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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Circular letter from Charles Thomson to the state governors
Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824
March 01, 1786
Volume 18, Pages 550-551

HON. CHAS. THOMSON TO GOV. CASWELL.
[From Executive Letter Book.]


Office of Secretary of Congress, March 1st, 1786.

(Circular.)

Sir:

As many States in the Union continued to be unrepresented in Congress or to be represented by only two Members notwithstanding the many recommendations of Congress for remedying these defects particularly those of the 1st November, 1783, and the 19th of April, 1784, and as from the want of a Complete representation the great interests of the Union had frequently been and continued to be neglected or delayed and the Confederation itself or the Administration thereof might be considered as the Cause of Evils which solely resulted from an incomplete representation, Congress judging it incumbent on them to prevent opinion so derogatory to their Honor and so dangerous to the public welfare did on the 17th August last, pass a resolve whereby it became the duty of the Secretary of Congress once in every month to transmit to the Legislature of the respective States a list of the States represented and of those unrepresented in Congress and of the Members from each State. The object of this Resolution was that effectual Measures might from time to time be taken by such States as were unrepresented or represented only by two Members to remedy these defects.

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In the execution of this duty I have had the honor every month since of transmitting to your Excellency the monthly statement of the representation of the States in Congress to be laid before your Legislature, the statement which accompanies this and which I have to request the favor of your Excellency to communicate to the Legislature is for the Month of February last. By this and the three other Statements transmitted since the meeting of Congress on the first Monday in November last, Your Excellency and the Legislature will see that there has not been for a single day a number of States sufficient to proceed on the great business of the Union, indeed for half the time not a Number sufficient to do more than adjourn from day to day.

I beg leave to add that in consequence of information just received, business of the greatest importance is now before Congress which requires the fullest representation. I hope therefore, that your Excellency will urge the Attendance of the Delegates for your State with all possible expedition.

With the greatest respect I have the Honor to be,
Your Excellency's most obedient and most Humble Servt.,
CHAS. THOMSON.