AcceptyourselfassurancesofthesincereesteemandrespectwithwhichIhavethehonourtobe，DearSir，yourfriendandservant，P。S。IaminnegociationwithdelaBlancherie。Youshallhearfrommewhenarranged。
　　OBJECTIONSTOTHECONSTITUTION
　　_ToJamesMadison_
　　_Paris，Dec。20，1787_
　　DEARSIR，——MylasttoyouwasofOct。8bytheCountdeMoustier。YoursofJuly18。Sep。6。&Oct。24。havebeensuccessivelyreceived，yesterday，thedaybefore&threeorfourdaysbeforethat。Ihaveonlyhadtimetoreadtheletters，theprintedpaperscommunicatedwiththem，howeverinteresting，beingobligedtolieovertillIfinishmydispatchesforthepacket，whichdispatchesmustgofromhencethedayaftertomorrow。Ihavemuchtothankyoufor。Firstandmostforthecypheredparagraphrespectingmyself。
　　Theselittleinformationsareverymaterialtowardsformingmyowndecisions。IwouldbegladeventoknowwhenanyindividualmemberthinksIhavegonewronginanyinstance。IfIknowmyselfitwouldnotexciteillbloodinme，whileitwouldassisttoguidemyconduct，perhapstojustifyit，andtokeepmetomyduty，alert。I
　　mustthankyoutoofortheinformationinThos。Burke’scase，tho’
　　youwillhavefoundbyasubsequentletterthatIhaveaskedofyouafurtherinvestigationofthatmatter。ItistogratifytheladywhoisattheheadoftheConventwhereinmydaughtersare，&who，byherattachment&attentiontothem，laysmeundergreatobligations。I
　　shallhopethereforestilltoreceivefromyoutheresultofthefurtherenquiriesmysecondletterhadasked——TheparcelofricewhichyouinformedmehadmiscarriedaccompaniedmylettertotheDelegatesofS。Carolina。Mr。Bourgoinwastobethebearerofboth&bothweredeliveredtogetherintothehandsofhisrelationherewhointroducedhimtome，andwhoatasubsequentmomentundertooktoconveythemtoMr。Bourgoin。ThispersonwasanengraverparticularlyrecommendedtoD’r。Franklin&Mr。Hopkinson。Perhapshemayhavemislaidthelittleparcelofriceamonghisbaggage——I
　　ammuchpleasedthatthesaleofWesternlandsissosuccessful。I
　　hopetheywillabsorballtheCertificatesofourDomesticdebtspeedily，inthefirstplace，andthatthenofferedforcashtheywilldothesamebyourforeignone。
　　TheseasonadmittingonlyofoperationsintheCabinet，andthesebeinginagreatmeasuresecret，Ihavelittletofillaletter。IwillthereforemakeupthedeficiencybyaddingafewwordsontheConstitutionproposedbyourConvention。Ilikemuchthegeneralideaofframingagovernmentwhichshouldgoonofitselfpeaceably，withoutneedingcontinualrecurrencetothestatelegislatures。IliketheorganizationofthegovernmentintoLegislative，Judiciary&Executive。IlikethepowergiventheLegislaturetolevytaxes，andforthatreasonsolelyapproveofthegreaterhousebeingchosenbythepeopledirectly。Fortho’IthinkahousechosenbythemwillbeveryillyqualifiedtolegislatefortheUnion，forforeignnations&c。yetthisevildoesnotweighagainstthegoodofpreservinginviolatethefundamentalprinciplethatthepeoplearenottobetaxedbutbyrepresentativeschosenimmediatelybythemselves。Iamcaptivatedbythecompromiseoftheoppositeclaimsofthegreat&littlestates，ofthelattertoequal，andtheformertoproportionalinfluence。Iammuchpleasedtoowiththesubstitutionofthemethodofvotingbypersons，insteadofthatofvotingbystates：andIlikethenegativegiventotheExecutivewithathirdofeitherhouse，thoughIshouldhavelikeditbetterhadtheJudiciarybeenassociatedforthatpurpose，orinvestedwithasimilarandseparatepower。Thereareothergoodthingsoflessmoment。IwillnowaddwhatIdonotlike。Firsttheomissionofabillofrightsprovidingclearly&withouttheaidofsophismsforfreedomofreligion，freedomofthepress，protectionagainststandingarmies，restrictionagainstmonopolies，theeternal&
　　unremittingforceofthehabeascorpuslaws，andtrialsbyjuryinallmattersoffacttriablebythelawsoftheland¬bythelawofnations。Tosay，asMr。Wilsondoesthatabillofrightswasnotnecessarybecauseallisreservedinthecaseofthegeneralgovernmentwhichisnotgiven，whileintheparticularonesallisgivenwhichisnotreserved，mightdofortheaudiencetowhomitwasaddressed，butissurelyagratisdictum，opposedbystronginferencesfromthebodyoftheinstrument，aswellasfromtheomissionoftheclauseofourpresentconfederationwhichhaddeclaredthatinexpressterms。Itwasahardconclusiontosaybecausetherehasbeennouniformityamongthestatesastothecasestriablebyjury，becausesomehavebeensoincautiousastoabandonthismodeoftrial，thereforethemoreprudentstatesshallbereducedtothesamelevelofcalamity。Itwouldhavebeenmuchmorejust&wisetohaveconcludedtheotherwaythatasmostofthestateshadjudiciouslypreservedthispalladium，thosewhohadwanderedshouldbebroughtbacktoit，andtohaveestablishedgeneralrightinsteadofgeneralwrong。Letmeaddthatabillofrightsiswhatthepeopleareentitledtoagainsteverygovernmentonearth，generalorparticular，&whatnojustgovernmentshouldrefuse，orrestoninferences。ThesecondfeatureIdislike，andgreatlydislike，istheabandonmentineveryinstanceofthenecessityofrotationinoffice，andmostparticularlyinthecaseofthePresident。Experienceconcurswithreasoninconcludingthatthefirstmagistratewillalwaysbere-electediftheConstitutionpermitsit。Heisthenanofficerforlife。Thisonceobserved，itbecomesofsomuchconsequencetocertainnationstohaveafriendorafoeattheheadofouraffairsthattheywillinterferewithmoney&witharms。AGallomanoranAnglomanwillbesupportedbythenationhebefriends。Ifonceelected，andatasecondorthirdelectionoutvotedbyoneortwovotes，hewillpretendfalsevotes，foulplay，holdpossessionofthereinsofgovernment，besupportedbytheStatesvotingforhim，especiallyiftheyarethecentraloneslyinginacompactbodythemselves&separatingtheiropponents：andtheywillbeaidedbyonenationofEurope，whilethemajorityareaidedbyanother。TheelectionofaPresidentofAmericasomeyearshencewillbemuchmoreinterestingtocertainnationsofEuropethanevertheelectionofakingofPolandwas。Reflectonalltheinstancesinhistoryantient&modern，ofelectivemonarchies，andsayiftheydonotgivefoundationformyfears。TheRomanemperors，thepopes，whiletheywereofanyimportance，theGermanemperorstilltheybecamehereditaryinpractice，thekingsofPoland，theDeysoftheOttomandependances。Itmaybesaidthatifelectionsaretobeattendedwiththesedisorders，theseldomertheyarerenewedthebetter。Butexperienceshewsthattheonlywaytopreventdisorderistorenderthemuninterestingbyfrequentchanges。
　　Anincapacitytobeelectedasecondtimewouldhavebeentheonlyeffectualpreventative。Thepowerofremovinghimeveryfourthyearbythevoteofthepeopleisapowerwhichwillnotbeexercised。
　　ThekingofPolandisremoveableeverydaybytheDiet，yetheisneverremoved——SmallerobjectionsaretheAppealinfactaswellaslaw，andthebindingallpersonsLegislativeExecutive&Judiciarybyoathtomaintainthatconstitution。Idonotpretendtodecidewhatwouldbethebestmethodofprocuringtheestablishmentofthemanifoldgoodthingsinthisconstitution，andofgettingridofthebad。Whetherbyadoptingitinhopesoffutureamendment，or，afterithasbeendulyweighed&canvassedbythepeople，afterseeingthepartstheygenerallydislike，&thosetheygenerallyapprove，tosaytothem`Weseenowwhatyouwish。Sendtogetheryourdeputiesagain，letthemframeaconstitutionforyouomittingwhatyouhavecondemned，&establishingthepowersyouapprove。Eventhesewillbeagreatadditiontotheenergyofyourgovernment。’——AtalleventsIhopeyouwillnotbediscouragedfromothertrials，ifthepresentoneshouldfailofitsfulleffect——IhavethustoldyoufreelywhatIlike&dislike：merelyasamatterofcuriosity，forIknowyourownjudgmenthasbeenformedonallthesepointsafterhavingheardeverythingwhichcouldbeurgedonthem。IownIamnotafriendtoaveryenergeticgovernment。Itisalwaysoppressive。ThelaterebellioninMassachusettshasgivenmorealarmthanIthinkitshouldhavedone。Calculatethatonerebellionin13statesinthecourseof11years，isbutoneforeachstateinacentury&ahalf。
　　Nocountryshouldbesolongwithoutone。Norwillanydegreeofpowerinthehandsofgovernmentpreventinsurrections。France，withallit’sdespotism，andtwoorthreehundredthousandmenalwaysinarmshashadthreeinsurrectionsinthethreeyearsIhavebeenhereineveryoneofwhichgreaternumberswereengagedthaninMassachusetts&agreatdealmorebloodwasspilt。InTurkey，whichMontesquieusup-posesmoredespotic，insurrectionsaretheeventsofeveryday。InEngland，wherethehandofpowerislighterthanhere，butheavierthanwithustheyhappeneveryhalfdozenyears。Compareagaintheferociousdepredationsoftheirinsurgentswiththeorder，themoderation&thealmostselfextinguishmentofours——Afterall，itismyprinciplethatthewillofthemajorityshouldalwaysprevail。IftheyapprovetheproposedConventioninallit’sparts，Ishallconcurinitchearfully，inhopesthattheywillamenditwhenevertheyshallfinditworkwrong。Ithinkourgovernmentswillremainvirtuousformanycenturies；aslongastheyarechieflyagricultural；andthiswillbeaslongasthereshallbevacantlandsinanypartofAmerica。Whentheygetpiledupononeanotherinlargecities，asinEurope，theywillbecomecorruptasinEurope。
　　AboveallthingsIhopetheeducationofthecommonpeoplewillbeattendedto；convincedthatontheirgoodsensewemayrelywiththemostsecurityforthepreservationofaduedegreeofliberty。I
　　havetiredyoubythistimewithmydisquisitions&willthereforeonlyaddassurancesofthesincerityofthosesentimentsofesteem&
　　attachmentwithwhichIamDearSiryouraffectionatefriend&
　　servantP。S。Theinstabilityofourlawsisreallyanimmenseevil。I
　　thinkitwouldbewelltoprovideinourconstitutionsthatthereshallalwaysbeatwelve-monthbetweentheingross-ingabill&
　　passingit：thatitshouldthenbeofferedtoit’spassagewithoutchangingaword：andthatifcircum-stancesshouldbethoughttorequireaspeedierpassage，itshouldtaketwothirdsofbothhousesinsteadofabaremajority。
　　ASTRATEGYONRATIFICATION
　　_ToAlexanderDonald_
　　_Paris，February7，1788_
　　DEARSIR，——IreceiveddulyyourfriendlyletterofNovemberthe12th。Bythistime，youwillhaveseenpublishedbyCongress，thenewregulationsobtainedfromthiscourt，infavorofourcommerce。Youwillobserve，thatthearrangementrelativetotobaccoisacontinuationoftheorderofBerniforfiveyears，onlyleavingthepricetobesettledbetweenthebuyerandseller。Youwillseetoo，thatallcontractsfortobaccoareforbidden，tillitarrivesinFrance。Ofcourse，yourpropositionforacontractisprecluded。I
　　fearthepricesherewillbelow，especiallyifthemarketbecrowded。Youshouldbeparticularlyattentivetothearticle，whichrequiresthatthetobaccoshouldcomeinFrenchorAmericanbottoms，asthisarticlewill，innoinstance，bedepartedfrom。
　　Iwishwithallmysoul，thattheninefirstconventionsmayacceptthenewconstitution，becausethiswillsecuretousthegooditcontains，whichIthinkgreatandimportant。ButIequallywish，thatthefourlatestconventions，whichevertheybe，mayrefusetoaccedetoit，tilladeclarationofrightsbeannexed。Thiswouldprobablycommandtheofferofsuchadeclaration，andthusgivetothewholefabric，perhapsasmuchperfectionasanyoneofthatkindeverhad。Byadeclarationofrights，Imeanonewhichshallstipulatefreedomofreligion，freedomofthepress，freedomofcommerceagainstmonopolies，trialbyjuriesinallcases，nosuspensionsofthehabeascorpus，nostandingarmies。Thesearefettersagainstdoingevil，whichnohonestgovernmentshoulddecline。Thereisanotherstrongfeatureinthenewconstitution，whichIasstronglydislike。Thatis，theperpetualreeligibilityofthePresident。OfthisIexpectnoamendmentatpresent，becauseI
　　donotseethatanybodyhasobjectedtoitonyoursidethewater。
　　Butitwillbeproductiveofcrueldistresstoourcountry，eveninyourdayandmine。TheimportancetoFranceandEngland，tohaveourgovernmentinthehandsofafriendorafoe，willoccasiontheirinterferencebymoney，andevenbyarms。OurPresidentwillbeofmuchmoreconsequencetothemthanaKingofPoland。Wemusttakecare，however，thatneitherthis，noranyotherobjectiontothenewform，producesaschisminourUnion。Thatwouldbeanincurableevil，becausenearfriendsfallingout，neverre-unitecordially；
　　whereas，allofusgoingtogether，weshallbesuretocuretheevilsofournewconstitution，beforetheydogreatharm。TheboxofbooksIhadtakenthelibertytoaddresstoyou，isbutjustgonefromHavreforNewYork。Idonotsee，atpresent，anysymptomsstronglyindicatingwar。Itistrue，thatthedistrustexistingbetweenthetwocourtsofVersaillesandLondon，issogreat，thattheycanscarcelydobusinesstogether。However，thedifficultyanddoubtofobtainingmoneymakebothafraidtoenterintowar。Thelittlepreparationsforwar，whichwesee，aretheeffectofdistrust，ratherthenofadesigntocommencehostilities。Andinsuchastateofmind，youknow，smallthingsmayproducearupture：sothatthoughpeaceisratherprobable，warisverypossible。
　　Yourletterhaskindledallthefondrecollectionsofantienttimes；recollectionsmuchdearertomethananythingIhaveknownsince。Therearemindswhichcanbepleasedbyhonorsandpreferments；butIseenothinginthembutenvyandenmity。Itisonlynecessarytopossessthem，toknowhowlittletheycontributetohappiness，orratherhowhostiletheyaretoit。Noattachmentssoothethemindsomuchasthosecontractedinearlylife；nordoI
　　recollectanysocietieswhichhavegivenmemorepleasure，thanthoseofwhichyouhavepartakenwithme。Ihadratherbeshutupinaverymodestcottage，withmybooks，myfamilyandafewoldfriends，diningonsimplebacon，andlettingtheworldrollonasitliked，thantooccupythemostsplendidpost，whichanyhumanpowercangive。Ishallbegladtohearfromyouoften。Givemethesmallnewsaswellasthegreat。TellDr。Currie，thatIbelieveIamindebtedtohimaletter，butthatlikethemassofourcountrymen，I
　　amnot，atthismoment，abletopayallmydebts；thepostbeingtodepartinanhour，andthelaststrokeofapenIamabletosendbyit，beingthatwhichassuresyouofthesentimentsofesteemandattachment，withwhichIam，DearSir，youraffectionatefriendandservant，”ASONOFNATURE”
　　_ToMariaCosway_