I disapproved,
also, the perpetual re-eligibility of the President. To these points
of disapprobation I adhere. My first wish was, that the nine first
conventions might accept the constitution, as the means of securing to
us the great mass of good it contained, and that the four last might
reject it, as the means of obtaining amendments. But I was corrected in
this wish, the moment I saw the much better plan of Massachusetts,
and which had never occurred to me. With respect to the declaration of
rights, I suppose the majority of the United States are of my opinion:
for I apprehend all the anti-federalists, and a very respectable
proportion of the federalists, think that such a declaration should now
be annexed. The enlightened part of Europe have given us the greatest
credit for inventing this instrument of security for the rights of the
people, and have been not a little surprised to see us so soon give it
up. With respect to the re-eligibility of the President, I find myself
differing from the majority of my countrymen; for I think there are but
three States of the eleven which have desired an alteration of this.
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