1481. CONFEDERATION, Jealousy of government under.—
Our first federal constitution,
or Confederation, as it was called,
was framed in the first moments of our separation
from England, in the highest point of
our jealousies of independence as to her, and
as to each other. It formed, therefore, too
weak a bond to produce an union of action
as to foreign nations. This appeared at once
on the establishment of peace, when the pressure
of a common enemy which had hooped
us together during the war, was taken away.
Congress was found to be quite unable to
point the action of the several States to a
common object. A general desire, therefore,
took place of amending the federal constitution.—
To C. D. Ebeling.
Ford ed., vii, 45.
(1795)
