1736. CONSTITUTIONS (American), Written.—[further continued].
Virginia was not only
the first of the States, but, I believe I May
say, the first of the nations of the earth, which
assembled its wise men peaceably together to
form a fundamental constitution, to commit it
to writing, and place it among their archives,
where everyone should be free to appeal to its
text. But this act was very imperfect. The
other States, as they proceeded successively to
the same work, made successive improvements:
and several of them, still further corrected
by experience, have, by conventions,
still further amended their first forms. Virginia
has gone on so far with its premiere
ebauche; but is now proposing a convention
for amendment.—
To John Cartwright. Washington ed. vii, 357.
(M.
1824)
