1634. CONSTITUTION (The Federal), Acceptance of.—[continued].
I wish with all my soul
that the nine first conventions may accept
the new Constitution, because this will secure
to us the good it contains which I think great
and important. But I equally wish that the
four latest conventions, whichever they May
be, may refuse to accede to it till a declaration
of rights be annexed. This would probably
command the offer of such a declaration, and
thus give to the whole fabric, perhaps, as
much perfection as any one of that kind ever
had.—
To A. Donald. Washington ed. ii, 355.
(P.
Feb. 1788)
