The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
| II. |
TO RICHARD HENRY LEE. |
 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.
In the course of the last week a proposition was made to impower
Congress to collect the Impost within this State (Virginia)
as soon as 12 States shd. unite in the scheme. The argumts. which
prevailed agst. it were the unfavorable aspect it wd. present to foreigners,
the tendency of the example to inferior combinations—
the field it wd. open for contraband trade—its probable effect on
the temper of R. Isld. which might thwart other necessary measures
of requiring the unanimity of the States—the improbability
of the union of 12 States on this new ground, a failure of which
wd. increase the appearance of discord in their policy; and give
fresh triumph & irritation to Rh. Isd.
I have not yet found leisure to scan the project of a Continental
Convention with so close an eye as to have made up any
observations worthy of being mentioned to you. In general I
their safety agst. foreign danger, & internal contention; and that
the perpetuity and efficacy of the present system cannot be confided
in. The question therefore is, in what mode, & at what
moment the experiment for supplying the defects ought to be
made. The answer to this question can not be given without a
knowledge greater than I possess of the temper & views of the
different States, Virginia seems I think to have excellent dispositions
towards the confederacy, but her assent or dissent to
such a proposition wd. probably depend on the chance of its having
no opponent capable of rousing the prejudices & jealousies of
the Assembly agst. innovations, particularly such as will derogate
from their own power & importance. Should a view of the other
States present no objections agst. the experiment, individually I
wd. wish none to be presupposed here.
| The writings of James Madison, | |