CARRINGTON.
Paris, August 4,1787.
Dear Sir,
Since mine of the 16th of January, I have been honored by your favors of
April the 24th and June the 9th. I am happy to find that the States have
come so generally into the scheme of the federal convention, from which,
I am sure, we shall see wise propositions. I confess, I do not go as
far in the reforms thought necessary, as some of my correspondents in
America; but if the convention should adopt such propositions, I shall
suppose them necessary. My general plan would be, to make the States
one as to every thing connected with foreign nations, and several as
to every thing purely domestic. But with all the imperfections of our
present government, it is, without comparison, the best existing, or
that ever did exist. Its greatest defect is the imperfect manner in
which matters of commerce have been provided for. It has been so often
said, as to be generally believed, that Congress have no power by the
Confederation to enforce any thing; for example, contributions of money.
It was not necessary to give them that power expressly; they have it
by the law of nature.
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