Posterity of a great Nation, should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenc’d, guided and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent & beneficent Ruler, in whom all inferior Spirits live & move and have their Being.—
ⅭⅩⅭⅥ. James Madison to Edmund Randolph.[1]
Orange April 10th. 1788
I do not know of anything in the new Constitution that can change the obligations of the public with regard to the old money. The principle on which it is to be settled, seems to be equally in the power of that as of the existing one. The claim of the Indiana Company cannot I should suppose be any more validated by the new System, than that of all the creditors and others who have been aggrieved by unjust laws. You do not mention what part of the Constitution, could give colour to such a doctrine. The condemnation of retrospective laws, if that be the part, does not appear to me, to admit on any principle of such a retrospective construction. As to the religious test, I should conceive that it can imply at most nothing more than that without that exception, a power would have been given to impose an oath involving a religious test as a qualification for office. The constitution of necessary offices being given to the Congress, the proper qualifications seem to be evidently involved. I think too there are several other satisfactory points of view in which the exception might be placed.
ⅭⅩⅭⅦ. Benjamin Franklin to M. Le Veillard.[2]
April 22. 1788.
It is very possible, as you suppose, that all the Articles of the propos’d new Government will not remain unchang’d after the first meeting of the Congress. I am of Opinion with You, that the two Chambers where not necessary, and I disliked some other Articles that are in, and wish’d for some that are not in the propos’d Plan:—I nevertheless hope it may be adopted, though I shall have nothing to do with the execution of it, being determined to quit all public Business with my present Employment,…
ⅭⅩⅭⅧ. George Washington to La Fayette.[3]
Mount Vernon April 28th. 1788
For example: there was not a member of the convention, I
