John Williams, a Delegate to the New York Constitutional Ratifying Convention, in a letter to his constituents, warns that in the proposed Constitution for the united States that there is the potential for the transfer of wealth from the poor to the powerful:
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 wheat is yet worse, all the duties arising from any duties or excise, are to be appropriated to the use of Congress.
[restored 7/31/2026]
Subsequent Events:
Authority:
Articles of Confederation, Article XIII
ccc-2point0.com/Articles-of-Confederation
References:
“John Williams to His Constituents,” (February 25, 1788) from The Debate on the Constitution, two volumes, Bernard Bailyn, ed., (New York: Library of America, 1992), 2:119-20.
Current U.s. National Debt:
