University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.

My Dear Sir,—I returned yesterday in order to be
with Mr. Jones before his departure and make some
little arrangement with him of a private nature. The
past week has been spent by Congress in deliberating
on 1. their permanent seat; 2. their temporary one.
The competition for the former lay between the falls
of the Potowmack and those of the Delaware. We
hoped at first from the apparent views of the Eastern
Delegates that they would have given a preference to
Potowmack. In the event they joined with Pena &
the intermediate States in favor of the Delaware the
consequence of which is that the vicinity of its Falls
is to become the future seat of the fæderal Govt. unless
a conversion of some of the Eastern States can be effected.
The next point was the abode of Congs untill
their permanent seat could receive them. The expediency
of removing from Princeton in order to the
more convenient transaction of the affairs of the U.
S. and accommodation of Congs, was first determined
on, Massts., Cont, & R. I. alone being opposed to it.
Trenton was next proposed, on which Question the
votes were divided by the River Delaware. Philada
came next in order. Besides its convenient position
in relation to the Permanent seat & superior temporary
accommodations for the public business and for
Congs, arguments in its favor were drawn from the
tendency of passing by these accommodations to
others inferior in themselves & more distant from the
permant seat, to denote a resentment unworthy of

a Sovereign authority agst a part of its Constituents
which had fully expiated any offence which they might
have committed; and at the same time to convert
their penitential and affectionate temper into the bitterest
hatred. To enforce this idea some of the proceedings
of Congs expressive of resentment agst
Philada were made use of. Great stress was also laid
on the tendency of removing to any small or distant
place, to prevent or delay business which the honor
& interest of the U. S. require sd be despatched as
soon as possible. On the other side objections were
drawn from those sources which have produced dislikes
to Philada, and wch will be easily conjectured by
you. On the question N. Y, Pa, Delaware, Virga, &
N. Carolina were ay; Massts, Cont, R. I., N. Jersey,
no; and Maryland & S. Carolina, divided. If either
of the divided States had been in the affirmative it
was the purpose of N. Jersey to add a seventh vote in
favor of Philada. The division of S. Carolina was owing
to the absence of Mr. Rutledge & Mr. Izard both
of whom would have voted for Phila. The State was
represented by two members only. The division of
Maryland represented by Mr Carroll & Mr McHenry
was occasioned by the negative of the latter, whose
zeal for Annapolis determined him to sacrifice every
consideration to an experiment in its favor, before he
would accede to the vote for Philada. The aversion
of the Eastern States was the ground of his coalition
with them. The arguments in favor of Annapolis
consisted of objections agst Philada. Those agst it
were chiefly the same which had been urged in favor
of Philada. On the question the States were Massts,
Cont, R. 1., Delaware, Maryland & N. C., ay, N. Y.,
N. J. Pa Virga, no. S. C. divided. Virga was represented
by Mr. Lee Mr. Mercer & Mr. M. The first
was in the affirmative. Mr. Jones & Mr. Bland were
in Philada. The vote of the latter wd have been in
favor of Annapolis of the former in favor of Philada.
The opinion of Mr. L & Mr. B in favr of Annapolis
resulted from a dislike to Philada, & the idea that the
views of Va would be promoted by it. That of
their colleagues from a belief that the reasons drawn
in favr of Philada, from National considerations reqd
a concession of local views, and even that a recision
of the permanent vote for Trenton in favor of George
Town, the object of Va, would be promoted by
placing the Eastern States in Philada. They also supposed
that the concurrence of the Eastern States in a
temporary vote for Annapolis to take effect some
weeks hence, was little to be confided in, since the arrival
of a colleague to the Delegate from N. Hampshire
would with the accession of Pena, who wd prefer
Trenton to Annapolis & be moreover stimulated by
resentment, would make up seven States to reverse
the removal to Annapolis. Add to the whole that
experience has verified the opinion that in any small
place Congs are too dependent on courtesy & favor to
be exempt either in their purses or their sensibility
from degrading impositions. Upon the whole it is
most probable that Philada will be [the] abode of Congs
during the Winter. I must refer to Mr Jones for explanations
on all these points, he will be in Richmond
early in the Session. For myself I have engaged to
return to Princeton to attend some interesting points
before Congs. Having not yet settled my arrangements
for the Winter I must for the present be silent
as to my [torn out] situation. Mr. Van Berkel arrived
a few days [torn out]. Congs are in a charming
situation to receive him, being in an obscure village
undetermined where they will spend the Winter, and
without a Minister of F. A. After the rect of this
you will stop your correspondence, and probably not
hear further from me. I set off tomorrow morning at
3 O Clock in the Flying Machine for Princeton, and it
is now advancing towards the hour of sleep. In haste
adieu My dear friend and be assured that I am Yrs
Sincerely.