Europe is so fully espoused
by Virginia. . . .
“The offers of N. Y. & Maryld of a seat for Congs are postponed till Ocr.
next in order to give time for other offers & for knowing the sense of the States
on the subject. Copies of those Acts are to be sent to the Executives of each
State. . . .
“Congress have resumed at length the Cession of Virga. the old obnoxious
report was committed, and a new report has been made which I think a fit basis
for a compromise. A copy of it is inclosed for the Govr. I have also transcribed
it in my letter to Mr. Jones. As it tacitly excludes the pretensions of the
companies, I fear obstacles may arise in Congs. from that quarter. Clarke from
N. Jersey informed Congs. that the Delegates from that State being fettered
by instructions, must communicate the plan to their constituents. If no other
causes of delay should arise the thinness of Congs at present will prove a material
one. I am at some loss for ye policy of the companies in opposing a
compromise with Virga. They can never hope for a specific restitution of their
claims, they can never even hope for a cession of the country between the
Alleghany & the Ohio by Virga., as little can they hope for an extension of a
jurisdiction of Congs over it by force. I should suppose therefore that it wd.
be their truest interest to promote a general cession of the vacant Country to
Congress and in case the titles of which they have been stripped sd be deemed
reasonable, and Congs sd be disposed to make any equitable compensation,
Virga. wd be no more interested in opposing it than other States.”—Mad. MSS.
| The writings of James Madison, | |