CONGRESS' R.I. TRADE BILL, 28 APRIL-I JUNE 1790

PARKER. Hope they come in without threats. [If the opposite to suffer
it to lie?] -
MICHAEL JENIFER STONE (Md.). All that necessary is temper and
moderation.
DANIEL HIESTER (Pa.). Think the ways and means be first considered
before they proceed on this bill. We know there will be opposition. We
[have] petitions from very considerable part of union to be exempted
from the small duties now laid and will we recognize a debt which don't
know whether able to make provision for or not? Take time to consider
of it. Lay over for the present....
New York Daily Gazette, 27 May 1790 (excerpt)
Mr. [John] PAGE [Va.] moved to discharge the committee on the bill
respecting Rhode-Island. He was averse to the idea of dragooning the
people of that state into an accession to the present constitution: it was
like making a declaration of war against them, and would be productive
of smuggling. He further observed, that as a convention was expected
to meet very soon, this bill would raise the indignation of the members
who would compose that body, and they would esteem themselves con-
temptible to accede to the new constitution under the influence of
threatening measures; besides, it might have other dangerous conse-
quences, in forcing them to look for aid to foreign nations, which might
occasion distraction in our government. He therefore wished that the
people of Rhode-Island should be left, at least, on as good a footing as
other countries not in alliance with the United States.
Mr. [William] SMITH (S.C.) said that, unless the gentleman (Mr. Page)
withdrew his motion, he would move for the previous question; as this
business was made the order of a future day, and it was therefore pre-
mature in the gentleman to move for discharging the committee.
Mr. [James] JACKSON [Ga.] rose to declare his approbation of Mr.
Page's motion, yet he wished it to be withdrawn for the present; he
considered the bill similar to the Boston port bill. Several members spoke
against its coming on this day, and
Mr. [George] GALE [Md.] moved for the house to go into the fund-
ing bill, as reported yesterday by the committee of the whole....
New York Gazette of the United States, 29 May 17906
Mr. Page made a motion which was seconded by Mr. Parker, that the
committee of the whole be discharged from any further consideration
of the bill respecting the State of Rhode-Island, and added the follow-
ing observations:

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