1. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION

country; these are called aristocrates, morrisites,28 &c. &c. Between
these two parties is the weight of the community; the men of middling
property, men not in debt on the one hand, and men, on the other,
content with republican governments, and not aiming at immense for-
tunes, offices, and power. In 1786, the little insurgents, the levellers,
came forth, invaded the rights of others, and attempted to establish
governments according to their wills.29 Their movements evidently gave
encouragement to the other party, which, in 1787, has taken the po-
litical field, and with its fashionable dependents, and the tongue and
the pen, is endeavouring to establish in great haste, a politer kind of
government. These two parties, which will probably be opposed or
united as it may suit their interests and views, are really insignificant,
compared with the solid, free, and independent part of the community.
It is not my intention to suggest, that either of these parties, and the
real friends of the proposed constitution, are the same men. The fact
is, these aristocrats support and hasten the adoption of the proposed
constitution, merely because they think it is a stepping stone to their
favourite object. I think I am well founded in this idea; I think the
general politics of these men support it, as well as the common obser-
vation among them, That the proffered plan is the best that can be got
at present, it will do for a few years, and lead to something better. The
sensible and judicious part of the community will carefully weigh all
these circumstances; they will view the late convention as a respectable
assembly of men-America probably never will see an assembly of men
of a like number, more respectable. But the members of the convention
met without knowing the sentiments of one man in ten thousand in
these states respecting the new ground taken. Their doings are but the
first attempts in the most important scene ever opened. Though each
individual in the state conventions will not, probably, be so respectable
as each individual in the federal convention, yet as the state conven-
tions will probably consist of fifteen hundred or two thousand men of
abilities,30 and versed in the science of government, collected from all
parts of (the community and from all orders of men, it must be ac-
knowledged that the weight of respectability will be in them-In them
will be collected the solid sense and the real political character of the
country. Being revisers of the subject, they will possess peculiar advan-
tages. To say that these conventions ought not to attempt, coolly and
deliberately, the revision of the system, or that they cannot amend it,
is very foolish or very assuming. If these conventions, after examining
the system, adopt it, I shall be perfectly satisfied, and wish to see men
make the administration of the government an equal blessings3' to all
orders of men. I believe the great body of our people to be virtuous

240