Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 25, March 1788-July 1789, With Supplement
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Edward Carrington to To: Edmund Randolph


Sir,
New York May 31, 1788

   The Delegation having revived the former mode of Corresponding with your Excellency weekly, in Monthly rotation each, I have the Honor now to inclose an Act of the British Parliament, permanently establishing, with still additional impositions, the regulations which have for several years been exercised by order of the King, & Council upon the commercial intercourse of the United States with the Territories of that Kingdom; Also a paper containing an Ordinance of the province of Quebec to regulate the inland Commerce of that Province with the Neighbouring States, or in other Words, the United States.(1)

   It may easily be perceived that these two Acts are intended to

   Co-operate in giving to that Nation the use of our products, while she shall also secure to herself the exclusive benefits of carrying them, for in case of our adopting a policy so uniform and effectual, as to exclude her Bottoms from our ports, an easy and free passage is opened


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for all such of our Commodities as are wanted for her West India Islands, and for Naval Stores, to Quebec. There may still be another, though more remote object, the Allurement of the Commerce, and with that, the Affections of our Western Inhabitants by means of the Lakes and the River St. Lawrence, to her purposes. But at the same time that we may be sensible how much we are exposed, in various quarters, to the insiduous policy of this Nation, her solicitude is also discoverable for the acquisition of our Commodities, which evinces the vanity of the boasted competency of Canada & Nova Scotia, to the furnishing of her several demands. The truth is, the West India Islands are dependent for provisions, lumber, and many other things upon importations, and these articles are attainable from the United States on much lower terms than from any more distant Country: Naval Stores are also furnished by these States on such terms that it is an object with Great Britain to import them from us, not only for the West India Trading vessels, but also for her European Service. On the other hand what we derive from an intercourse with the West India Islands, are at best, but Articles of Luxury, nor is the production of them confined to the Territories of Great Britain; as to Naval Stores they are our own. Thus viewing the Matter, she is evidently the dependent party, and under a wise policy, supported by an energetic Government, might be made to accept, instead of presuming to prescribe, the Terms of Commercial intercourse. As to the other object, I hope that the benefits of a better Government than we have hitherto had, the improvement & extension of our inland Navigation, & the free use of the Mississippi, added to the difficulties which from climate attend that of the River St. Lawrence will all Conspire to prevent its being in any degree effected.

   I also have the Honor to inclose papers Containing some of the debates of the Convention of South Carolina(2) which indicate the good disposition of that Body towards the Constitution.

   I have the honor to [be ], with great respect, your Excellencies Most Obt. servt.

   Ed. Carrington


Note:

   RC (Vi: Continental Congress Papers).



1 For which see Carrington to James Madison, May 28, note 4 ; and the preceding entry, note 2.



2 See Carrington to James Madison, May 30, note.