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LETTERS

OF

JAMES MADISON,

CONTEMPORARY WITH, AND SUBSEQUENT TO, THE DEBATES OF 1782-'3.

LETTERS

CONTEMPORARY WITH, AND SUBSEQUENT TO, THE DEBATES OF 1783.

DEAR SIR,

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.

Philadelphia, November 5, 1782.

My last informed you that a proposition had been made in Congress for accepting the territorial cession of New York. The paper enclosed contains the proceedings which ensued. The acceptance of this cession, singly, met with a negative from Virginia, for obvious reasons. In the first place, such a measure, instead of terminating all controversy as to the Western country-the object proposed by the original plan-introduces new perplexities; and, in the second place, an assent from us might be hereafter pleaded as a voluntary acceptance of the United States in the room of New York, as litigants against Virginia.

On the subsequent motion you will find Virginia divided. The proviso* expressed in this motion, if referred to the territory retained by New York, appeared to me to be at least nugatory, or rather to imply that a resolution of Congress might operate towards depriving another State of the benefits of the Confederation; and, if referred to the territory ceded by New York, to imply that the ninth Article

* See Journal.

was the constitutional rule of deciding controversies, as well where the United States as where a particular State were the party. All that Congress could, as I supposed, have properly done, would have been to guard against any bias on future decisions, by declaring that their acceptance of the cession of New York was not to be considered as expressing any opinion as to the rightful claims or limits of that State. But I did not feel myself at liberty to substitute such a proposition, because it militated against the guarantee required by Virginia, and would have prejudged that condition of her cession.

The success of the middle States in obtaining the cession of New York has given great encouragement, and they are pursuing steadily the means of availing themselves of the other titles. That of Connecticut is proposed for the next object. Virginia will be postponed for the last. By enlisting the two preceding into their party, they hope to render their measures more effectual with respect to the last.

Besides the effect which may be expected from this coalition with New York, on territorial questions in Congress, it will, I surmise, prove very unfriendly to the pretensions of Vermont. Duane seems not unapprised of the advantage which New York has gained, and is already taking measures for a speedy vote on that question. Upon the whole, New York has, by a fortunate coincidence of circumstances, or by skilful management, or by both, succeeded in a very important object: by ceding a claim which was tenable neither by force nor by right, she has acquired with Congress the merit of liberality, rendered the title to her reservation more respectable

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