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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

R. H. LEE TO JOHN ADAMS. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 9 (Letters and State Papers 1799-1811) [1854]

Edition used:

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 9.

Part of: The Works of John Adams, 10 vols.

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R. H. LEE TO JOHN ADAMS.

New York, 3 September, 1787.

Since my letter to you of December, 1785, from Chantilly, in Virginia, in answer to the letters that you were pleased to write me on the 26th of August, 6th and 7th of September, 1785, I have not been honored with any letter from you. On my arrival here, I met with and read with great pleasure your book on the American governments. The judicious collection that you have made, with your just reflections thereon, have reached America at a great crisis, and will probably have their proper influence in forming the federal government now under consideration. Your labor may, therefore, have its reward in the thanks of this and future generations. The present federal system, however well calculated it might have been for its designed ends, if the States had done their duty, under the almost total neglect of that duty has been found quite inefficient and ineffectual. The government must be both legislative and executive, with the former power paramount to the State legislatures, in certain respects essential to federal purposes. I think there is no doubt but that this legislature will be recommended to consist of the triple balance, if I may use the expression to signify a compound of the three simple forms acting independently, but forming a joint determination. The executive (which will be part of the legislative) to have more duration, and power enlarged beyond the present. This seems to be the plan expected, and generally spoken of. I say expected, because the Convention is yet sitting, and will continue so to do until the middle of this month. I was appointed to that Assembly, but being a member of Congress, where the plan of Convention must be approved, there appeared an inconsistency for members of the former to have session in the latter, and so pass judgment at New York upon their opinion at Philadelphia. I therefore declined going to Convention, and came here, where we have lately contracted for the sale of six millions of acres, on the north-western side of Ohio, in the ceded territory, for lessening the domestic debt. And now, another offer is made for two millions more. I hope we shall at least be able to extinguish the domestic debt created by the late war, which is by far the greatest part of the debt. So many of our members have lately gone from hence to the Convention, that we have had but five States in Congress for a month past, which has prevented any determination on your application to return. It seems at present to be very doubtful whether there will be any resident appointed to the Court where you are; some being for a minister, some for a chargé, and some for neither, but a consul only. How it will terminate can scarcely be conjectured yet.