The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-12-28


- II fFroia. tho Cib Sipnat Eaquirerll 81
An Unpublfshed Letter from
General vSashtngtOn--Hnte
ing Political History.
The following letter FROM General
Washington, (for which We sroindebted
70 friend, y has never been published.
II contains some interesting items Of
political history, bearing upon the
adoption of the present Constitution of
the United States 1t was written
shortly after the adjournment Of the
Convention which framed that instru-
nent, and before it was ratified by the
several States. II 10 noticeable from
the fact that General Washington be-
lievod that Patrick Henry would not
teirisndly tothe Constitution, because
ar was An effsctusl bar against the
the emission of paper money" Henry
being paper money man. The Gen
sral did not foreseo how il woRld be
nullifsd and disregsrded in these days
Of grOsnbackS and bondS:
[coPYl
"AoUNT VERNON, Oct 10, 1857.
"AY DEAR SIR: THANK you for your
letter Of the Both ult 1t came by the
last post. l Sm better pleased that the
proceedings of tho Convention are han
dSd from Congress by unanimous
vote feeble ss it is) than if it had ap-
psared under stronger marks Of appro
baton without it. This apparent
uhanimity will have it's effect. Not
every one has opportunities to peep
tehind the curtain, and as tho multi
.udS 76ften Judge from sKternals, the
appearance Of unsnimity in that body,
on this occasion, will be Of great i'm
portance
"The political tenets of Colonel
Mason and Colonel r. H. L.--are
always in unison. 1t may bo asked,
which Of them gives the toner With
ont hesitation, snsNsr the latter, be-
cSnso the latter, l believe will receive
il from no one, Hehas, lam informed,
rendered himself obnoxious in Phila-
delphia by the pains he took to desig.
nate his objections among somo of the
leaders Of the seeding members of the
Legislature Of that State His conduct
10 not less reprobated in this country.
How il will be reliShed generally is
yet TO DO learned by nae. As far as
accounts have bsen received from the
Southern and western counties, the
sentiment with respect to the proceed
ings Of the Convention is favorable;
whether the knowlsdge Of this, or con
victions Of the impropriety of with
holding the Constitution from State
Conventions, has worked most in the
breast of Colonel NJ, l will not decide;
bat the fact is, he has declared une.
quivOcally (in Tletter to me) for its
going to the people; had his sentiments,
however, been opposed to the measure,
instructions, which are given by the
freeholders Of this county to their
Representatives, would have secured
his vote fort, Yet, j have no doubt
but that this assent will be aecompa-
hied by the most tremendous appro-
tensions and highest colorings to his
objections. To alarm the people seems
TO be the groundwork of his plan
The want Of qualitied-Havigation act
isalready declared to be r means by
which the produce Of the Southern
States will be reduced to nothing, and
will become monopoly ofthe North.
ern and Eastern States. To. enumer-
ate all his objections is unnecessary,
because they are detailed in the ad-
dress Of tho seeding members of the
Assembly Of Pennsylvania, which, no
doubt, you have seen. l scarcely
think that any powerful opposition
will be made to the Constitution being
submitted to the people of this State.
lit is given, il will be at that meeting
in which, l hope, you will make it con-
veniant to attend. Explanation will
be wanting None Oan givethem with
more precision and accuracy than
yourself The sentiments ofMr. Hens
ry, with respect to the Constitution