1788 ca.

Manuscript document

Title: Proposed amendments to the Constitution

This document, in a contemporary hand, compiles and compares the proposals of several states. Many of the proposals are in the form substantially used in the Bill of Rights.

GLC04770

1788/03/15

Dane, Nathan, 1752-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S[amuel?] Holten re: ratification of the Constitution

GLC04772.03

1788/01/20

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Jay re: prospects for ratification of Constitution

Forwarding some enclosed letters to Europe (not included) and discussing ratification of the Constitution. Mentions decisions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia in adopting the Constitution. Fitzpatrick publishes with some textual differences based on the Washington letterbook.

GLC04876

1788/02/20

Stewart, Walter, 1756-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Irvine re: opposition to Constitution

Stewart writes to Irvine, a Penna. delegate to the Continental Congress: "It is expected by the Anti-Federal Party that very extensive Petitions will be laid before them against the new Constitution. I however think they have abated much in their Warmth since they see Massachusetts have come to it. [....] And they [the Anti-Federalists] at last say they think amendments may probably be made. I sincerely hope they will, as it would be a means of reconciling all Party's, and enable us to carry it through; Without them, the opposition will be so powerful as to clog its execution in too large a…

GLC04844

1788/05/26

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [William Ellery Jr.] re: contempt for "pure democracy" of R.I. (ratification)

Rhode Island had not ratified the Constitution. Ellery shared Thomson's unhappiness.

GLC04847

1789/05/20

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Wilson re: Wilson's role in ratifying Constitution, appointment

Wayne congratulates Wilson on the adoption of the Federal Constitution: "permit me to add that it was to a display of the perfect knowledge you entertained, & the plain elucidation you gave of the components of the System, which caused it to be approved by the [Ratification] Convention of Penna being the first that met...." Also congratulates Wilson on being appointed to the Chief Justiceship of the US (sic), and seeks a judicial appointment for himself.

GLC04865

1781/03/01

United States. Continental Congress.

Autograph document signed

Title: Extract from minutes re: Maryland ratifying the Articles of Confederation

Maryland was the last state to ratify the Articles "by which act the Confederation of the United State of America was completed each and every one of the thirteen states from New Hampshire to Georgia both included having adopted and confirmed and by their delegates in Congress ratified the same."

GLC04382

1788/02/27

Bacon, John, 1738-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry re: people's perspective of the Constitution

"When we begin to practice on a constitution like that which is now before us, we should have men in the administration, who, from principle and habit, are firmly attached to the liberties of the people and the rights of the particular states... I am not able to determine what proportion of the people in this country are in favor of the Constitution." Docketed by Gerry.

GLC07300

1790/06/19

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [Vol. 2, no.20 (June 19, 1790)]

Whole no. 124. re: Notice of Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution; Washington's letter to Hebrew Congregation of Savannah; etc.

GLC07270

1790/01/02

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [No. 76 (January 2, 1790)]

re: urging ratification of Bill of Rights in Virginia; "an act providing for the expenses which may attend negotiations with Indian tribes ..." etc.

GLC07268

1789/10/02

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: To: Samuel Huntington

Forwarding proposed Bill of Rights for ratification to Governor of CT. with Huntington docket on verso.

GLC07973

1788/01/31

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Oliver Fiske

Supporting ratification of the Constitution: "any further opposition to it at present would be productive of much greater evils." (written as a young law student)

GLC07974

1787/10/04

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: Ratification of the Constitution

Ratification of the Constitution:" Opposition no doubt will be made to it in this stage ... even if well founded, [it] will in my opinion be improper."

GLC07979

1790/06/09

Fenno, John, 1751-1798

Newspaper

Title: Gazette of the United States. [Vol. II, no. 17 (June 9, 1790)]

Reports on Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution, a debate on tonnage in the House of Representatives, and news from Europe. Also prints an extract from a speech to Congress by Massachusetts Governor John Hancock on the national debt, acts passed by Congress and ones still pending, and news items about appointments, slavery, and suicide. Same issue as GLC08720.01.

GLC03123

1788/08/02

Johnston, Samuel, 1733-1816

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Tariff resolution of North Carolina Constitutional Convention]

Signed as president of the convention, countersigned by John Hunt as secretary. States that the North Carolina Convention decided to neither ratify nor reject the new Constitution, and resolved to impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States if tariffs were imposed on North Carolina. At a second convention on 21 November 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constitution.

GLC04839

1787/12/15

Blount, William, 1749-1800

Letter signed

Title: to Gen. Assembly of NC re: negotiations over Miss. Navigation, threats to Union

Discusses negotiations over Mississippi navigation, threats to the national Union, finance, convention (for ratifying the Constitution)

GLC04842.03

1788/03/19

Fitzsimons, Thomas, 1741-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Irvine re: finance, opposition to Constitution, Kentucky statehood

GLC04842.06

1788/08/10

Pinckney, Charles, 1757-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mathew Carey re: proposal to give federal government veto over state laws

Asking for a bound copy of Carey's "Museum" and saying that he cannot provide a copy of his "System" [CP's draft proposals for a constitution] because one copy was laid before the Convention and the other is on-loan. He writes that the proposals were adopted [30+ parts] with the exception of a Federal veto on state laws.

GLC04842.12

1788/05/30

Williamson, Hugh, fl. 1783-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Johnstone re: reporting on absent delegate, citing strength of Union

Williamson mentions a French pirate as an example of the states coming together in a Federal Union. Written as a delegate to the governor of North Carolina.

GLC04842.13

1788/07/02

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen Van Rensselaer

Indicates that he has heard news of Virginia's ratification of the Constitution and offers his congratulations. He had been worried about the consequences for the country had Virginia not ratified. Believes the adoption in Virginia will have a positive effect on the New York State ratifying convention and compel other states to do the same. Notes that Colonel Alexander Hamilton is well. Contains some corrections in pencil.

GLC07537

1788/01/27

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Trist re: draft of letter opposing Constitution, political news

Also mentions the election of Cyrus Griffen as president of Congress and Thomas Jefferson's opinion of the Marchioness. (Losses on page 1 affecting text.)

GLC06560

1788/05/12

Letter

Title: [Extract of a letter of support for the Constitution from a Virginian to a friend in Portsmouth, New Hampshire]

Recognizes that human political institutions are not perfect, and describes the proposed Constitution as "the result of mutual concession and accommodation" that does not "come fully up to the views of any one." He praises the Constitution as "admirably calculated to promote and secure the felicity of mankind in a State of civil society." He expects it to be ratified in Virginia and was disappointed that New Hampshire did not immediately adopt it, but hopes it will in the future.

GLC06537

February 10, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Robert R. Livingston

Later copy of GLC02437.03793. A note at the top of page one states, "Recd. from Mr Bancroft Feb 1857." Knox relates details of the Massachusetts ratifying convention: "On Wednesday the 30th ultimo, Mr. Hancock was well enough to take his seat in the convention. On Thursday he brought forward the proposition for adopting the Constitution, and for recommending certain alterations agreeably to the paper herein enclosed [not included]. The propositions were seconded by Mr. Samuel Adams, and committed to a large committee being Federalists." Notes that the friends of Hancock and [James]…

GLC02437.03790

1787/09/28

United States. Congress.

Broadside

Title: Resolution of Congress forwarding Constitution to the states for ratification

GLC07877