The New York Journal, And Daily Patriotic Register

An extract of a letter from John Williams, Esq. at Poughkeepsie, to his friends in Washington county, dated 29th January, 1788.

"The new constitution is not yet taken up, various are the opinions upon this subject; if I can have my opinion carried it will be this, let it come to the people without either recommending or disapprobation; let the people judge for then lies; if the majority is for it, let it be adopted; if they are against it, let it be rejected, as all powers are, or ought to be, in the people; they, and they only, have the right to say, whether the form of government shall be altered. For my own part, I must confess, under the present situation of affairs, something must be done. but whether the present system is the best, will be the question. The powers given to the president are very great. The electors may be so altered as to destroy the liberty of the people. The direct taxation, to be collected by officers of Congress, are powers which cannot be granted agreeably to our present constitution, nor will it be very convenient for Congress officers, and our state collectors, to be collecting both at one time, and as Congress may lay a poll tax, how will that agree with us. I need not tell you the injustice of it. If the new constitution is adopted, Congress hath all the impost and excise; this latter may be laid heavy on taverns and spirits, so that the emoluments from taverns, which are now converted to the use of the poor, must go to Congress; and what is worse, all the duties arising from any duties or excise, are to be appropriated to the use of Congress.

"You will also observe that senators are for six years and that small states have an equal number with large states, so that the advantage of having property in a maritime state, will be reduced to an equal value with the property where there is no navigation If this is not taking our liberty, it is certainly diminishing our property, which is equal to it. What hath kept the taxes so low in this state—the reason is obvious, impost duties. This is a privilege providence hath endowed us with; our landed property will ever sell according to the conveniency of it, the lighter the tax, the higher the land, the higher the market, the greater profits arising from our produce. Let our imposts and advantages be taken from us, shall we not be obliged to lay as heavy taxes as Connecticut, Boston, &c. what hath kept us from those burdens but the privileges, which we must lose if the present proposed constitution is adopted."