How do the concerns expressed in this letter about the need for greater government regulation of commerce compare to the powers granted to Congress in Article I of the Constitution?
Rhode Island faced significant challenges following the Revolutionary War, including physical damage and substantial war debts. Unlike other states, Rhode Island lacked public lands to sell. To repay its debts and fund its government, Rhode Island had to rely on taxing its citizens. Trade worsened Rhode Island’s economic issues as specie used to pay for out-of-state imports resulted in a lack of hard currency within the state.
To address national debt concerns, Congress proposed amending the Articles of Confederation to impose a tax on imports. Rhode Island opposed this measure, fearing it would grant Congress too much power. Because Article 13 required unanimous approval from all 13 states, the amendment failed with Rhode Island being the only state objecting. Ongoing economic issues in the state resulted in a political divide. Coastal merchants preferred a stronger national government to help with economic policy, while rural farmers preferred state control of debt relief.
Supporters in rural towns began advocating for the Country Party due to the shortage of money available throughout the state. In 1786, the Country Party gained control of the General Assembly by promoting a paper money platform. Once in power, they began printing thousands of pounds of paper money.
In 1787, Congress called for a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation, which included provisions allowing Congress to limit the states’ fiscal policies. This particularly worried the Country Party, threatening their paper money policy. Although the lower house narrowly approved sending delegates by a majority of two, the upper house, through a coordinated effort by the Country Party, vetoed the measure.
In response, 13 men formed a committee to advocate for the interests of local Providence merchants and tradesmen. They drafted this letter and sent it to Philadelphia with the intention of having General James M. Varnum deliver it to Congress. The committee also hoped Varnum would participate in the convention and represent their interests. The letter expressed the committee’s support of the convention and greater government regulation of commerce. While Rhode Island repeatedly rejected the new Constitution, it ultimately became the last state to ratify it in 1790, a year after it went into effect.
Providence, May 11, 1787.
Gentlemen—Since the legislature of this state have finally declined sending delegates to meet you in Convention, for the purposes mentioned in the resolve of Congress of the 21st February, 1787, the merchants, tradesmen, and others, of this place, deeply affected with the evils of the present unhappy times, have thought proper to communicate in writing their approbation of your meeting, and their regret that it will fall short of a complete representation of the Federal Union.
The failure of this state was owing to the non-concurrence of the upper House of Assembly with a vote passed in the lower House, for appointing delegates to attend the said Convention, at their session holden at Newport, on the first Wednesday of the present month.
It is the general opinion here, and, we believe, of the well-informed throughout this state, that full power for the regulation of the commerce of the United States, both foreign and domestic, ought to be vested in the national council, and that effectual arrangements should also be made for giving operation to the present powers of Congress in their requisitions for national purposes.
As the object of this letter is chiefly to prevent any impression unfavorable to the commercial interest of the state from taking place in our sister states, from the circumstance of our being unrepresented in the present national Convention, we shall not presume to enter into any detail of the objects we hope your deliberations will embrace and provide for, being convinced they will be such as have a tendency to strengthen the union, promote the commerce, increase the power, and establish the credit, of the United States.
The result of your deliberations, tending to these desirable purposes, we still hope may finally be approved and adopted by this state, for which we pledge our influence and best exertions.
[*This will be delivered you by the Hon. JAMES M. VARNUM, Esq.,1 who will communicate (with your permission) in person, more particularly, our sentiments on the subject-matter of our address.]2
In behalf of the merchants, tradesmen, &c., we have the honor, &c. &c.
(Signed)
John Brown,
Joseph Nightingale,
Levi Hall,
Philip Allen,
Paul Allen,
Jabez Bowen,
Nicholas Brown,
John Jinkes,
Welcome Arnold,
William Russell,
Jeremiah Olney,
William Barton,
Thomas Lloyd Halsey,
Committee.
The Honorable the Chairman of the General Convention, Philadelphia.
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![Finley, A. (1829) Pennsylvania. Philada. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/98688548/.](/content/uploads/2024/02/Map-of-PA--273x190.jpg)
