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Vdnla, new Jersey, and New \ OIk, TeSP0C-
ded 20 The call thus made, aud appointed
Commissioners to attend the Convention,
authorizing them, IN nearly the same terms.
TO take into Consideration the lade and
commerce Of the United STATES, end TO con
slider how far an Uniform system IN their com
mercial intercourse and regulations night
he necessary 10 their common interest and
permanent harmony Madison Papers
page G95.I


TIE egislature Of Delaware, PenusyI-
vania, New jersey. and New York. respon-
d-d to the call thus made, and appoln;ed
C'------;-~;--.--..s -ase,nd TIE Convention,
authorizing them, in nearly the same terms.
80 take INTO consideration the trade and com
merce ofthe United States, and TO consider
how far an unilorE. system in their com
mon interest and permanent harmony
Madison Papers. G98l


Commissioners were also appointed by
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Is
land and North Carolina, but none of them
attended the Conve ntion 0 Commission
ers were appointed by Maryland, Connecii-
cu'. South Carolina or Georgia


The CcnveHlion reported to their constit-
uents, That the express terms Of the pow
ers to your Commissioners supposng dep
u'aiiun from all the States, and having fo-
ot icct the .Iade and commerce Of the Uai-
ted States your Commissioners did not con.
cejve it advisable to pro eed on the business
oftheir mission under the circumstances Of
so partial and defective a representation


Deeply impressed. however, with the
magnitude and Importance ofthe object con
lided TO them on this occasion, vour Com
mi. sjoners connot for bear to indulge an ex-
preston oftheir earnest and unanimous wish
tha: speedy measures may be taken TO effect
a general meeting of the States in a future
Convention, for the same and such other pur-
poses, as the situation Of public affairs may
be found to require.


in the course of their refec-
tons on the subject, they have been induced
10 think that the power Of regulafiug trade is
Of such comprehensive extent, and Will en-
ter 50 far into the general system Of the Fed
erai Government that to give 1t efficacy,
and 10 obviate questions and doubts concern
mg its precise nature and limits, may re
Q4ire a correspondent adjustment Of other
parts OF the Federal system" Madison pa
pers. 700 The Legislature Of Virginia
was the FIST that acted upon this RECON-
mendation, aud BY an almost unanimous
vote appointed delegation, with General
Washington al ils head to attend the propos-
ed convention Mad papers 708l


Thus originated the convention TO which
we owe ouI present constitution


A aout this time Mr. Madison, who truely
deserve he proud title Of FATHER OF THE
CoNsTIrUTIoN.' seems to have been Who'll
" devoted 10 the cause ot constitutional re-
form To riu, therefore we may anpeai
.. ~ .gt. l,E 70
movements Ia which be plaved so consnic
ous Il paI, and took 50 deep an interest In
bis general view Of the state Of public af.
fairs at the date Of the constitution, he SAYS /;
"The waut OF authority In congress 10 regu-
late commerce had produced in foreign pa-
tions. particularly Great Britain, monop-
oljzng policy, injurious to the trade of the
United States, and destructive t. their navi-
CATION the iunbeci Ity, and anticipated dis
ouiiou, Of the confederacy extineuiShing
all a2nrehensions ola conn.ervailing policy
on the part OF the United States. The same
want of a general power over commerce led
to an exercise Of the power, separate 7. by
the states. which not proved abofive but en-
gende,ed rival, conflicting aud angry regu-
lations, u Mad, papefs 7lIl


Here was the mischiet Lei Us now see
The remedy This viii be found in a letter
which be wrote u Edmund Randolph, on
the S,h Of April. 1877. 10 which he gave the
outline OF such a constitution as be- wished
to see adopted It was this Let the Ma
tiunal Government b. armed 0i'h positive
and complete authority in all eases whee
Uniform measures are necessary, as In trade,
&c. Let IL aiso reJaTO TIE poWefS VnIcD 1t
now possesses" This letter would be a
precious nut for modern States Rishis
men, II may be found in the Madison
papers page $50


The convention was organized on the p,
Of May. 1887; on the 2Sth, Mr Governor
Morris OF Pennsylvanii. laid before the con-
venlion a letter from citizens of Rhode Is
land. That state had refused 20 send dele
gates to the convention, aud his letter was
sent by citZens favorable 10 the objects oi
the convention. and was intended to be pre-
.ented by Gen'l Varnum. who was commits
sioned to communicate more fully 10 the CON
venton the views and wishes OF those who
signed It. We give an extract from this let
ter, which NAV b. found entire in the Ap-
pendix 10 the Madison papers


III is the genera! opinion here, and. we
believe, Of the we'll informed throughout
this state. that fall power for the regulation
of the commerce of the United States, both


i