The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
FEDERALIST PAPERS
Mr. Carrington was so kind as to send me the second volume of the
American Philosophical Transactions, the Federalist, and some other
interesting pamphlets; and I am to thank you for another copy of the
Federalist, and the report of the instructions to the ministers, for
negotiating peace. The latter, unluckily, omitted exactly the passage
I wanted, which was what related to the navigation of the Mississippi.
With respect to the Federalist, the three authors had been named to
me. I read it with care, pleasure and improvement, and was satisfied
there was nothing in it by one of those hands, and not a great deal by
a second. It does the highest honor to the third, as being, in my
opinion, the best commentary on the principles of government, which
ever was written. In some parts, it is discoverable that the author
means only to say what may be best said in defence of opinions, in
which he did not concur. But in general, it establishes firmly the
plan of government. I confess, it has rectified me on several points.
As to the bill of rights, however, I still think it should be added;
and I am glad to see, that three States have at length considered the
perpetual re-eligibility of the President, as an article which should
be amended. I should deprecate with you, indeed, the meeting of a new
convention. I hope they will adopt the mode of amendment by Congress
and the Assemblies, in which case, I should not fear any dangerous
innovation in the plan. But the minorities are too respectable, not to
be entitled to some sacrifice of opinion, in the majority; especially,
when a great proportion of them would be contented with a bill of
rights.
to James Madison, 18 November 1788
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