Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette about the Constitutional Convention and His Opinions on the Situation, 24 October 1787 - read free eBook in online reader or directly download on the web page. Select files or add your book in reader. Download and read online ebook Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette about the Constitutional Convention and His Opinions on the Situation, 24 October 1787 write by Henry Knox. This book was released on 1787. Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette about the Constitutional Convention and His Opinions on the Situation, 24 October 1787 available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Says he has probably already heard of the results of the Constitutional Convention. Says The propositions being essentially different, in many respects from the existing Confederation, and which will probably produce different national effects, are contemplated by the public at large with an anxious attention. The discussions are commenced in the news papers & in Pamphlets, with all the freedom & liberality which challenge a people who are searching by their own experience after a form of government most productive of happiness. Expresses his affinity for a stronger national government and believes the new constitution will provide it. Goes on to claim it is not a perfect document though and There are several things in it that I confess I could wish to be altered. Says the people are ready for the change and that it will be discussed fully. Predicts parties will be raised during the debate. Discusses state ratification. Will send an update from time to time. Mentions European affairs and fears French aggression. Asks for news. Says Washington is doing well, but that his crops are injured by severe drought. Encloses a copy of the Constitution (not included). Docketed by William Knox.
Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette Discussing the Constitutional Convention, 26 April 1788
Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette Discussing the Constitutional Convention, 26 April 1788 - read free eBook in online reader or directly download on the web page. Select files or add your book in reader. Download and read online ebook Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette Discussing the Constitutional Convention, 26 April 1788 write by Henry Knox. This book was released on 1788. Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette Discussing the Constitutional Convention, 26 April 1788 available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Contemporary secretarial copy of a letter sent to Lafayette. References Lafayette's letters from November 1787 and February 1788. Says that The Convention by you Mr. Jefferson and Common Sense [Thomas Paine], judge wisely respecting the New Constitution requiring some amendments & of the time they should be effected. Of the Constitutional Convention says The unanimity of the former convention may be regarded as a rare evidence of the empire of reason. Believes there will not have to be another convention. Says it is likely that nine states will accept the constitution over the next 2-3 months. Says New York will have its ratifying convention in June and hopes the acceptance of other states will influence them to vote for it. Goes into other state's conventions. Lashes out at Rhode Island. Gives Lafayette an update on Catherine Greene, the wife of the late General Nathanael Greene. Seems like she wants to send her son George to France to study. Asks for an updated list of French officers in the Society of the Cincinnati so he can send them diplomas. Says war seems less likely in Europe now, but that the English however are haughty and overbearing - too much so I am apprehensive, for a firm and durable peace. Below the docket, a later note initialed by EY sums up the letter and states that Lafayette's letters to Knox referenced in this letter is feared lost. In the hand of William Knox.
Henry Knox to the Marquis de Lafayette [possibly Incomplete] about the Progress of the Constitution in Various States and the Possibility of War in Europe, 14 December 1787
Henry Knox to the Marquis de Lafayette [possibly Incomplete] about the Progress of the Constitution in Various States and the Possibility of War in Europe, 14 December 1787 - read free eBook in online reader or directly download on the web page. Select files or add your book in reader. Download and read online ebook Henry Knox to the Marquis de Lafayette [possibly Incomplete] about the Progress of the Constitution in Various States and the Possibility of War in Europe, 14 December 1787 write by Henry Knox. This book was released on 1787. Henry Knox to the Marquis de Lafayette [possibly Incomplete] about the Progress of the Constitution in Various States and the Possibility of War in Europe, 14 December 1787 available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Says he has not heard from Lafayette in some time. Mentions that he wrote on the constitutional convention by the last packet. Reports on states that have called ratifying conventions to approve or reject the constitution. Has doubts specifically about Virginia and New York. Says Rhode Island has too many schemes of convenience to approve it. But says it is highly probable that it will be adopted in the course of the year 1788 by nine states and more. Says he is anxious about rumors of war between France and England. Reports that those in the know claim the event is inevitable. Worries about the situation of the United States if such a war broke out. Wants an updated list of French members of the Society of the Cincinnati so he can make up diplomas. Reports that Lucy Knox has given birth to their eighth child. No signature at closing.
Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette on George Washington Greene's Education and State Conventions on the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, 15 May 1788
Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette on George Washington Greene's Education and State Conventions on the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, 15 May 1788 - read free eBook in online reader or directly download on the web page. Select files or add your book in reader. Download and read online ebook Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette on George Washington Greene's Education and State Conventions on the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, 15 May 1788 write by Henry Knox. This book was released on 1788. Henry Knox to Marquis de Lafayette on George Washington Greene's Education and State Conventions on the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution, 15 May 1788 available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Marked Copy. Letter in a secretarial hand. Says that Joel Barlow, later known as one of the Connecticut Wits, will deliver this letter. Knox identifies Barlow as the author of The vision of Columbus, a long epic poem in heroic couplets. Barlow went to Europe as an agent for a company that wanted to sell western lands to French emigrants. Knox says Barlow is traveling with the son of Nathanael Greene, George Washington Greene, who is to study with Lafayette in France. Says Catharine Greene and Colonel Wadsworth have written him on the subject of Master Washington's education, and he will not say much on it. Proceeds to say The Classics and modern languages as being the work of memory will probably constitute his first studies, together with learning the necessary personal exercises to form his manners. Says mathematics, geography, astronomy, and drawing should come later. Says his removal to France will honor the memory of his father. Praises the young man's character and disposition. Says his last letter to Lafayette was on 26 April. Thanks Lafayette for sending the Dutch patriot Vander Kemp to meet him. Updates him on state conventions on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Says Maryland was the 7th state to ratify. Says the election for the New York convention delegates has recently taken place, but that the results are not known yet. Believes it will be a balanced delegation of those for and against it. Says Were the New Constitution to have required the Unanimous assent of all the states it would never have been adopted - But as it require only nine states in the first instance, it may be in full operation, in one year from the present time. In the hand of William Knox.
Henry Knox to Mercy Otis Warren Replying to Her Letter, Discussing the Constitutional Convention and Giving His Opinions on Government, 30 May 1787
Henry Knox to Mercy Otis Warren Replying to Her Letter, Discussing the Constitutional Convention and Giving His Opinions on Government, 30 May 1787 - read free eBook in online reader or directly download on the web page. Select files or add your book in reader. Download and read online ebook Henry Knox to Mercy Otis Warren Replying to Her Letter, Discussing the Constitutional Convention and Giving His Opinions on Government, 30 May 1787 write by Henry Knox. This book was released on 1787. Henry Knox to Mercy Otis Warren Replying to Her Letter, Discussing the Constitutional Convention and Giving His Opinions on Government, 30 May 1787 available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Replies to her letter from 2 May (GLC02437.03539). Discusses a financial matter involving Winslow Warren (Warren's son), Mr. Hawkins, Knox's brother William, and Mr. Breck. Apologizes for not being able to fully comply with her request from 2 May due to William's limited power in that regard. Knox discusses the present state of government, and the divided nature of the states, in the context of the Constitutional Convention, which gathered at Philadelphia 25 May. Discusses the present awful crisis- I arrange in my imagination two or three hundred millions of [our] posterity with their eyes fixed on our conduct, ready to applaud our wisdom or to execrate our folly. Praises a book by Mr. Adams, noting that it should have been called The Soul of a Free Government, (likely commenting on John Adams's book, A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America). Comments that paper money - and ex post facto Laws are the main springs of the American governments. Mentions the Cincinnati (likely the Society of the Cincinnati). Reflects on the Constitutional Convention and the men attending it: Should they possess the hardihood to be unpopular and propose an efficient national government from the entanglements of the present defective state [systems], we may yet be a happy and great nation. Adds, Should they possess local and not general views should they propose to patch up the wretched & defective thing called the confederation- look out ye patriots- supplicate heaven separate anarchies will take place... Discusses the issue of state's rights versus national power, The state governments should be deprived of the power of injuring themselves or the nation. The people have parted with power enough to form an excellent constitution- But it is intercepted and diffused among hordes which cannot use it to good purpose- It must be [concerted] in a national government. The power of that government should be divided between a strong executive, senate, and assembly.... every thing should be defined, marked, and checked according to the highest human wisdom- an attempt to overleap the bounds of the Constitution should be punished on the absolute certainty of great severity. Writes that in this letter, he only suggested the smallest possible changes that can be made to the government. Anything less will be to precipitate us in to the gulph of separate anarchies or the issue of which we may see established seperate tyrannies. This is Knox's draft. The sent copy of this letter is in the Warren-Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
