Part 22 (1/2)

[346] _Jour Va House Del_ for Nov 25, 1786

[347] For example, Curtis, _Hist Const_ ii 553-554

[348] Rives, _Life of Madison_, i 536-537

[349] Madison, _Letters_, etc i 80

[350] Bancroft, _Hist Const_ i 162

[351] Madison, _Letters_, etc i 264

[352] _Secret Jour Cong_ iv 44-63

[353] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii 122

[354] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii 119-120

[355] _Jour Va House Del_ 66-67

[356] Madison, _Letters_, etc i 264

[357] Rives, _Life of Madison_, ii 238-239

[358] R H Lee, _Life of A Lee_, ii 321

[359] Sparks, _Corr Rev_ iv 168

[360] _Madison Papers_, ii 623

[361] _Madison Papers_, 627

CHAPTER XVIII

THE BATTLE IN VIRGINIA OVER THE NEW CONStitUTION

The great convention at Philadelphia, after a session of four months, came to the end of its noble labors on the 17th of Septeton, who had been not enius, then hastened back to Mt Vernon, and, in his great anxiety to win over to the new Constitution the support of his old friend Patrick Henry, he immediately dispatched to him a copy of that instrument, accompanied by a very impressive and conciliatory letter,[362] to which, about three weeks afterwards, was returned the following reply:--

RICHMOND, October 19, 1787

DEAR SIR,--I was honored by the receipt of your favor, together with a copy of the proposed federal Constitution, a few days ago, for which I beg you to accept my thanks They are also due to you froue necessarily attending the arduous business of the late convention

I have to la my mind to accord with the proposed Constitution The concern I feel on this account is really greater than I am able to express Perhaps e my present senties for who you will be persuaded of the unalterable regard and attached and very humble servant,

P HENRY[363]

Four days before the date of this letter the legislature of Virginia had convened at Richmond for its autumn session, and Patrick Henry had there taken his usual place on the most iht and work of the House Much solicitude was felt concerning the course which he islature to adopt on the supreme question then before the country,--soht try to defeat the new Constitution in Virginia by si the call of a state convention Great was Washi+ngton's satisfaction on receiving from one of his correspondents in the assean, this cheerful report:--