Your Excellency will see, in the paper, propositions for adopting the Constitution on conditions. This will not be attended to. It is possible, if we adopt it absolutely, that the Convention may recommend certain amendments. It will never, I presume, be adopted on any conditions. It will pass absolutely, or be rejected. I have now higher expectations that it will pass than when I last wrote. I think the friends to it increase daily. However, I would not raise your Excellency's expectations too high. It is yet impossible to determine, abso lutely, its fate. Mr. Gerry, as mentioned in my last, left the Convention in dudgeon. He has not since returned to it. 1 presume he will not return. With the highest esteem, I have the honor of being, my dear General, &c., BENJAMIN LINCOLN. GEORGE WASHINGTON TO BENJAMIN LINCOLN. MOUNT VERNON, 31 January, 1788. Dear Sir:-Your favor of the 9th instant came to hand last evening. As you know whatever concerns your happiness and welfare cannot be indifferent to me, you will very readily believe me, when I assure you, that I take a feeling part in your anxiety and distress on account of your son, and most sincerely wish for his recovery. 37 I thank you, my dear Sir, for your observations upon the advantages which might accrue from a settlement of the eastern parts of your State. I am very sorry to find there is likely to be so powerful an opposition to the adoption of the proposed plan of government with you; and I am entirely of your opinion, that the business of the Convention should be conducted with moderation, candor and fairness, which are not incompatible with firmness. Although, as you justly observe, the friends of the new system may bear down the opposition, yet they 37 The new lands in the District of Maine. would never be able, by precipitate or violent measures, to soothe and reconcile their minds to the exercise of the government, which is a matter that ought as much as possible to be kept in view, and temper their proceedings. What will be the fate of the Constitution in this State is impossible to tell, at a period so far distant from the meeting of the Convention. My private opinion of the matter, however, is, that it will certainly be adopted. There is no doubt but the decision of other States will have great influence here, particularly of one so respectable as Massachusetts. I feel myself much obliged by your promise to inform me of whatever transpires in your Convention worthy of attention, and assure you that it will be gratefully received. With the sincerest regard, and the most ardent desire that your distress may be removed by the recovery of your son, I am, dear Sir, &c., GEORGE WASHINGTON. BENJAMIN LINCOLN TO GEORGE WASHINGTON. BOSTON, 3 February, 1788. My Dear General :-Your Excellency will find, by the papers of yesterday, which I do myself the pleasure to inclose, that the Governor has taken his seat as President of the Convention; and that he came forward with a motion for the adoption of the Constitution, and subjoined a recommendation that some alterations may take place in it. The motion has taken up a considerable time. Those in the opposition want the Constitution to be accepted upon condition that the alterations be made. This they will not be able to carry. Yesterday noon, a motion was made that the motion under consideration should be committed. This was agreed to, and a large committee was raised, consisting of two members from each of the large counties, and of one for two small ones. It was also agreed that each county should nominate their own members, and that they should take one who had given his opinion for, and one who had given his opinion against, the Constitution, in each county wherein two were chosen. I expect they will report to-morrow afternoon, to which time the Convention stands adjourned. I hope good will arise from the measure, and that the main question will be taken by Wednesday next. The gentlemen in the opposition urge that the Governor's motion ought to be divided, and that the first question be taken simply, "Whether they will or will not accept the Constitution?" They are opposed in this, and I hope the large committee will adjust the matter, and put an end to any further dispute upon the question. We find ourselves exceedingly embarrassed by the temper which raged the last winter in some of the counties. Many of the insurgents are in the Convention; even some of Shays's officers. A great proportion of those men are high in the opposition. We could hardly expect any thing else; nor could we, I think, justly suppose that those men who were so lately intoxicated with large draughts of liberty, and who were thirsting for more, would, in so short a time, submit to a Constitution which would further take up the reins of government which, in their opinion, were too strait before. I hope people abroad will consider this matter, and make proper allowances for a clog of this kind. I think the Constitution will pass. I have the honor of being, my dear General, BENJAMIN LINCOLN. JAMES MADISON, IN CONGRESS, TO GEORGE WASHINGTON. NEW YORK, 3 February, 1788. Dear Sir-Another mail has arrived from Boston, without terminating the conflict between our hopes and fears. I have a letter from Mr. King of the 27th, which, after dilating somewhat on the ideas in his former letters, concludes with the following paragraph : "We have avoided every question which would have shown the division of the house. Of consequence, we are not positive of the members on each side. By the last calculation we made on our side, we were doubtful whether we exceeded them, or they us, in numbers. They, however, say that they have a majority of eight or twelve against us. We by no means despair." Another letter of the same date, from another member, gives the following picture : First: all "Never was there an assembly in this State in possession of greater ability and information than the present Convention; yet I am in doubt whether they will approve the Constitution. There are, unhappily, three parties opposed to it. men who are in favor of paper money and tender laws. Those are more or less in every part of the State. Second: all the late insurgents and their abettors. In the three great western counties they are very numerous. We have in the Convention eighteen or twenty who were actually in Shays's army. Third: a great majority of the members from the Province of Maine. Many of them and their constituents are only squatters upon other people's land, and they are afraid of being brought to account. They also think, though erroneously, that their favorite plan of being a separate State will be defeated. Add to these, the honest, doubting people, and they make a powerful host. The leaders of this party are a Mr. Wedgery, Mr. Thom-` son and Mr. Nasson, from the Province of Maine; a Dr. Taylor, from the county of Worcester, and Mr. Bishop, from the neighborhood of Rhode Island. "To manage the cause against them, are the present and late governor, three judges of the supreme court, fifteen members of the senate, twenty from among the most respectable of the clergy, ten or twelve of the first characters at the bar, judges of probate, high-sheriffs of counties, and many other respectable people, merchants, &c.; Generals Heath, Lincoln, Brooks, and others of the late army. With all this ability in support of the cause, I am pretty well satisfied we shall lose the question, unless we can take off some of the opposition by amend ments. I do not mean such as are to be made conditions of the ratification, but recommendatory only. Upon this plan I flatter myself we may possibly get a majority of twelve or fifteen, if not more." The legislature of this State has voted a Convention on June 17th. I remain, &c., JAMES MADISON, JR. GEORGE WASHINGTON TO JAMES MADISON, IN CONGRESS. [EXTRACT.] MOUNT VERNON, 5 February, 1788. I am sorry to find by yours and other accounts from Massachusetts, that the decision of its Convention, at the time of their respective dates, remained problematical. A rejection of the new form by that State would invigorate the opposition, not only in New York, but in all those which are to follow; at the same time it would afford materials for the minority, in such as have actually agreed to it, to blow the trumpet of discord more loudly. The acceptance by a bare majority, though preferable to a rejection, is also to be deprecated. It is scarcely possible to form any decided opinion of the general sentiment of the people of this State on this point. Many have asked me with anxious solicitude if you did not mean to get into the Convention, conceiving it of indispensable necessity. Colonel Mason, who returned but yesterday, I am told has offered himself for Stafford county, and his friends say he can be elected not only in that, but in the counties of Prince William and Fauquier also. The truth of this I know not. I rarely go from home, and my visitors, who, for the most part, are travellers and strangers, have not the best means of information. |