Few events have happened since the 17th of septemr: 1788, which have afforded me more pleasure than your election to the Vice president’s chair. It is the cape stone of my our labors respecting the new goverment. Mr Rutledge had some friends in Pennsylvania—But your friends prevailed. Mr Wilson had great merit in this business. Mr Morris likewise advised it. There is an expectation here which I 387 have humoured, that your influence will be exerted immediately in favor of a Motion to bring Congress to Philada:— New England alone must determine this question—for our Quaker & German manners will always give new york an Advantage over us in the Opinion of southern gentlemen. There was a time when yankies & Aristocratic new yorkers were less United. I wish to see the Congress in Philada: for two reasons principally. 1 To silence the clamors which begin to circulate in some of the southern states, of the interested & local Views of the Eastern States, & 2ly to prevent a few years hence a removal of the Seat of goverment to a more Southern, a less healthy & less republican State.—

I lost your excellent pamphflet by lending it to One of our printers, but shall endeavour to procure a copy which was printed from it in one of our newspapers in the year 1777.— I enclose you a copy of the four letters you refer to, published in the same year—also a small tract on the late test law of Pennsylvania by the same Author.1 my His enemies have done him the honor of saying in our public prints, that it repealed that impolitic law.—

Besides the four persons whom you have mentioned in your letter, a fifth character of more consequence than either of them must be brought into a View in giving a history of the Constitution of Pennsylvania. Reed’s Administration likewise, stained—by folly—fraud— and Violence will must be described in a review of the revolution in Our state.—2 The rank & connections of both these gentlemen forbid the truth to be told of them for many years to come.— I shall however begin the work, and bequeath it to my children. It will afford them some instruction. With this, they will receive many Other documents of the revolution, and of eminent political & military characters.— The enclosed Anecdote of yourself, was extracted from One of them.3

The conduct of Delaware & maryland in thowing away all their Votes for a Vice president I believe was influenced in part by a jealousy of the new England States, which has been revived, & inflamed by their vote in favor of the meeting of the first Congress in New york. Philadelphia is the head Quarters of federalism. There will be no cordiality between the Eastern & some of southern states ’till the Congress fixes in Philada or Baltimore.

Your correspondence will always be agreeable to me, and you may rely upon Secrecy when ever your letters are confidential.—

I move at present only in the line of my profession.— but my eyes— and ears—and fact-book—are as usual open my decided & 388 unequivocal conduct in politicks has thrown me at a distance from the present chief magistrate of Pennsylvania.— He is the counterpart of your friend in the late elections in massachussets. I employ my leisure hours in pursuits which have for their Objects the happiness of my Country. In some of these I have been successful.— From Others, I have reaped nothing but abuse, and a Consciousness of having aimed well.

Adieu—my dear friend. From / yours very sincerely

The inclosed Letter from The Hon. Stephen Higginson Esqr, is upon a Subject of so much Importance, and contains so much Information that I cannot withold it from you.1 The little Jealousy, Envy or Caprice, that shall deprive our Merchants of the Benefit of Trading to the Isles of France & Bourbon, will only compell them to seek the Ultimate Marketts upon the Continent, directly.

In four days, the new Government is to be erected. Washington appears to have an unanimous Vote: and there is probably a Plurality, if not a Majority in favour of your Friend.— It may be found easier to give Authority, than to yeild Obedience.

Amendments to the Constitution, will be expected. and no doubt discussed. Will you be so good as to look over the Code and write me your Sentiments of Amendments which you think necessary or usefull? That greatest and most necessary of all Amendments the Seperation of the Executive Power, from the Legislative Seems to be better understood than it once was. without this our Government is in danger of being a continual Struggle between a Junto of Grandees, for the first Chair.

The Success of the new Plan will depend in the first Place upon a Revenue, to defrey the Interest of the foreign and domestic debt. But how to get a Revenue? how to render Smuggling and Evasion Shameful?

You must expect the first Operations will be very Slow.— Mrs A. and your old Admirer, my Son, desire their respects to you.

with unabated respect, Esteem & affection / I am, dear sir, your Friend & humble / sert.