University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.

The length of the interval since my last has proceeded
from a daily expectation of being able to

communicate the arrangements for introducing the
new Government. The times necessary to be fixed
by Congress have been many days agreed on. The
place of meeting has undergone many vicissitudes
and is still as uncertain as ever. Philadelphia was
first named by a member from Connecticut, and was
negatived by the voice of one from Delaware, who
wished to make an experiment for Wilmington.
New York came next into view. Lancaster was
opposed to it and failed. Baltimore was next tried
and to the surprize of every one had seven votes,
South Carolina joining the Southern States and
Pennsylvania in the question. It was not difficult
to foresee that such a vote could not stand. Accordingly
the next day, New York carried it on a
second trial, and at present fills the blank. Its success
however was owing to Rhode Island whose
Delegates have refused to vote on the final question
and have actually gone home. There are not at
present seven States for any place, and the result
must depend (unless Rhode Island should return
with instructions as is given out) on the comparative
flexibility of the Northern and Southern delegations.
In ordinary cases this would not augur well to the
latter. In the existing one something may be hoped
from the palpable unreasonableness of the pretensions
of N. York, which has 17 Reps. & 8 Senators on
one side agst. 42 Reps. & 16 Senators on the other;
which is not more than three hundred miles from the
Eastern Extreme Metropolis; and not less than 4
times that distance from the Southern, and which
has no reference at all to the accommodation of the
Western Country. I am persuaded also that if the
first position be taken here the second will not be
taken on the Potowmac & that this consideration is
among the motives of those who advocate N. York.
Indeed I know the latter to be one of the motives.