not be
permitted. The King of Poland is removable every day by the diet. But
they never remove him. Nor would Russia, the Emperor, etc., permit them
to do it. Smaller objections are, the appeals on matters of fact as
well as laws; and the binding all persons, legislative, executive, and
judiciary by oath, to maintain that constitution. I do not pretend to
decide, what would be the best method of procuring the establishment of
the manifold good things in this constitution, and of getting rid of
the bad. Whether by adopting it, in hopes of future amendment; or after
it shall have been duly weighed and canvassed by the people, after
seeing the parts they generally dislike, and those they generally
approve, to say to them, "We see now what you wish. You are willing to
give to your federal government such and such powers; but you wish, at
the same time, to have such and such fundamental rights secured to you,
and certain sources of convulsion taken away. Be it so. Send together
deputies again. Let them establish your fundamental rights by a
sacrosanct declaration, and let them pass the parts of the Constitution
you have approved. These will give powers to your federal government
sufficient for your happiness."

This is what might be said, and would probably produce a speedy, more
perfect and more permanent form of government. At all events, I hope
you will not be discouraged from making other trials, if the present
one should fail. We are never permitted to despair of the commonwealth.
I have thus told you freely what I like, and what I dislike, merely as
a matter of curiosity; for I know it is not in my power to offer matter
of information to your judgment, which has been formed after hearing
and weighing everything which the wisdom of man could offer on these
subjects. I own, I am not a friend to a very energetic government. It
is always oppressive. It places the governors indeed more at their
ease, at the expense of the people. The late rebellion in Massachusetts
has given more alarm, than I think it should have done. Calculate that
one rebellion in thirteen States in the course of eleven years, is but
one for each State in a century and a half. No country should be so
long without one. Nor will any degree of power in the hands of
government, prevent insurrections. In England, where the hand of power
is heavier than with us, there are seldom half a dozen years without an
insurrection. In France, where it is still heavier