EXCERPTS FROM THE PAPERS OF JAMES MADISON

Volume 10: May 1787 - March 1788

29 June 1787 From Joseph Jones (from Richmond), pp. 84-85

p. 84: "We last evening had a letter from the Searcher at Alexandria complaining of a rescue from his possession of a Schooner he had seized. She is from St. Kitts[,] had entered in Maryland but was detected in landing in Alexandria some rum [(]the number of Hhds. not mentioned) which occasioned her seizure by the Searcher. The communication we have received shews that the people of the Town were more disposed to act in opposition to law than support the Officer in the execution of his duty. We have directed one of the armed Boats to endeavour to recover the Vessell wch. we hear moved towards G. Town. . . ."(4)

p. 85: Ed. Note 4: See JCSV, IV, 119-20, 122. McRea's letter describing the rescue of the schooner Dart, commanded by a Captain Dodds, was followed on 29 June by a lengthy report from Charles Lee, naval officer of the South Potomac district. The searcher's fist attempt to seize the vessel was resisted by the captain and crew. The searcher and naval officer were later permitted to board, but after the two officials left the schooner Captain Dodd and his men, assisted by several persons on shore, overpowered their guards and set sail for Georgetown on the Maryland side of the river. Lee attempted to have the captain arrested at Georgetown, but the Maryland authorities were uncooperative (CVSP, IV, 308-9). Shortly thereafter the Dart sailed down the river and slipped by Alexandria at night. The state boat Patriot, which had been dispatched to intercept the Dart, was forced to return to Hampton for repairs after losing her main mast in a gale. The delay enabled the Dart to make a clean escape (ibid., IV, 311, 314; Executive Letter Book, pp. 131, 140). To prevent similar incidents in the future the Council of State ordered the other state boat, the Liberty, to cruise the Potomac constantly between Georgetown and Quantico, chiefly near Alexandria. The Liberty was not ready for duty until August (JCSV, IV, 137; CVSP, IV, 323, 325).

Smuggling was a chronic problem in Virginia, the inevitable result of restrictive trade laws and the lack of an effective means of enforcement. In the case of the Dart the searcher's attempts to carry out the law were forcibly resisted by a hostile populace thirsty for cheap rum. At least one prominent Alexandria merchant, Robert Townsend Hooe (1743-1809), openly encouraged the resistance to the seizure of the Dart (ibid., IV, 314, 335).

JCSV, IV, 3 August 1787, p. 137: "The Lieutenant Governor laid before the board a letter from Doctor David Stuart stating some doubts which had arisen upon the construction of the compact law with the State of Maryland, also letters from the Naval Officer and Searcher at Alexandria, giving information that illicit practices had been made use of in the river Potowmack for the purpose of evading the import laws. Whereupon it is advised, that Copies of the Attorney General's opinion lately obtained respecting the first mentioned subject [emphasis added; see notes from CVSP] be transmitted to the Naval Officers and Searchers on the said river for their government in future:

"That, in order to check and prevent as much as possible all proceedings which have a tendency to defraud the public of any part of its revenue, Captain Taylor be directed forthwith to station the State boat Liberty in the river Potowmack with orders to cruise constantly from the mouth of Quantico to George-town in Maryland and chiefly near to the Town of Alexandria."

[NOTE: The Attonrey-General's opinion, and correspondence on this subject from CVSP are in my notes CVSP vol. 4]

28 October 1787 To George Washington (from New York), pp. 225-26

pp. 225-26: "A foreign gentleman of merit, and who besides this general title, bring me a letter which gives him a particular claim, to my civilities, is very anxious to obtain a sketch of the Potowmac and the route from the highest navigable part of it, to the western waters which are to be connected with the potowmac by the portage; together with a sketch of the works which are going on, and a memorandum of the progress made in them. Knowing of no other channel through which I could enable myself to gratify this gentleman, I am seduced into the liberty of resorting to your kindness . . . "

7 December 1787 From George Washington (from Mount Vernon), pp. 296-98

p. 297: "It would have given me great pleasure to have complied with your request in behalf of your foreign Acquaintance. At present I am unable to do it. The Survey of the Country between the Eastern and Western Waters is not yet reported by the Commissioners, tho' promised to be made very shortly-the Survey being compleated. No draught that can convey an adequate idea of the Work, on this river, has yet been taken. Much of the labour, except at the great falls, has been bestowed in the bed of the River; in a removal of Rocks, and deepning the Water. At the great falls, the labour has indeed been great. The Water there (a sufficiency I mean) is taken into a Canal about 200 yards above the Cataract, & conveyed by a level cut (thro' a solid rock in some places, and much stone every where) more than a mile to the lock seats; five in number; by means of which, when compleated, the craft will be let into the River below the falls (which together amount to 76 feet). At the Seneca falls, Six miles above the great Falls, a channel which has been formed by the River when inundated, is under improvement for the Navigation. The same, in part, at Shanondah. At the lower falls, where nothing has yet been done, a level cut and locks are proposed. These constitute the principal difficulties & will [be] the great expence of this undertaking; The parts of the river between requiring loose stones only to be removed, in order to deepen the Water where it is too shallow in dry seasons."

20 December 1787 To Thomas Jefferson (from New York), pp. 331-33

p. 332: "I subjoin an extract from a letter from Genl. Washington dated Decr. 7^th. which contains the best information I an give you as to the progress of the works on the Potowmack." [He then quotes GW's letter of Dec. 7 excerpted above.]