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Lot Essay
CLINTON, George (1739-1812). Circular letter signed ("Geo:Clinton Presdt.") as President of the New York State Ratification Convention to the Governor of South Carolina, Poughkeepsie, 26 July 1788.
Three pages, bifolium, 235 x 198mm (small dampstain at upper right margin of first leaf and slight chipping at lower left corner). Quarter blue morocco and cloth clamshell. Red morocco slipcase.
Clinton urges a second Constitutional Convention to amend the constitution with a bill of rights. An important letter, issued the same day that his state's convention assented to ratification—a ratification secured by a very narrow majority. Like Massachusetts and Virginia, the New York ratification convention in Poughkeepsie was dominated by Antifederalists who complained loudly about the lack of a bill of rights. Many of those opposed sought a conditional ratification that demanded a second convention be called to amend the Constitution to include a bill of rights. In the end, a compromise was proposed that struck out the conditional language, yet still voiced the convention's "fullest confidence" that another convention be held for that purpose. This proved to ensure sufficient votes to ratify the constitution allowing New York to join the Union:
"We the Members of the Convention of this State, have deliberately and maturely considered the Constitution proposed for the United States. Several articles in it appear so exceptionable to a majority of us, that nothing but the fullest confidence of obtaining a Revision of them by a General Convention, and an invincible Reluctance to separating from our Sister States, could have prevailed upon a sufficient number to ratify it, without stipulating for previous Amendments, we all unite in opinion that such a Revision will be necessary to recommend it to the Approbation and Support of a numerous body of our Constituents, we observe that Amendments have been proposed, and are anxiously desired by several of the States as well as by this, and we think it of great Importance that effectual Measures be immediately taken for calling a Convention to meet at a period not far remote, for we are convinced that the Apprehensions and discontents which these Articles occasion, cannot be removed or allayed, unless an Act to provide for it, be among the first that shall be passed by the new Congress…."
Unlike the vote for ratification, which was very close, the convention in Poughkeepsie unanimously voted in favor of Clinton's circular. Madison was firmly opposed, believing that the Federalists had given up too much to secure ratification. The letter, he believed, had "most pestilent tendency." (Quoted in Maier, Ratification, 401) But if he was aware that John Jay was the primary author of the circular, Madison never mentioned it. For Jay's part, he did not anticipate the convention taking place in the immediate future, and suggested that it could be put off for three or four years with no opposition. But Madsion continued to worry and his concern mounted after North Carolina failed to ratify during its convention over the summer. The endorsement of the Circular Letter by Patrick Henry and Edmund Randolph in Virginia did not help the cause—Madison casting the part of the blame on the Virginians for North Carolina's failure to ratify.
On 13 September 1788, the Confederation Congress declared the Constitution ratified. And with that declaration, the movement calling for a second convention, which Washington feared would find the Constitution "shipwrecked in sight of the Port," had largely dissipated. According to Pauline Maier, "once the ratification game was over, the score was tallied, and the crowds went home, a surprising quiet set over the land. After Congress declared the Constitution ratified and called the first federal elections, the country rallied behind the Constitution." (432). Somewhat Ironically, it would be James Madison, a longtime opponent of incorporating a bill of rights into the Constitution, who, as a member of the First Congress, initiated the drive for additional amendments as outlined in Article V.
Three pages, bifolium, 235 x 198mm (small dampstain at upper right margin of first leaf and slight chipping at lower left corner). Quarter blue morocco and cloth clamshell. Red morocco slipcase.
Clinton urges a second Constitutional Convention to amend the constitution with a bill of rights. An important letter, issued the same day that his state's convention assented to ratification—a ratification secured by a very narrow majority. Like Massachusetts and Virginia, the New York ratification convention in Poughkeepsie was dominated by Antifederalists who complained loudly about the lack of a bill of rights. Many of those opposed sought a conditional ratification that demanded a second convention be called to amend the Constitution to include a bill of rights. In the end, a compromise was proposed that struck out the conditional language, yet still voiced the convention's "fullest confidence" that another convention be held for that purpose. This proved to ensure sufficient votes to ratify the constitution allowing New York to join the Union:
"We the Members of the Convention of this State, have deliberately and maturely considered the Constitution proposed for the United States. Several articles in it appear so exceptionable to a majority of us, that nothing but the fullest confidence of obtaining a Revision of them by a General Convention, and an invincible Reluctance to separating from our Sister States, could have prevailed upon a sufficient number to ratify it, without stipulating for previous Amendments, we all unite in opinion that such a Revision will be necessary to recommend it to the Approbation and Support of a numerous body of our Constituents, we observe that Amendments have been proposed, and are anxiously desired by several of the States as well as by this, and we think it of great Importance that effectual Measures be immediately taken for calling a Convention to meet at a period not far remote, for we are convinced that the Apprehensions and discontents which these Articles occasion, cannot be removed or allayed, unless an Act to provide for it, be among the first that shall be passed by the new Congress…."
Unlike the vote for ratification, which was very close, the convention in Poughkeepsie unanimously voted in favor of Clinton's circular. Madison was firmly opposed, believing that the Federalists had given up too much to secure ratification. The letter, he believed, had "most pestilent tendency." (Quoted in Maier, Ratification, 401) But if he was aware that John Jay was the primary author of the circular, Madison never mentioned it. For Jay's part, he did not anticipate the convention taking place in the immediate future, and suggested that it could be put off for three or four years with no opposition. But Madsion continued to worry and his concern mounted after North Carolina failed to ratify during its convention over the summer. The endorsement of the Circular Letter by Patrick Henry and Edmund Randolph in Virginia did not help the cause—Madison casting the part of the blame on the Virginians for North Carolina's failure to ratify.
On 13 September 1788, the Confederation Congress declared the Constitution ratified. And with that declaration, the movement calling for a second convention, which Washington feared would find the Constitution "shipwrecked in sight of the Port," had largely dissipated. According to Pauline Maier, "once the ratification game was over, the score was tallied, and the crowds went home, a surprising quiet set over the land. After Congress declared the Constitution ratified and called the first federal elections, the country rallied behind the Constitution." (432). Somewhat Ironically, it would be James Madison, a longtime opponent of incorporating a bill of rights into the Constitution, who, as a member of the First Congress, initiated the drive for additional amendments as outlined in Article V.