I enclose those of Leyden to the present date, with the gazettes of
France, and have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect
esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Th: Jefferson
LETTER, CLXXII.--TO GENERAL WASHINGTON, December 4, 1788
TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Paris, December 4, 1788.
Sir,
Your favor of August the 31st came to hand yesterday; and a confidential
conveyance offering, by the way of London, I avail myself of it, to
acknowledge the receipt.
I have seen, with infinite pleasure, our new constitution accepted by
eleven States, not rejected by the twelfth; and that the thirteenth
happens to be a state of the least importance. It is true, that the
minorities in most of the accepting States have been very respectable;
so much so, as to render it prudent, were it not otherwise reasonable,
to make some sacrifice to them. I am in hopes, that the annexation of
a bill of rights to the constitution will alone draw over so great
a proportion of the minorities, as to leave little danger in the
opposition of the residue; and that this annexation may be made by
Congress and the Assemblies, without calling a convention, which
might endanger the most valuable parts of the system.
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