University of Virginia Library

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

I have deferred writing since my arrival here in
the hourly hope of being enabled to communicate
the final news from Poughkepsie. By a letter from
Hamilton dated the day before yesterday I find that
it is equally uncertain when the business will be
closed, and what will be its definitive form.[70] The
inclosed gazette states the form which the depending
proposition bears. It is not a little strange that
the antifederal party should be reduced to such an
expedient, and yet be able to keep their numbers
together in the opposition. Nor is it less strange
that the other party, as appears to be the case,

should hesitate in deciding that the expedient as
effectually keeps the State for ye present, out of the
New Union as the most unqualified rejection could
do. The intelligent citizens see clearly that this
would be its operation and are agitated by the
double motives of federalism and a zeal to give this
City a fair chance for the first meeting of the new
Government.

Congress have deliberated in part on the arrangements
for putting the new Machine into operation,
but have concluded on nothing but the times for
choosing electors &c. Those who wish to make N.
York the place of meeting studiously promote delay,
others who are not swayed by this consideration do
not urge dispatch. They think it would be well to
let as many States as possible have an opportunity
of deciding on the Constitution; and what is of more
consequence, they wish to give opportunities where
they can take place for as many elections of State
Legislatures as can precede a reasonable time for
making the appointments and arrangements referred
to them. If there be too great an interval between
the acts of Congress on this Subject and the next
election or next meeting of a State Legislature, it
may afford a pretext for an intermediate summoning
of the existing members, who are every where less
federal than their successors hereafter to be elected
will probably be. This is particularly the case in
Maryland, where the antifederal temper of the Executive
would render an intermediate and extraordinary
meeting of the Assembly of that State the

more likely to be called. On my way thro' Maryland
I found such an event to be much feared by the
friends and wished by the adversaries of the Constitution.
We have no late news from Europe, nor
anything from N. Carolina.

With every sentiment of esteem & attachment,