Papers of John Adams, volume 20

To John Trumbull

From Jeremy Belknap

To John Adams from Jabez Bowen, 9 March 1790 Bowen, Jabez Adams, John
From Jabez Bowen
Sir Providence March 9th. 1790

Your favour of the 27th. ulto. came safe to hand yesterday.

I attended the Convention last week and after choosing a President &c we heard the Constitution Read by paragraps with the objections which were verry few and of no great importance, and were fully answered a Committe was then appointed to draw a Bill of Rights with such Amendments as they tho’t necessary. which they Reported and after the necessary discussion they were Received.

A Motion was then made to Adjorn. which was carrid by a Majority of Nine. The Bill of Rights with the Amendments were Order’d to be Printed and sent out to the people to be consider’d of by them at the Annual Town Meetings. to be held on the Third Monday of April and the Convention Adjorned to the Twenty fourth Day of May—1

We are not much disappointed in the event but much Mortify’d; more especially as we cañot see any end to our sufferings, if good arose to the Ud States from our opposition to the five per Cent Impost— I fancy your Excellency will be obliged to Rack your Invention to point out the advantages that can possibly arise to the United or to this particular State from our late determination.

We had five old Tories in the Convention who would keep a Day of Thanksgiving on hearing that the Federal Government was dissolved, and some of the principle officers carrid away prisoners to Babilon alsius2 G.B. we had many of Desperate Circumstances and the principle heads of the Papermoney faction, all added their strength together made the Collom to firm [. . .] broken, and these same people never will come [. . .] so long as they can possibly keep a 268 Majority [. . .] the Convention we are almost discouraged from making furthur Exertions. our best Citizens are looking out to dispose of their property, and to Remove out of the Government. the Restrictions on Trade will fall intirely on our Friends at which the oposers of the Fedl. Government will be will pleased. so that on the whole we begin to turn our Eyes back on the Country that we left and must all turn Tories, for any thing I can see.

be so kind Sir as to let the President know how our Convention has ended and that the Friends of the Federal Goverment are in disponding Circumstances, at present.

We would willingly Receve the necessary Officers for Collecting the Impost; if Congress would Order them to be appointed.

I Remain with much Esteeme Your / most Obedient & verry Humb Servant

Jabez Bowen

PS. as the Freemen at large are to take up the Amendments on the 17th. of April I cannot help reminding you that it will be a good oppertunity for a Remonstrance or Adress from Congress to the People stateing the Reasons for their Adopting & the probable Consequences of their Rejection

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “His Excellency / John Adams / Vice President United States / New York”; internal address: “John Adams Vice president Ud States.”; endorsed: “Jabez Bowen / March 9. 1790 / ansd. March 20 1790”; notation: “Free.” Some loss of text where the seal was removed.

1.

For Rhode Island’s ongoing ratification convention, see William Ellery’s letter of [ca. 6] March, and note 2, above.

2.

Bowen referred to 2 Kings, 24:15.