1689. CONSTITUTION (The Federal), Jefferson and.—
One passage in the paper
you enclosed me must be corrected. It is
the following: “And all say it was yourself
more than any other individual that planned
and established the Constitution.” I was in
Europe when the Constitution was planned,
and never saw it till after it was established.
On receiving it, I wrote strongly to Mr. Madison,
urging the want of provision for the freedom
of religion, freedom of the press, trial
by jury, habeas corpus, and substitution of
militia for a standing army, and an express
reservation to the State of all rights not
specifically granted to the Union. He accordingly
moved in the first session of
Congress for these amendments, which were
agreed to and ratified by the States as they
now stand. This is all the hand I had in
what related to the Constitution.—
To Dr. Joseph Priestley. Washington ed. iv, 441.
Ford ed., viii, 159.
(W.
1802)
