University of Virginia Library

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.

Being informed of a circuitous opportunity to
France I make use of it to forward the inclosures.
By one of them you will find that Congress have

been at length brought into the true policy which is
demanded by the situation of the Western Country.
An additional resolution on the secret[83] journal puts
an end to all negociation with Spain, referring the
subject of a treaty, after this assertion of right to the
Mississippi, to the new government.[84] The communication
in my last will have shewn you the crisis of
things in that quarter, a crisis however not particularly
known to Congress, and will be a key to some of
the Kentucky toasts in the Virga Gazette.

The Circular letter from the New York Convention
has rekindled an ardor among the opponents of

the federal Constitution for an immediate revision of
it by another General Convention. You will find in
one of the papers inclosed the result of the consultations
in Pennsylvania on that subject. Mr. Henry
and his friends in Virginia enter with great zeal into
the scheme. Governor Randolph also espouses it;
but with a wish to prevent if possible danger to the
article which extends the power of the Government
to internal as well as external taxation. It is observable
that the views of the Pennsylva meeting do
not rhyme very well with those of the Southern advocates
for a Convention; the objects most eagerly
pursued by the latter being unnoticed in the Harrisburg
proceedings. The effect of the circular letter
on other States is less known. I conclude that
it will be the same everywhere among those who
opposed the Constitution, or contended for a conditional
ratification of it. Whether an early Convention
will be the result of this united effort, is more
than can at this moment be foretold. The measure
will certainly be industriously opposed in some parts
of the Union, not only by those who wish for no
alterations, but by others who would prefer the other
mode provided in the Constitution, as most expedient
at present, for introducing those supplemental
safeguards to liberty agst which no objections can be
raised; and who would moreover approve of a Convention
for amending the frame of the Government
itself, as soon as time shall have somewhat corrected
the feverish state of the public mind, and trial have
pointed its attention to the true defects of the system.

You will find also by one of the papers inclosed
that the arrangements have been compleated for
bringing the new Government into action. The dispute
concerning the place of its meeting was the
principal cause of delay, the Eastern States with N.
Jersey & S. Carolina being attached to N. York, and
the others strenuous for a more central position.
Philadelphia, Wilmington, Lancaster & Baltimore
were successively tendered without effect by the latter,
before they finally yielded to the superiority of
members in favor of this City. I am afraid the decision
will give a great handle to the Southern Antifederalists
who have inculcated a jealousy of this
end of the Continent. It is to be regretted also as
entailing this pernicious question on the New Congs,
who will have enough to do in adjusting the other
delicate matters submitted to them. Another consideration
of great weight with me is that the temporary
residence here will probably end in a permanent
one at Trenton, or at the farthest on the Susquehannah.
A removal in the first instance beyond the
Delaware would have removed the alternative to the
Susquehannah and the Potowmac. The best chance
of the latter depends on a delay of the permanent
establishment for a few years, untill the Western and
South Western population comes more into view.
This delay cannot take place if so excentric a place
as N. York is to be the intermediate seat of
business.

To the other papers is added a little pamphlet on
the Mohegan language. The observations deserve

the more attention as they are made by a man of
known learning and character, and may aid researches
into the primitive structure of language, as
well as those on foot for comparing the American
tribes with those on the Eastern frontier of the other
continent.

In consequence of your letter to Mr. Jay on the
subject of "outfit" &c., I had a conference with him,
and he agreed to suggest the matter to Congress.
This was done and his letter referred back to be reported
on. The idea between us was that the reference
should be to[85] a Committee his letter coming in at
a moment when I happened to be out it was as in
course referred to his department. His answer suggested
that as he might be thought eventually concerned
in the question, it was most proper for the consideration
of a committee. I had discovered that he was not
struck with the peculiarities of your case even when
insinuated to him. How far the committee will be so
is more than I can yet say. In general I have no
doubt that both it and Congress are well disposed.
But it is probable that the idea of a precedent will
beget much caution and what is worse there is little
probability of again having a quorum of States for the
business.

I learn from Virginia that our crops both of corn
& Tobacco (except in the lower Country where a
storm has been hurtful) are likely to be very good.
The latter has suffered in some degree from superflous

rains, but the former has been proportionally
benefited. Accept my most fervent wishes for your
happiness.