1648. CONSTITUTION (The Federal), Adopt and amend.—
Were I in America, I would advocate it warmly till nine [States]
should have adopted and then as warmly take
the other side to convince the remaining four
that they ought not to come into it till the
declaration of rights is annexed to it. By
this means we should secure all the good of
it, and procure so respectable an opposition as
would induce the accepting States to offer
a bill of rights. This would be the happiest
turn the thing could take.—
To William Stephens Smith.
Ford ed., iv, 2.
(P.
Feb. 1788)
