Historical Notes of Dr. Benjamin Rush, 1777 #244982

Mr. John Adams said, that he lately travelled thro' New Eng that he was sure that the approbation of the Con gress of the meeting would give pleasure to the committee and their constituents. That thier meeting was founded in necessity. That altho' we were not confederated, the same principles of equity reason should govern as if we were united by a confederacy — that the four New England states bore the same relation to the Congress that four counties bore to a single state. These four counties have a right to meet to regulate roads — and affairs that relate to the poor but they have no right to tax or execute any other branch of legislation. In like manner the four New Eng States, or any other four states have a right to meet upon matters Wholly indifferent, but they have no right to touch upon continental subjects — that the committee from the 4 New Eng States have touched upon continental Subjects, therefore, the meeting stands in need of the approbation of the Congress.