To John Adams from Henry Marchant, 29 May 1790
From Henry Marchant
Newport May 29th. 1790—
Most respected Friend
’tis done,—’tis done— The Constitution this Day was adopted by Our State Convention, by a Majority of two— Never were Days of more anxiety, Labor and Assiduity, Hope and Fear, than the last six— It is a happy Circumstance that the Convention was adjourned to this Town, where we had the largest fœderal Interest, and little Influence of the Country Anties— The late Act passed by the Senate of Congress was an Instrument which we weilded with much Success and Execution:—Nothing could be more timely—1 It would take a Quire of Paper to give You the entertaining particulars of this Week:— But I know not how soon an Opportunity may offer to New York—Therefore to Business
Congress may soon rise, and may find it necessary to make the Acts proper to the Introduction of this State into the Union, before Our Members may be able to reach Congress— Our Assembly will sit three Weeks from next Monday: The Senators may be chosen then; The Representative cannot be, till four Weeks after:—2 I have therefore inclosed You the Revennue Act of this State; passed as nearly as possible to that of Congress—3 Here you will find all the Ports marked out and well described, and every Thing necessary for forming Your Acts or Bills— Names for Officers I dare say have gone forward in Abundance long ago, and are in the Care and Charge of one Member or another.—4 But if Satisfaction cannot yet be had on that Subject, or not untill Congress should rise,—the Act may provide for this State, that the President have the intire Power of Appointment; at any Rate untill Congress meet again—
I don’t know but I am impertinent in this Business:—but my Wish is to advance the publick Weal, and to give every Aid in my Power, that the Wheels of Government, and Revennue, may be in Motion— What is well You may retain; You have been used to refine;—The Dross You may throw away.—
Upon this happy Occasion I congratulate You Sir,—And thro’ You Sir, I desire to congratulate the President, Our fœderal Head and Father;—Congress and all well Wishers to the building up Our grand fœderal Cause and Government— With sincere Respects to Mrs. Adams, Compts. to the Family and all Friends, without Time to add; having come this Moment out of Convention, and amidst the din & Noise of Bells, Huzzas and Guns, I am most respectfully Your devoted / Friend & Servt.
Hy: Marchant
P:S: Amidst my hurry I had forgot to acknowledge the Honor done me by yours of the 20th. of March, which would have been answerd before, but that I was tired of Conjectures, and wish’d for something substantial to communicate— Part of Yours will hereafter require further Attention—
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams Esqr.”; endorsed: “Mr Marchant / May. 29. 1790.”
1. For the Rhode Island trade bill, see JA’s letter of 19 May to William Ellery, and note 2, above.
2. The Rhode Island legislature appointed Providence lawyer Theodore Foster (1752–1828), Brown 1770, and Col. Joseph Stanton Jr. (1739–1821), of Charlestown, as U.S. senators. Both men joined their colleagues in New York on 25 June. The election for U.S. representative was held on 31 Aug., with six candidates vying for the position. Benjamin Bourne (1755–1808), of Bristol, R.I., Harvard 1775, was chosen, and he took his seat on 17 Dec. (Providence Gazette, 19 June; ; , 1:371, 3:635; A New Nation Votes).
3. Marchant’s enclosure, not found, was a copy of the Impost Act of 1789, which levied and collected duties within Rhode Island. It was passed by the state legislature in Sept. 1789. It listed commodities, assigned duties and penalties, identified ports of entry, and itemized collectors’ responsibilities ( No. 22108).
4. Under the Impost Act of 1789, Rhode Island was divided into the districts of Newport and Providence. A collector, naval officer, and surveyor staffed each major port, with six additional surveyors left to man a set of smaller ports. In May 1790, prior to ratifying the Constitution, the General Assembly appointed twelve officials to those posts. On 14 June George Washington began making nominations for the Rhode Island ports, replacing nearly all of the officeholders. Foster, who retained his post as naval officer at Providence, wrote to Washington on 26 June, requesting that Ebenezer Thompson assume his local duties (Providence United States Chronicle, 27 May; , 2:80, 83; , 5:557).