Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 19

To the Chevalier de Pinto

From David Ramsay
To John Adams from Elbridge Gerry, 20 September 1787 Gerry, Elbridge Adams, John
From Elbridge Gerry
My dear sir New York 20th sepr 1787

The proceedings of the Convention being this day published, I embrace the Oppertunity of transmitting them by a Vessel which is to sail this morning for London.1 There were only three dissentients Governor Randolph & Colo Mason from Virginia & your friend who now addresses you, from Massachusetts.2 The objections you will easily conceive without their being enumerated: & they will probably be stated to our respective Legislatures. Time must determine the fate of this production, which with a check on standing armies in Time of peace, & on an arbitrary administration of the powers vested in the Legislature, would have met with my approbation. I have only time to add Mrs Gerry’s & my own best respects to Mrs Adams Mr & Mrs Smith / & to assure you that I remain / with the highest Respect yours

E Gerry

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency Mr Adams.”

 1.

Gerry enclosed a copy of the new U.S. Constitution, which JA forwarded to Thomas Jefferson, for which see his 10 Nov. letter, and note 1, below. Gerry likely sent this letter to JA via the Prince George, Capt. Strong, which departed New York City in late September and arrived in London on 3 Nov. (New York Independent Journal, 1 Sept. 1787, 2 Feb. 1788).

The U.S. Constitution was adopted on 17 Sept. 1787, and British newspapers first published the text in late autumn. The London Chronicle printed the preamble and the first article in its 27–30 Oct. issue, and the remaining articles and signatures in its 30 Oct. – 1 Nov. issue. Several British newspapers noted that “the Convention” wished “to preserve a Republican, or democrative Government” while following the British model, with a president, senate, and house of representatives operating in “parallel” to “King, Lords, and Commons.” Noting Americans’ lack of “Royalty” and “Nobility,” the British press observed that “the whole constitution will be one democracy.” Viewing the new nation’s diplomatic relations, British newspapers conjectured that as “Foreign treaties, already 156 made, or which may hereafter be made” would be “regarded as the Supreme law of the land,” the American delegates evinced “an earnest desire to have their new form of Government respected by foreign nations” (London World and Fashionable Advertiser, 3, 19 Nov.; London Public Advertiser, 5, 16 Nov.).

 2.

Edmund Randolph (1753–1813), governor of Virginia, later served as the first attorney general of the United States. George Mason (1725–1792) was the chief author of Virginia’s constitution of 1776. Randolph and Mason objected to the Senate’s power, including its relationship with the executive branch and to Congress’s authority to regulate trade. Both men were early advocates of what became the Bill of Rights (vol. 4:70; Biog. Dir. Cong. ; ANB ; Maier, Ratification , p. 43–45, 51).