Engaged as you are in public business, and this State not having shown a disposition to join the Union I did not wonder, although I could not but regret, that my letter should remain so long unanswered.—

I wish that our affairs now afforded a prospect of a speedy accession.—

Before you receive this letter you will have heard of the proceedings of our Convention.—2 They met, framed a bill of rights, collected a long string of amendments to the Constitution, ordered them to be laid before the people at the annual meeting for proxing for Genl. Officers and chusing representatives, and adjourned to the fourth monday in May.— Unless something is done by Congress which will make the Antis feel they will in my opinion adjourn again and again.— 259 The Feds will continue to exert themselves;—but the Antis appear to be steeled against the most powerful addresses to their reason, their passions and their interest.— It is the opinion of many that they are supported and hardend in their opposition from the quarters you mentioned;—but it cannot yet be reduced to a certainty.— The report of the Comm̃ee of your State, appointed to consider what further Amendments are necessary to be added to the Constitution of the United States, will give an handle to our Antis to put off our accession.— If it is the wish of your State that this State should speedily become a member of the federal government it appears to me that their conduct is altogether impolitic.—

Some of our Antis have had the courage to say, that if the State stood out but six months longer, there would be such insurrections in the other States as would overturn the New Government;—and that their opposition would be the salvation not only of our own but of the thirteen States.—

Others talk as if they really thought Congress would still extend their lenity and indulgence to the trade of this State.— When the Federal members of the Convention, in order to obtain an adjournment to the last monday in March, represented in strong, pathetic terms, the distresses in which the Sea-port towns would be involved at the expiration of the Act reviving the suspension of the navigation Act, an Anti replied that they were in no danger,—that upon an Application of the merchants further indulgence would be granted;—for Congress would do any thing to favour their friends.—

The operation of the navigation act will have no influence upon the Antis until the fall, and then they will probably rather pay an advanced freight, and receive less profit upon what they may have to export to the other States, than accede to the Union.—

Something must be done.—

An address to the Genl. Assembly at their Session on the first wednesday in May next, setting forth the advantages which will result to the United States and this State from her accession, and the necessity which Congress will be under to use rigorous measures if she should still persist in her opposition might answer the purpose.—

A requisition of our quota of the public debt with a declaration that, unless it was collected at the time assigned, an equivalent would be distrained would have a good effect.—3

If Congress have a right to consider us as a part of the United States, and to extend their Genl. Government to us, and would make a declaration that they have such authority, and would exercise it if 260 the State did not adopt the Constitution, I have no doubt but that it would be adopted at the next Session of the Convention.—

Wisdom as Father Sherman used to say, in difficult cases, is profitable to direct, and the great Council of the United States are possessed of a large share of it.—4

Uncertain as it is when this State will adopt the New Government; yet it must sooner or later become a member of the Union, and federal Officers be appointed for it.—

I am greatly obliged to you for the assurances you have given me of your readiness to promote my views.—

When I first wrote to you my view was, through your influence and that of other friends, to obtain the Office of a district Judge, I have since thought that the Office of Collector of the Impost for this district would be more beneficial and suit me better.— I was sometime Naval Officer of this State, while we were under the British Government, and was a Commissioner of the Admiralty under Congress;—so that the business of the customs would not be altogether new to me if I should be so happy as to be appointed a Collector of this district.— The present custom-house Offrs. of this district are a worthless sett of Antis.— Who are the candidates for the federal collectorship I do not know;—but if early and long public services,—and losses in the cause of liberty and my country can give any pretensions to an office I shall not be behind the foremost candidate, and if an addition to these, I should be favoured with your recommendation to the President & Senators I should not doubt of success—

With great esteem and regard / I am Yr. friend & servt.

It is mortifying to be beat in a good Cause, without Sense or Argument, but merely by Self-Will and vile Principles— Our Convention sat all the last Week— Our News-Papers I suppose will give You the particulars— It was with Difficulty I could get a Motion for the main Question upon the Journalls— And Adjournment was determined upon by the Anties before they met Us, in their private Conventions:— And they held nocturnal Conventions the whole Week, for the Purpose of carrying their own Measures, and for settling their Arangements for the genl. Election— the Dep: Gov: Owens, President of the Convention, did not hesitate to say out of Doors, that an Adjournment of the Convention was necessary to insure their Election— He is proposed for Govr.—Collins having been their weak tool long enough—1 O——s is a Man of more Subtilty—a profound Hypocrite—at the Gen: Assembly after the Vote for calling a Convention; He took me by the Hand, and altho’ He had voted against it, He declared I could not more rejoice than He did— He had voted as He had done He said, because the People round Him were averse to the Measure as yet, but were coming over fast; And He had no Doubt the Constitution would be adopted as soon as the Convention met.— Yet He now came with the greatest Zeal for an Adjournment—He still holds up the Idea that it will soon be adopted—

the great Objection which had been made by one of their Leaders—Jona. Haszard a Delegate in the former Congress2—was the mode of proportioning the Tax by Numbers;—instead of the former Method— The Word Tax,—partial Tax &c sounded in the Ears of the People, had been alarming; but when an Amendment for that Purpose was brought forward—His own Party failed Him; and We had a Majority of six for the Mode fixed by the Constitution— they were now left without any formidable Objections— We took Notice that 262 there had been a Number of things suggested out of Doors, which we were surprised, none would now father, or even mention— In short they were beat out of all their strong Holds— We agreed to their Bill of Rights, copied nearly from New-York, and their Amendments taken mostly from New-York, with their Darling Paper Money Amendment copied from our dear Sister North Carolina—3

What was now left, but that we should Adopt the Constitution?— It must be sent to the People, for the Consideration of the Towns!— And I expect next to hear the Amendments must be sent to Congress, to see if they will agree to adopt them, previous to Our adopting the Constitution— And this will be the sine qua non, of many—

Their Majority when we met was twelve agt. the Constitution— Could We have brought on the Question, I presume we should have been beat by four— wheather We shall succeed in getting that four is uncertain— they had Instructions from their Town to vote for the Constitution, but a few Days before the Convention met; and were directed not to vote for any adjournment, without the greatest Necessity; and then not beyond the first of April.— But they paid no Attention to their Instructions— How they may yet be opperated upon is uncertain— I have done giving, for I have almost lost my, Hopes of Success— Misery will fall upon the Merchantile Interest; and upon poor Newport most heavily:— Wood & Flower will rise to an extravagant Price— the Farmer will not begin to feel till next Fall, unless Congress provide otherwise— Pray Sir, what must become of Us? what more can we do, if the Constitution is not adopted at the Adjournment of the Convention the 24th. of May And what will be the Measures of Congress in that Case?— If we adopt the Constitution the Anties hope to be able to send forward their own Creatures;— And expect the Recommendation of their Senators &c will be sufficient to procure Appointments to their own peculiar Friends

I fear Congress may adjourn, before they may be able to pass the proper Bills for collecting the Revenue &c &c should We adopt the Constitution the last of May:— For it must be sometime in June, before Our Assembly will meet to choose Senators &c— Will there be a Necessity that Our Senators &c should be appointed and be in Congress, previous to Congress’s passing the necessary Bills and making all the proper Arangements?— I wish to be advised hereon— I had the Honor to write You Sir the 19th. of Decr. and 18th. of Jany. last— I could wish barely to know they were recd.— We want the best Advice.— what we may fear, what We may hope should we faill at last—

My Family join me in Respects to Mrs: Adams and the Family— With sincere Esteem I am / most respectfully / Your very humble Servt.