ⅭⅩⅩⅩⅡ. George Washington to Doctor Stuart.[1]
Mount Vernon October 17th. 1787
As the enclosed advertiser contains a speech of Mr. Wilson’s[2] (as able, candid and honest a member as in Convention) which will place the most of—M.—objections in their true point of light, I send it to you—the republication will (if you can get it done) be Serviceable at this Juncture. His ipso facto objection does not, I believe require any answer, every mind must recoil at the idea—and with respect to the navigation act. I am mistaken if any men, bodies of men or Countries, will enter into any compact or treaty, if one of the three is to have a negative controul over the other two, but granting that it is an evil it will infallibly work its own cure.—there must be reciprocity or no Union. which of the two is preferable, will not become a question in the mind of any true patriot.
ⅭⅩⅩⅩⅢ. Elbridge Gerry to President of Senate and Speaker of House of Representatives of Massachusetts.[3]
New York, Oct. 18, 1787.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to inclose, pursuant to my commission, the constitution proposed by the federal convention.
To this system I gave my dissent, and shall submit my objections to the honourable legislature.
It was painful for me, on a subject of such national importance, to differ from the respectable members who signed the constitution: But conceiving as I did, that the liberties of America were not secured by the system, it was my duty to oppose it.
My principal objections to the plan, are, that there is no adequate provision for a representation of the people—that they have no security for the right of election—that some of the powers of the legislature are ambiguous, and others indefinite and dangerous—that the executive is blended with, and will have an undue influence over, the legislature—that the judicial department will be oppressive—that treaties of the highest importance may be formed by the president with the advice of two-thirds of a quorum of the senate—and that the system is without the security of a bill of rights. These are objections which are not local, but apply equally to all the states.
As the convention was called for “the sole and express purpose
