### *William Irvine of Virginia to Edmund Randolph in Congress, Mar. 6th, 1787 *

Dear Sir New York March 6th 1787

I promised myself the pleasure of writing to you, when any thing
interesting should be likely to take place. There has been hitherto so
little prospect of any thing being done in Congress that I have
frequently been almost determined to return home\-\--;but have spun out
the time from day to day still in expectation that every succeeding day
would bring on a full house\-\--;all in vain\-\--;we have had about one
week in this year, nine States on the floor\-\--;but most of the time
not even seven. You know under these circumstances what can possibly be
done. At a favourable moment either Delaware or Maryland, being
represented would have carried Congress to Philadelphia. Now South
Carolina is off the floor\-\--;it therefore requires the attendance of
both the former, and Col. Forrest will set out in a few days as none of
the other Delegates of Maryland are likely soon to attend he thinks it
vain to wait. I almost despair of so good an opportunity presenting for
some time as I believed this to be. I regret it the more as I am
persuaded Congress and the Convention sitting at the same time & place
might facilitate the business of the Convention\-\--;a free
communication of Sentiments would be usefull to both these bodies,
particularly as it might have a tendency to cause the Convention to
propose such new articles of confederation\-\--;or alterations in the
old as Congress might probably approve\-\--;which would doubtless have
weight with the several Legislatures.\
It was with some difficulty Congress carried the recommendation for a
Convention. The Eastern Delegates were all much against the
measure\-\--;indeed I think they would never have come into it\-\--;but
that they saw it would be carried without them. Then they
Joined\-\--;which has made it a piece of patched work\-\--;but this was
thought better than to keep up the smallest appearance of opposition to
public view.

Inclosed you have the agreement between N York and Massachusetts\-\--;it
speaks for itself.(1) But I have conversed with the
Commissioners\-\--;who insist that the Cession of N York to the United
States does not preclude them from claiming as far West as
Pennsylvania\-\--;so far from it they say that it expressly reserves
that extent\-\--;or to a line drawn through the most westerly bent or
inclination of Lake Ontario which they say extends much west of any part
of Pennsylvania. If this is a fair construction\-\--;which I do not
believe, the United States will be pretty well trimmed of the
exuberancies which many are afraid holding will be a disadvantage. And
it will destroy the prospects of the purchase we talked of. I wish you
would look at the Cession of N York\-\--;and see whether it will
possibly bear such a construction, and if it will not\-\--;what steps
should be taken\-\--;if any previous to Massachusetts beginning to sell
the land\-\--;which I doubt will be too late. Massachusetts have passed
a Law\-\--;which disfranchises\-\--;and disarms all the insurgents, the
chief object of which appears to be to prevent their voting at the next
general Election in May. I have seen Gentlemen who lately passed through
that Country\-\--;that say this act has created more universal disgust
than any other of Government and that the risings which was so nearly
suppressed are rather more likely to begin again than the assembly had
an Idea of. I could lay my hands on only one copy of the Act, which I
forwarded yesterday to Genl. Armstrong Junr. for the perusal of Council.
I mention this that you may get it from him if you wish to see it.

It is said that some of the chiefs of the insurgents\-\--;with a few
followers have retreated into this State. I do not recollect the name of
the place\-\--;but on the border of their own state\-\--;where some few
people of this State have Joined them\-\--;this is Report. But there
must be something in it, as the Governor & sundry Officers set out
Express yesterday morning\-\--;with a view doubtless to strike them
before they gain strength\-\--;which is very wise as a few prompt
punishments may put an entire stop to further mischief. I hope these
troubles will not reach the south side of the Hudson, as I am certain if
they do they will soon pervade the whole of the Southern
States\-\--;which Governor Clintons Vigilance and Zeal may check in
infancy.(1)

I am Dear Sir,

Your Obedient Humble Servant,

> Wm. Irvine

RC (PHarH: RG 27).\
1 See Massachusetts Delegates to James Bowdoin, March 4, note 3.

### Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 24 November 6, 1786-February 29, 1788 Virginia Delegates to Edmund Randolph