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| Field name |
Value |
| Collection Reference Number
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GLC02437.03765
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| From Archive Folder
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The Henry Knox Papers [0083] January-March 1788
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| Title
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Henry Knox to John Sullivan transmitting a latter from the marquis de Lafayette about the constitution
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| Date
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19 January 1788
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| Author
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Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
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| Recipient
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Sullivan, John
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| Document Type
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Correspondence
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| Content Description
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Transmits a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette delivered to Knox by the Count de [Moustier], a French Minister. Informs Sullivan, Governor of New Hampshire, that Lafayette wrote the letter "on the supposition of your being in this City and President of Congress." Discusses ratification of the Constitution: "The fact however is that the present system called the confederation has run down... something must be done speedily, or we shall soon be involved in all the horrors of anarchy, and separate state interests..." Notes that if Massachusetts and New Hampshire reject the Constitution, "we shall have to encounter a boisterous and uncertain Ocean of events."
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| Subjects
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Revolutionary War General France Diplomacy Global History and Civics Government and Civics Continental Congress Congress Ratification Federalists US Constitution
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| People
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Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Sullivan, John (1740-1795) Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834)
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| Place written
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New York, New York
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| Theme
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Creating a New Government; Government & Politics; Foreign Affairs
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| Sub-collection
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The Henry Knox Papers
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| Copyright
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The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
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| Module
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Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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| Transcript
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Show/hide Download PDF (Private) New York 19 January 1788. My dear Sir The new Minister of France the Count de Moutiers who arrived yesterday brought the enclosed letter from our common friend the Marquis de laFayette - It is addressed to you on the supposition of your being in this City and President of Congress - But alass [sic] there is no Congress [struck: assembled] [inserted and struck: together], although two months have elapsed since one ought to have been assembled agreably to the confederation - The new Constitution! the new Constitution! [struck: appears to be] [inserted: is] the general cry this way. Much paper is spoiled [inserted: on the subject] and many essays written which perhaps are not read by either [struck: party] side It is a [struck: The] [inserted: stubborn] fact [2] [struck: The] [inserted: a] fact [struck: is] [inserted: however] that the present system called the confederation has run down, [inserted: that] the springs if ever it had others than the [inserted: late] Army have [inserted: utterly] lost their tone, and [struck: it] [inserted: the machine] cannot be wound up again But Something must be done speedily, or we shall soon be involved in all the horrors of anarchy, and separate state interests - This indeed appears to have been the serious judgement [sic] of all the states who have formally considered the new constitution and [struck: therefore] [inserted: therefor] they have adopted it, not as a perfect system but as the best that could be obtained under [struck: the] existing circumstances If [struck: in addition] to those states which have already received [inserted: it], Massachusetts and New Hampshire [struck: adopt it] [inserted: should be added,], a doubt [struck: cannot] [inserted: could not] be entertained but that it will be received generally [inserted: in the course of the present year] - If Massachusetts and New Hampshire reject it, we shall have to [3] have to encounter a boisterous and uncertain Ocean of events. Should you have leisure I shall be much obliged [struck: to you], for [struck: the] confidential information of [inserted: the disposition of] New Hampshire on the subject, and you may rest assured that your confidence shall not be misplaced I am my dear Sir with great respect and affection Your Most Obedient humble Servt HKnox His Excellency John Sullivan Esqr [Marstrand] [docket] To His Excellency J Sullivan Esqr 19 Jan.y. 1788 -
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