[149] Otto was the French minister to the United States; Vergennes was the French minister in charge of foreign affairs at Paris.
[XXVII. MAKING THE CONSTITUTION]
153. Call issued by the Annapolis Convention
Documentary History of the Constitution, I, 1-6. For a narrative of the circumstances, cf. American History and Government, § 199.
Sundry of the States having in Consequence of a Resolution and Circular Letter from the State of Virginia appointed Commissioners to meet at such time and Place as should be agreed upon by them the said Commissioners, to take into Consideration the Trade and Commerce of the United States etc:—the Commissioners of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, met at the City of Annapolis on the 11th of September 1786, but did not think it advisable to proceed on the Business of their Mission. They therefore broke up after making a Report to the States by which they had been appointed and transmitting to Congress a Copy thereof which is as follows.
To the Honorable the Legislatures of Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
The Commissioners from the said States respectively Assembled at the City of Annapolis, humbly beg leave to Report:
That, pursuant to their several Appointments, they met at Annapolis in the State of Maryland, on the eleventh day of September Instant, and, having proceeded to a communication of their Powers, they found that the States of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia had, in substance, and nearly in the same terms, authorized their respective Commissioners "to meet such Commissioners as were or might be appointed by the other States in the Union, at such time and Place as should be agreed upon by the said Commissioners, to take into Consideration the trade and Commerce of the United States, to consider how far an uniform System in their commercial intercourse and regulations might be necessary to their common interest and permanent harmony, and to report, to the several States, such an Act relative to this great Object, as when unanimously ratified by them, would enable the United States in Congress Assembled effectually to provide for the same."
That the State of Delaware had given similar Powers to their Commissioners, with this difference only, that the Act to be framed in virtue of those Powers, is required to be reported "to the United States in Congress Assembled to be agreed to by them and Confirmed by the Legislatures of every State."
That the State of New Jersey has enlarged the Object of their Appointment, empowering their Commissioners, "to consider how far an uniform System in their Commercial Regulations, and other important matters, might be necessary to the common interest and permanent harmony of the several States;" and to "report such an Act on the Subject, as when ratified by them" would "enable the United States in Congress Assembled effectually to provide for the exigencies of the Union."