COMMENTARIES, 20 MAY 1790

This State was at all times during the War anxious if possible to com-
ply with every Wish signified to them by your Excellency. And when it
is considered that a large Army of the Enemy for near three Years of
the most gloomy and uncertain Periods of the War were, in Possession
of their Capital, and of the Island of Rhode Island, and the other Is-
lands in the Narraganset Bay.2-That the Towns of Warren, Bristol and
Jamestown were burnt on excursions of the Enemy, and that during
the whole Period of their having Possession of Rhode Island, a consid-
erable part of the Militia of the State were necessar[i]ly kept in constant
Duty, guarding the Shores of the Narraganset Bay more than sixty Miles
in Extent, it will be natural to conclude that no State suffered more
than the State of Rhode Island in proportion to their Numbers and
extent, or made greater Exertions for the support of the common Cause.
I Just mention these Circumstanc's to recal to your Excellency's mind
those trying times when we looked to your Excellency as our common
Protector, Friend, and Father endearing Appellations under which we
hope yet long to consider you. It hath been published in the Newspa-
pers that a Bill is now pending before the Senate of the United States
entitled "An Act to prevent bringing goods wares and Merchandize
from the State of Rhode Island and providence Plantations into the
United [States] and to Authorize a demand of Mon[e]y from the said
State" A Copy of which Bill at large hath been published.3
This being a matter highly interesting to this State your Excellency
will permit me to make some Observations upon it. It was natural to
expect that there should be a Degree of Anxiety and impatience in the
States in the Union on seeing this State not under the General Gov-
ernment. But after it was known to Congress that a Convention of the
people of this State had been called agreeable to the Recommendation
of the Convention of Philadelphia and the consequent Resolution of
Congress, and that the Convention of this State was adjourned to the
last Monday of this Month for the purpose of Reconsiling the people
to an Adoption of the Constitution, who had been oposed to it and
when there was the greatest Probability that the New Constitution would
then be adopted by the Convention of this State, a Measure of such an
Hostile appearance and so degrading to this State as the one before
mentioned could not be expected by us-I can account for it only by
supposing that Representations unfavourable to the Adoption of the
Constitution here must have been forwarded to Congress by Persons
in this State who have had selfish and personally interesting Motives
therefor It must be a matter known to your Excellency and to Congress
that this State hath been very unhappy for several Years past, in having
been involved in all the dificulties and Animosities of party Spirrit-

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