Papers of John Adams, volume 19
I congratulate you my dear Sir! most cordially on your Return to your native Country, and am greatly pleased with the Reception you have met with— You deserve well of your country, and I am happy to find that the acknowledgment of your Services is not left solely to Posterity.
our convention is still sitting. The opposers of the Constitution have proposed many amendments. As yet we proceed with much Temper and moderation— I am not without Hopes of an Accommodation, altho’ my Expectations of it are not sanguine.1
Be pleased to present my Compliments & congratulations to Mrs. Adams, and believe me to be with sincere Esteem and Regard / Dr. Sir / your affecte. Friend & Servt
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Hon’ble John Adams Esqr.”
For a summary of the states’ ratification, see Samuel Allyne Otis’ 7 July letter, and note 1, below. The New York State ratification convention met in Poughkeepsie on 17 June. The 65 delegates’ discussion centered on questions of representation and taxation, and the Antifederalists proposed numerous amendments. The New York delegates moved slowly through their debates, hampered by the complexity of the issues, the number of proposed amendments, and their limited daily meeting hours. On 26 July they ratified in a 30 to 27 vote, recommending over thirty amendments, mainly put forth by Gov. George Clinton’s Antifederalist bloc. Their proposals included a six-week limit on the use of the New York militia outside the state, a call for Congress to requisition the states for any direct taxes, and the drafting of a bill of rights. Caught between warring groups—with the Antifederalists in tight control of the assembly and the state senate dominated by Federalists—New York finally sent representatives to the House and Senate in April and July, respectively (Maier, Ratification
, p. 344, 348, 354–372, 395, 396–397;
AFC
, 8:272, 326).