Letter to General Edward Hand by Jasper Yeates
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: December 6, 1789
Place: Pennsylvania
United States of America
Medium: paper; ink / handwritten
Dimensions: Height x Width (fully unfolded): 8 1/4 × 12 1/2 in. (20.96 × 31.75 cm) Height x Width (partially unfolded): 8 1/4 × 6 1/4 in. (20.96 × 15.88 cm)
Credit line: Bequest of Harriett M. Leach
Topics: Early Nation's Period (1776-1800)
Description: Stampless cover sent from J. Yeates to General Edward Hand has no postal markings. Docketing is dated December 6, 1789, with Lancaster, Pennsylvania given as location of the writer Jasper Yeates. The single sheet folded letter has not postal markings or rate and is addressed to Edward Hand, Esquire, in Convention in Philadelphia for the state constitution that would be ratified in 1790.
1789 was a significant year in United States' history; the Constitution had been ratified, in the spring George Washington was inaugurated as the nation's first President, and the Judiciary Act of 1789 provided for a Supreme Court. The state of Pennsylvania was convening delegates in Philadelphia in 1789 to debate the state constitution. There was a great power struggle for the state government between the urban Philadelphians and the rural population. Ultimately, the "urbans" prevailed, and the government was revamped to be more centralized.
There is another letter from Yeates to Hand dated December 14, 1789, in the collection, see object 0.260305.7.21.1. See also object records 0.260305.7.18.1 and 0.260305.7.19.1 for correspondence dating to 1782.
References
Foster, Joseph S. “The Politics of Ideology: The Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1789-90.” Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies 59, no. 2 (1992): 122–44.
Letter from J. Yeates dated Lancaster 6 th Dec. 1789
Edward Hand Esq re In Convention
Philadelphia
Atlee
262
Dear General
Lancaster 6 Dec 1859.
I have recd your favor of the 3 d Instant & hope Col. Johnson will be able to manage the payment of the Interest on my Certificates, before you leave Iowa. I am thoroughly convinced that you will do what you can for me in the Business.
I readily see that the Delegates from Lancaster & York will have much in their power during the sitting of Convention. They will form a Middle Interest between the Philadelphians, who will be desirous perhaps of going to great lengths, & the back country who will be reluctant in making Amendments. An equal legislative Council, not too numerous - a respectable Executive & a Power in the latter to appoint Justices & a Militia Officers, with a few inconsiderable Arrangements to make the System consistent, - sum to me nearly all that is wanted. Too many theoretical Attitudes will certainly do infinite injury, tho' in the eyes of a few they may be deemed Improvements. The Habits & Propensities of
the
Edward Hard Esquire In Convention Philadelphia
Letter from J. Yeates Esq. Lancaster 6th Dec. 1789
Adams  262  Dear General
Lancaster 6 Dec 1789.
I have recd your favor of the 3 d Instant & hope Col. Johnson will be able to manage the Payment of the Interest on my Certificates, before you leave Town. I am thoroughly convinced that you will do what you can for me in the Business.
I readily see that the Delegates from Lancaster & York will have much in their Power during the Sitting of Convention. They will form a Middle Interest between the Philadelphians, who will be desirous perhaps of going too great lengths, & the back Counties who will be reluctant in Making Amendments. An equal legislative Council, not too numerous - a respectable Executive & a Power in the latter to appoint Justices & a Militia Officers, with a few inconsiderable Arrangements to make the System consistent, - sum to me nearly all that is wanted. Too many theoretical Attributions will certainly do infinite Injury, tho' in the eyes of a few they may be deemed Improvements. The Habits & Dispositions of
the
the Bulk of the People must be wounded. If the System of Government is expensive, it will not readily go down. If unnecessary changes are made of public Officers, it will do more Harm than Good: - You gain twenty enemies thereby for one Friend. Our Friends in the two Counties must unite & form leagues with other Members to repel dangerous Innovations.
These Ideas are but crude, but I take them to be just. I think they will strike you in that light when the different Budgets are opened. I yet trust that Mr. Atlee will go down, but I presume he will be considerably influenced by the Chief Justice, whose Ideas on the Head of Amendments, I take, to be wild & fanciful.
Your Family has just left us. They are well, except Kitty, who appears to be in good Spirits notwithstanding her Bark. Mr. Yeates returned home two Days after you left us, & joins the rest of the Family in Love to you.
I am Dear Sir,
Your affectionate hble Servt.
J. Yeates
Genl. Slane.