F; Documentary History of the Constitution of the United States of America. 1786-1870. DERIVED FROM THE RECORDS, MANUSCRIPTS, AND ROLLS PART 1.-LETTERS AND PAPERS RELATING TO THE CONSTITUTION, TO JULY 31, 1788. 140132 Documentary History of the Constitution of the United States of America. 1786-1870. LETTERS AND PAPERS. J. Madison Jr. to Js Monroe Esq Richmd Dec 9. 1785 Supposing that you will be at New York by the time this reaches it I drop a few lines for the post of today. M' Jones tells me he informed you that a substitute had been brought forward to the commercial propositions which you left on the carpet. The subject has not since been called up. If any change has taken place in the mind of the House, it has not been unfavorable to the idea of confiding to Congress a power over trade. I am far from thinking however that a perpetual power can be made palatable at this time. It is more probable that the other idea of a Convention of Commissrs from the States for deliberating on the state of commerce and the degree of power which ought to be lodged in Congress, will be attempted. Should it fail in the House, it is possible that a revival of the printed propositions with an extension of their term to twenty five years, will be thought on by those who contend that some thing of a general nature ought to be done. My own opinion is unaltered. The propositions for a State effort have passed and a bill is ordered in, but the passage of the bill will be 25981-Bull. 11-03-1 I |