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 GEORGE WASHINGTON. |
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Dear Sir,—The letter herewith inclosed was put
into my hands yesterday by Mr. de Crevecœur who
belongs to the Consular establishment of France in
this Country. I add to it a pamphlet[6]
which Mr.
Pinkney has submitted to the public, or rather as he
professes, to the perusal of his friends, and a printed
sheet[7]
containing his ideas on a very delicate subject,
to the press. He conceives that his precautions
against any further circulation of the piece than he
himself authorizes, are so effectual as to justify the
step. I wish he may not be disappointed. In communicating
a copy to you, I fulfil his wishes only.
No decisive indications of the public mind in the
Northn. & Middle States can yet be collected. The
Reports continue to be rather favorable to the Act of
the Convention from every quarter; but its adversaries
will naturally be latest in shewing themselves.
Boston is certainly friendly. An opposition is known
to be in petto in Connecticut, but it is said not to be
much dreaded by the other side. Rhode Island will
be divided on this subject in the same manner that it
has been on the question of paper money. The
Newspapers here have contained sundry publications
animadverting on the proposed Constitution & it is
known that the Government party are hostile to it.
There are on the other side so many able & weighty
advocates, and the conduct of the Eastern States if
favorable, will add so much force to their arguments,
that there is at least as much ground for hope as for
apprehension. I do not learn that any opposition is
likely to be made in N. Jersey. The temper of Pennsylvania
will be best known to you from the direct
information which you cannot fail to receive through
the Newspapers & other channels.
Congress have been of late employed chiefly in
settling the requisition, and in making some arrangements
for the Western Country. The latter consist
allotment of a sum of money for Indian Treaties, if
they should be found necessary. The Requisition so
far as it varies our fiscal system, makes the proportion
of indents receivable independently of specie, &
those of different years indiscriminately receivable
for any year, and does not as heretofore tie down the
States to a particular mode of obtaining them. Mr.
Adams has been permitted to return home after
Feby. next, & Mr. Jefferson's appointment continued
for three years longer.
With the most perfect esteem & most affectionate
regard, I remain Dr. Sir,
"Observations on the Plan of Government submitted to the
Federal Convention in Philadelphia, on the 28th of May, 1787. By
the Hon. Charles Pinckney, Esq., L.L.D. Delegate from the State
of South Carolina. Delivered at different Times in the course of
their Discussions. New York:—Printed by Francis Child."—P. L.
Ford's Pamphlets on the Constitution, 419.
Pinckney's speech on the Mississippi question delivered in Congress
in secret session. See Madison's letter to Jefferson, Oct. 24, and to
Washington, Oct. 28, post. "Mr. C. Pinckney is unwilling, . . . to
lose any fame that can be acquired by the publication of his senti
ments. If the subject of the navigation of the Mississippi could have
remained as silent, and glided as gently down the stream of time for
a while, as the waters do that are contained within the banks, it
would, I confess, have comported more with my ideas of sound policy,
than any decision that can be come to at this day."—Washington to
Madison Oct. 22, 1787, Ford's Writings of Washington, xi., 175.
| The writings of James Madison, | |