### *James Madison to George Washington, Mar. 18^th^, 1787*

Dear Sir, New York March 18th. 1787

Recollecting to have heard you mention a plan formed by the Empress of
Russia for a comparative view of the aborigines of the new Continent,
and of the N. E. parts of the old, through the medium of their
respective tongues, and that her wishes had been conveyed to you for
your aid in obtaining the American vocabularies, I have availed myself
of an opportunity offered by the Kindness of Mr. Hawkins,(1) of taking a
copy of such a sample of the Cherokee & Chactaw dialects as his late
commission to treat with them enabled him to obtain, and do myself the
honor now of inclosing it. I do not know how far the list of words made
use of by Mr. Hawkins may correspond with the standard of the Empress,
nor how far nations so remote as the Cherokees & Chactaws from the N. W.
shores of America, may fall within her scheme of comparison. I presume
however that a great proportion at least of the words will answer, and
that the laudable curiosity which suggests investigations of this sort
will be pleased with every enlargement of the field for indulging it.
Not finding it convenient to retain a copy of the inclosed as I wished
to do for myself, I must ask the favor of your amanuensis to perform
that task for me.

The appointments for the Convention go on very successfully. Since the
date of my last, Georgia, S. Carolina, N. York, Massts. & N. Hamshire
have come into the measure. Georgia & N. Hampshire have constituted
their Delegates in Congs. their representatives in the Convention. S.
Carolina has appointed Mr. J. Rutlidge, Genl. Pinkney, Mr. Laurens,
Major Butler, and Mr. Chs. Pinkney late a member of Congs. The deputies
of Massts. are Mr. Dana, Mr. King, Mr. Ghoram, Mr. Gerry, Mr. Strong. I
am told that a Resolution of the Legislature of this State which
originated with their Senate lays its deputies under the fetter of not
departing from the 5th of the present articles of Confederation. As this
Resolution passed before the Recommendatory act of Congress was known,
it is conjectured that it may be rescinded; but its having passed at all
denotes a much greater prevalence of political jealousy in that quarter
than had been imagined.(2) The deputation of N. York consists of Col.
Hamilton, Judge Yates and a Mr. Lansing. The two last are said to be
pretty much linked to the antifederal party here and are likely of
course to be a clog on their Colleague. It is not doubted now that
Connecticut & R. Island will avoid the singularity of being
unrepresented in the Convention.\
The thinness of Congs. has been an obstacle to all the important
business before them. At present there are nine States on the ground but
this number, though adequate to every object when unanimous, makes a
very slow progress in business that requires seven States only. And I
see little prospect of the number being increased.

By our latest and most authentic information from Massts. it would seem
that a calm has been restored by the expedition of Genl. Lincoln. The
precautions taking by the State however betray a great distrust of its
continuance. Besides their act disqualifying the malcontents from voting
in the election of members for the Legislature &c. another has been
passed for raising a corps of 1000 or 1,500 men, and appropriating the
choicest revenues of the Country, to its support.(3) It is said that at
least half of the insurgents decline accepting the terms annexed to the
amnesty, and that this defiance of the law agst. Treason, is
countenanced not only by the impunity with which they shew themselves on
public occasions, even with insolent badges of their character, but by
marks of popular favor conferred on them in various instances in the
election to local offices.

A proposition has been introduced & discussed in the Legislature of this
State, for relinquishing its claim to Vermont, and urging the admission
of it into the Confederacy.(4) As far as I can learn difficulties will
arise only in settling the form, the substance of the measures being not
disliked by any of the parties. It is wished by those who are not
interested in claims to lands within that district to guard agst. Any
responsibility in the State for compensation. On the other side it will
at least be insisted that they shall not be barred of the privilege of
carrying their claims before a federal Court, in case Vermont shall
become a party to the Union. I think it probable if she should not
decline becoming such altogether, that she will make two conditions if
not more: 1. that neither her boundaries, nor the rights of her citizens
shall be impeachable under the 9th art. of Confederation.(5) 2. that no
share of the public debt already contracted shall be allotted to her.

I have a letter from Col. Jno. Campbel dated at Pittsburg, from wch. I
gather that the people of that quarter are thrown into great agitation
by the reported intention of Congs. concerning the Mississippi, and that
measures are on foot, for uniting the minds of all the different
settlements which have a common interest at stake. Should this policy
take effect I think there is much ground to apprehend that the ambition
of individuals will quickly mix itself with the first impulses of
resentment and interest, that by degrees the people may be led to set up
for themselves, that they will slide like Vermont insensibly into a
communication and latent connection with their British neighbours, and
in pursuance of the same example, make such a disposition of the Western
territory as will entice into it most effectually emigrants from all
parts of the Union. If these apprehensions be not imaginary they suggest
many observations extremely interesting to Spain as well as to the
United States.

I hear from Richmond with much concern that Mr. Henry has positively
declined his mission to Philada. Besides the loss of his services on
that theatre, there is danger I fear that this step has proceeded from a
wish to leave his conduct unfettered on another theatre where the result
of the Convention will receive its destiny from his omnipotence.

With every sentiment of esteem & affection I remain,

Dear Sir,

> Your Obedt. and very hble Servt.,
>
> Js. Madison Jr.

RC (DLC: Washington Papers). Madison, Papers (Rutland), 9:314\--;16.\
1 That is, Benjamin Hawkins of North Carolina who had been appointed one
of five commissioners to negotiate with the southern Indians, for which
see these Letters, 22:287, 293.\
2 See Madison to Edmund Randolph, March 11, note 3.\
3 Hard on the heels of its February 4 declaration of rebellion, the
Massachusetts General Court authorized the enlistment of up to 2,600
additional troops to suppress further uprisings and subsequently passed
a Disqualification Act banning the insurgents from, among other things,
voting, officeholding, and jury duty. But Benjamin Lincoln had yet to
restore \"calm\" and the insurgents remained active throughout the
spring. See Szatmary, Shays\' Rebellion, pp. 106\--;19. See also
Massachusetts Delegates to James Bowdoin, February 21 and March 4.\
4 See Nathan Dane to Timothy Dwight, March 12, note 2.\
5 That is, the provision in the second paragraph that made Congress the
final authority in resolving \"all disputes and differences. . .between
two or more states concerning boundary, jurisdiction or any other cause
whatever.\" See JCC, 19:218.

***Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 24 November 6, 1786-February
29, 1788\
***