character and give you a short detail of the business now before Congress, with some observations upon the present state of the Federal government, &c. &c. An important national matter, which has for some time past engaged the attention of Congress will probably soon come into public view. That Body have now before them a report of a grand committee for granting to the Federal government additional powers necessary to render it efficient. This, after the subject has undergone the necessary investigations, will be laid before the respective legislatures. An ordinance for the establishing of a colonial government in the Western territory is also, nearly completed, as also one for the establishment of a mint for the United States, with many other matters of less magnitude. Your delegates wish to be informed, whether the accounts of the State against the United States are ready for adjustment, Mr. Chinn having informed the Treasury Board that they are not ready, nor can they be got ready for a long time. As that gentleman's salary still goes on, your delegates wish to be possessed of such official documents as may set that subject in its true point of view. It is highly necessary that all payments made by the State to the Federal government, whether on requisitions or otherwise, should be carried to its credit on the books of the treasury, therefore, all these accounts ought, without loss of time, to be sent forward. Your Excellency will be made acquainted by Congress, that no paper emitted by the states, will answer federal purposes. Will not this evince it to be mistaken policy in our Legislature to order payments for the late requisition in their own paper currency? When gentlemen reflect but for a moment on the exhausted state of the Federal treasury; that no money is expected but what comes in from requisitions from the several states; that these are either all stopped or so slow in their operations, that nothing can be calculated upon with certainty; that the moment is arrived that our credit with foreign powers is lost; that an enemy on our frontiers stands prepared to take every advantage of our prostrate situation; that an enemy more despicable is embarrassing our most beneficial commerce and carrying our fellowcitizens into slavery for life, (about thirty at present being in that unhappy situation,) does it require the spirit of prophecy to predict what will and must inevitably be the consequence? Or, will arguments be necessary to draw forth the most vigorous exertions of every friend of American liberty, to arrest the sacred palladium and prevent our total ruin as a nation? Amidst, however, these gloomy scenes, we have the pleasure to inform you, that Her Majesty of Portugal, has ordered a squadron of five sail of men-of-war to cruise at the the mouth of the Straits for the protection of her trade, and that she has ordered her officers to give the same protection to the American flag as to her own. Of this her minister has given official information to Mr. Adams, at the Court of London. An instance of magnanimity, this, which is worthy of imitation, and which demands our grateful acknowledgments, as we have nothing better to offer her in payment. While foreign potentates take such an interest in our favor, does it not call for unanimity and exertions at home, amongst every class of our citizens, to rescue the commonwealth from impending ruin? Should not these considerations reconcile the mercantile and landed interests in the State of Rhode Island, and produce a repeal of those penal laws, which have already convulsed and still threaten ruin to the State? It is now agreed by all, that our Federal government is but a name; a mere shadow without any substance; and we think it our duty to inform the State that it is totally inefficient for the purposes of the Union; and that Congress without being invested with more extensive powers, must prove totally nugatory. Should it be imagined that your delegates, as individuals, wish for an increase of power, be assured, that we hold ourselves servants of the State of Rhode Island, and in readiness to relinquish the exalted station in which you have placed us and return, with pleasure, to the shade of retirement, provided we can see, such a degree of energy infused into the Federal government as may render it adequate to the great ends of its original institution. We need not, sir, inform you how it wounds our feelings, in every company as well as in the Gazettes, to hear and see the proceedings of our Legislature burlesqued and ridiculed, and to find that Congress and all men of sober reflection, reprobate, in the strongest terms, the principles which actuate our administration of government. We are citizens of Rhode Island, and are most sensibly affected with every thing which militates to the dishonor of the State. Your delegates further beg leave to observe, that if those measures are continued which have for the last six months been pursued, in their opinion, they will infallibly terminate in the ruin of the State, and have no inconsiderable share in the subversion of the Union. We conclude by observing that the necessary supplies for our support are expected, and will be provided by the Legislature, as we greatly need them, while we have the honor to be, Your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servant, The aforegoing statements could not have been very cordially received by the Governor, who came into power on the paper currency hobby. It arrived too, just in season to be laid before the General Assembly at a special session convened on account of a decision of the Superior Court of the State, declaring invalid one of the laws passed to give currency to paper money. The only clause in this letter which is noticed in the proceedings of the Legislature, is the one relative to the account of this State with the United States, which it was resolved "is ready for settlement." CHAPTER XII. 1786 TO JANUARY, 17th, 1790. JAMES M. VARNUM, Nathan Miller, George Champlin and Peleg Arnold elected Delegates at the General Election in May-Sittings of CongressAttendance of Delegates-Resolution passed by Congress for a National Convention at Philadelphia-The General Assembly refuse to send Delegates-Letter to Covernor Collins from the President of Congress-Resolutions of the General Assembly-Letter from the General Assembly to Congress-Spirited Protest against, by Deputies from Providence and Newport-The refusal of the Legislature to send Delegates to the National Convention at Philadelphia not approved by the Delegates in Congress-Letters from Delegates to the Executive-Meeting of the Convention at Philadelphia-All the States represented but Rhode Island-Agree upon the present Constitution of the United States-Resolutions in relation to it-Letter from the Convention to Congress-Resolution of Congress-Resolution of the General Assembly respecting the proposed new Constitution-Peleg Arnold, Jonathan J. Hazard, Daniel Manton and Sylvester Gardner elected Delegates to Congress at the May Session of the General Assembly in 1787-Sittings of Congress-Attendance of Delegates-Act of the Assembly in reference to the adoption of the Constitution-Question to be decided by the freemen in town meetings assembled-Rejected by a large vote-Letter to the President of Congress from the Executive-Lists of freemen who voted in town meetings, the towns of Bristol, Barrington, Foster, Coventry, Hopkinton and Richmond excepted-Action of the freemen of Providence and Newport-Petition from the Freeholders of Bristol for a State Convention-Adoption of the Constitution by nine States— Celebration of this event in Providence, July 4, 1788-Address by Dr. Hitchcock-Excitement growing out of this Celebration-Account of the Celebration, copied from the United States Chronicle-Last vote on any matter taken by Congress, October 10, 1788-Mr. Arnold at his post on that day-Correspondence between the Delegates in Congress and the Executive-Peleg Arnold, Jonathan J. Hazard, Thomas Holden and John Gardner chosen Delegates at the General Election in May, 1788— New Constitution went into effect in March, 1789-Review of the labors and influence of the old Continental Congress-Peleg Arnold, Jonathan |