1646. CONSTITUTION (The Federal) Action by the States. mdash; [further continued].
I have seen with infinite
pleasure our new Constitution accepted by
eleven States, not rejected by the twelfth;
and that the thirteenth happens to be a State
of the least importance. It is true, that the
minorities in most of the accepting States
have been very respectable; so much so as to
render it prudent, were it not otherwise
reasonable, to make some sacrifice to them.
I am in hopes that the annexation of a bill
of rights to the Constitution will alone draw
over so great a proportion of the minorities,
as to leave little danger in the opposition of
the residue; and that this annexation may be
made by Congress and the Assemblies, without
calling a convention which might endanger
the most valuable parts of the
system.—
To General Washington. Washington ed. ii, 533.
Ford ed., v, 56.
(P.
Dec. 1788)
