as formed by the late convention, being read, the following refolutions were unanimously entered into:

Refolved, that this meeting do moft warmly and cordially approve of the faid conflitution; and that

they efteem it the only falvation of this country, on which the existence of the united states of America, as a people, depends.

Refolved, that this meeting eutertain the highelt fenfe of the pablic virtue and patriotim of the majority of the houfe of affembly, in calling immediately a convention of this ftate, in pursuance of the recommendation of the federal convention. Refolved, that it is the opinion of this meeting, that the withdrawing or abfenting of any member of affembly, who was fworn to ferve his country to the best of his abilities, teads to fubvert all order, and the fundamental principles of good government; and establishes precedents of ariftocratic powers, for a minority to defeat the proceedings of a majority.

Refolved, that this meeting nominate four perfons, propofed by a committee, appointed for that purpofe, as candidates to ferve in the faid flateconvention; and that each perfon prefent engages to fupport this ticket at the election, and, as much as in him lieth, to prevent all fraud and deceit

at the faid election.

Refolved, that each of the candidates, nominated as aforefail, do make public declaration before this meeting, that, if it fhould be his lot to be elected a member of the faid convention, he will ufe his utmoft endeavours that the faid conftitution be ratified.

And the faid four candidates accordingly made the faid declaration before this meeting,

Refolved, that the chairman fign thefe refolves; and that the fame be printed and published.

P. RHOADS, Chairman.

At a meeting of the freemen of the county of Somerfet (New-Jersey) October 9, being the day of the af nual election: THOMAS BERRY, efq. chairman and judge of election.

flates, as agreed upon by the fe

HE conftitution of the united

deral convention at Philadelphia, was read; whereupon

Refolved unanimously, That this county do highly approve of the fame and that if the fame be adopted by the confederated flates, they will fupport is with their lives and fot tunes.

Refolved unanimously, That the reprefentatives of this county, in the general affembly, be, and they are hereby inftructed to use their utmo endeavours to have a convention p pointed for this flate, without dela, agreeably to the recommendation of congrefs, for the purpose of confidering and ratifying faid conflitution.

By order of the freemen and voters prefent, THOMAS BERRY, judge and chairman.

Extract of a circular letter from convention of the reprefentatives of the baptift churches of the midd fiates, lately held at New York.

E congratulate you on the W kind interpofition of divine providence, vifible in that happ unanimity which obtained among the members of the late federal convestion, to agree upon, and report to the tates in this union, a form of go adoption, to refcue our dear countr vernment, which promifes, on from that national difhonour, irjut tice, anarchy, confufion, and blood fhed, which have already refu from the weaknefs and inefficiers of the prefent form; and which, have the greatest reafon to fear, but the beginning of forrows, unt the people lay hold on this Fa

man told us, laft October, in a debate on another queftion, that the people of Poland were divided up in compaffion to them. Who knows how long it will be before Maffa chufetts, New York, and perhaps Rhode Island, will combine, and, in the excefs of their affection for th's fate, divide us among them ? whit can we promife ourselves from the turbulent fpirit of one, the felfish nefs of another, or the righteoufnefs of a third?

How long will it be before the relative rights of thefe ftates will come into question? Within twenty years, perhaps within ten, Maffachusetts will difcover that he has an exclufive right to the fisheries on her extenfive coafts. Complaints will be brought to this affembly, that our fishermen are driven from Nantucket Shoals-we shall tranfmit thefe complaints to congrefs-they will recommend to Mallachufetts to indemnif; us for the lofs and outrage-perhaps they will avail; but I don't believe they will. It is more probable that they will write a long letter of juftification to congrefs, and clofe it with reminding them of old continental money, and the Penobscot expedition.

I am aware, mr. Speaker, that my fears may be confidered by fome to be vifionary-that fome may attribute my fentiments on government, to military habits of thinking, or refolve them into the baneful influence of the Cincinnati. These confiderations, however, cannot diffuade me from fpeaking what I think to be the dictates of truth and duty. I am an advocate for an EFFICIENT GE NERAL GOVERNMENT, and for a REVENUE ADEQUATE TO THE NATURE AND EXIGENCIES OF IT. This revenue must not depend on the will of any particular flate. I am perfuaded a fufficient revenue (except in cafe of an expenfive war) may be drawn from

the fources which this ftate has alrea dy granted to congrefs, baring the limitations and reftrictions under which they lie; I mean the regulati on of trade for fifteen years, and the five per cent. impoft. The introduction of our own fhipping into the carrying trade, yields a certain profit, and is an object of great importance-as the variety of foil and climate, within the united states, is capable of producing every article which either the convenience or lux. ury of man requires. Should the impoft be carried to excels, fhould foreigners refift impofitions on their fhips, and make reprisals by laying counter-duties on ours, the natural tendency of both will be, to premati the growth and manufacture, among ourselves, of the articles affeded by the impofitions-and proportionably increase our wealth and independence. Manufactures, more than any other employment, will increase our nunbers-in that confift the ftrength and glory of a people.

Mr. Granger declared himself to be oppofed to fending delegates to the convention: he conceived s would be difagreeable to his confituents; he thought the liberties of the people would be endangered by it; that the conflitution of this fatt was already fufficient for every pur pofe, added to the articles of confe deration, in which fufficient power was already delegated to congrels, and concluded by faying, that he imagined thefe things would have a tendency to produce a regal government in this country.

Mr. Humphrey, on the fame fide with mr. Granger, obferved, that be thought it would be beit to opple the meafure in the firft inftance; that if Connecticut fhould fend, and the convention fhould recommend to t the itates any alteration in the article of confederation, and a majority of the ftates fhould comply with fuck recommendation, and adopt the ma

ares propofed by it, the majority ould compel the minority to comly alfo, however opposed the latter might be to any change in the fedegovernment: and he concluded faying, that he approved of the fdom and policy of Rhode Island refufing to fend delegates to the onvention, and that the conduct of at ftate, in this particular, was forthy imitation.

Colonel Seymour declared himself be in favour of fending delegates the convention. He was happy, e faid, that a motion for a general bnvention of the ftates, had come tom fo refpectable a quarter as the tate of Virginia; that he was pleased hat it had originated there-that that ate conceived the affairs of the union > have arrived to an alarming crifis that he was fully of that opinion that the fate of Vermont was alancing between Canada and the nited ftates-that the fettlements on he Ohio were rapidly increafing, and the expense of the more fettled arts of the eastern ftates, which vere much drained by conftant emirations that New York was too Buch attached to her local interefts, nd had become unfederal-that the Fairs of Maffachusetts were ftill unettled, and that Rhode Island, by ter iniquity, had jufly become the proach and scorn of her neighbours. That this was a melancholy picture, and gave juft occafion for the remark of Virginia, that the affairs of the anted flates had arrived to an alarming crifis. He flattered himself, that the convention would find a remedy for all the fe evils, and that efficiency might be given to the federal government, that every part of the united Bates, however disjointed at prefent, might be brought to promote the great objects at firft propofed by their union.

Mr. Perkins was opposed to the meafure, and faid, that the flate would fend men that had been deli,

cately bred, and who were in affluent circumftances, that could not feel for the people in this day of diftrefs; if we fend, we fhall be under double obligation to adopt what the convention hall recommend; for if we say A, we muft fay B.

Colonel Wadsworth. It is allowed by every body that the prefent confederation does not answer the purpofes of federal government; and notwithflanding the folemnity with which we have declared the articles of the confederation fhall be inviolably preferved, we find they are entirely neglected; and there is no power in the federal government to enforce them.

One gentleman fays, we should oppofe any alteration, in the first inftance, lell a majority of the states hould recommend an alteration, and force us to a compliance and he approves the conduct of Rhode Island, in refufing to fend delegates to the convention. I prefume the house will not copy Rhode Island in any of their vile acts of legiflation; they have forfeited all claim to the confidence of the united fiates, and of the whole world: their acts are a difgrace to the human race. Mr. Fitch finds fault with us for cenfuring that ftate. I hope we fhall always dare to tell them the truth; and while they make laws that are founded in injuftice, I fhall claim, and take the liberty to fay what I pleafe about thofe laws. Colonel Seymour well obferves, it is alarming indeed, when there is no force in the federal government, and when there are not wanting men who boldly declare, that it would be better to go back to Great Br tain. It is faid, fir, there is not wanting, at leaft, one member of affembly, who wifhes we had been conquered by the British, at any period of the war. Mr. Perkins objects to having any power to enforce the acts of the federal government. If there is to be no power of coercion, there is