The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
TO EDMUND PENDLETON.
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO EDMUND PENDLETON.[1]
Dear Sir,—Nothing definitive has taken place on
the territorial cessions. That of Virginia will not, I
believe, be accepted with the conditions annexed to it.
The opinion seems to be, that an acceptance of the
cession of New York will give Congress a title which
will be maintainable against all the other claimants.
In this, however, they will certainly be deceived; and
even if it were otherwise, it would be their true interest,
as well as conformable to the plan on which the
cessions were recommended, to bury all further contentions
by covering the territory with the titles of as
many of the claimants as possible. We are very
anxious to bring the matter to issue, that the State
may know what course their honor and security
require them to take. The present thinness of Congress
to accomplish it.
Will not the Assembly pay some handsome compliments
to the Marquis, for his judicious and zealous
services whilst the protection of the country was entrusted
to him? His having baffled, and finally
reduced to the defensive, so powerful an army as we
now know he had to contend with, and with so disproportionate
a force, would have done honor to the
most veteran officer, added to his other merits and
services, constitutes a claim on their gratitude which
I hope will not be unattended to.
| The writings of James Madison, | |