1638. CONSTITUTION (The Federal), Acceptance of.—[further continued] .
It will be easier to get
the assent of nine States to correct what is
wrong in the way pointed out by the Constitution
itself, than to get thirteen to concur
in a new convention and another plan of confederation.
I therefore sincerely pray that
the remaining States may accept it, as Massachusetts
has done, with standing instructions
to their delegates to press for amendments
till they are obtained. They cannot fail of
being obtained when the delegates of eight
States shall be under such perpetual instructions.—
To T. Lee Shippen. Washington ed. ii, 415.
(P.
June. 1788)
