ity against a part of its constituents which had fully expiated any offence which they might have committed, and at the same time to convert their penitential and affectionate temper into the bitterest hatred. To enforce this idea, some of the proceedings of Congress expressive of resentment against Philadelphia were made use of. Great stress also was laid on the tendency of removing to any small or distant place, to prevent or delay business which the honor and interest of the United States required should be despatched as soon as possible. On the other side, objections were drawn from those sources which have produced dislikes to Philadelphia, and which will be easily conjectured by you. On the question, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and and North Carolina, were aye; Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, no; and Maryland and South Carolina, divided. If either of the divided States had been in the affirmative, it was the purpose of New Jersey to add a seventh vote in favor of Philadelphia. The division of South Carolina was owing to the absence of Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Izard, both of whom would have voted for Philadelphia. The State was represented by two members only. The division of Maryland, represented by Mr. Carroll and Mr. McHenry, was occasioned by the negative of the latter, whose zeal for Annapolis determined him to sacrifice every consideration to an experiment in its favor, before he would accede to the vote for Philadelphia. The aversion of the Eastern States was the ground of his coalition with them. The arguments in favor of Annapolis consisted of objections against Philadelphia. Those VOL. I.-37 against it were chiefly the same which had been urged in favor of Philadelphia. On the question the States were Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina, aye; New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, no; South Carolina, divided. Virginia was represented by Mr. Lee, Mr. Mercer and Mr. Madison. The first was in the affirmative. Mr. Jones and Mr. Bland were in Philadelphia. The vote of the latter would have been in favor of Annapolis, of the former in favor of Philadelphia. The opinion of Mr. Lee and Mr. Bland in favor of Annapolis resulted from a dislike to Philadelphia, and the idea that the views of Virginia would be promoted by it. That of their colleagues, from a belief that the reasons drawn in favor of Philadelphia, from national considerations, required a concession of local views; and even that a recision of the permanent vote for Trenton in favor of Georgetown, the object of Virginia, would be promoted by placing the Eastern States in Philadelphia. They also supposed that the concurrence of the Eastern States in a temporary vote for Annapolis, to take effect some weeks hence, was little to be confided in, since the arrival of a colleague to the Delegate from New Hampshire would, with the accession of Pennsylvania, who would prefer Trenton to Annapolis, and be moreover stimulated by resentment, make up seven States to reverse the removal to Annapolis. Add to the whole, that experience has verified the opinion, that in any small place Congress are too dependent on courtesy and favor to be exempt, either in their purses or their sensibility, from degrading impositions. Upon the whole, it is most probable that Philadelphia will be the abode of Congress during the winter. I must refer to Mr. Jones for explanations on all these points; he will be in Richmond early in the session. For myself, I have engaged to return to Princeton to attend some interesting points before Congress. Having not yet settled my arrangements for the winter, I must for the present be silent as to my situation. Mr. Van Berkel arrived a few days since. Congress are in a charming situation to receive him, being in an obscure village, undetermined where they will spend the winter, and without a Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the receipt of this, you will stop your correspondence, and probably not hear further from me. 126 TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. Orange, December 10, 1783. DEAR SIR, My journey from Annapolis was so much retarded by rains, and their effect on the water courses, that I did not complete it till the ninth day after I left you. I took Col. Mason in my way, and had an evening's conversation with him. I found him much less opposed to the general impost than I expected. Indeed he disclaimed all opposition to the measure itself, but had taken up a vague apprehension, that, if adopted at this crisis, it might embarrass the defence of our trade against British machinations. He seemed, upon the whole, to acquiesce in the territorial cession, but dwelt much on the expediency of the guaranty. On the article of a Convention for revising our form of State Government, he was sound and ripe, and, I think, would not decline a participation in the work. His heterodoxy lay chiefly in being too little impressed with either the necessity or the proper means of preserving the Confederacy. The situation of the commerce of this country, as far as I can learn, is even more deplorable than I had conceived. It cannot pay less to Philadelphia and Baltimore, if one may judge from a comparison of prices here and in Europe, than thirty or forty per cent. on all the exports and imports-a tribute which, if paid into the Treasury of the State, would yield a surplus above all its wants. If the Assembly should take any steps towards its emancipation, you will no doubt be apprized of them as well as their other proceedings from Richmond. |