and for several years their hopes of a reunion with
Britain have been high. They rightly judge that nothing will so soon
effect their wishes as the deranged state we are now in, if it should
continue. They see that the merchant is weary of a government which cannot
protect his property, and that the farmer finding no benefit from the
revolution, begins to dread much evil; and they hope the people will soon
supplicate the protection of their old masters. We may therefore expect
that all the policy of these men will center in defeating those measures
which will protect the people, and give system and force to American
councils. I was lately in a circle where the new constitution was
discussed. All but one man approved. He was full of trembling for the
liberties of poor America. It was strange! It was wondorous strange to see
his concern! After several of his arguments had been refuted by an
ingenious farmer in the company, but, says he, it is against the treaty of
peace, we received independence from Great Britain on condition of our
keeping the old constitution. Here the man came out! We had beat the
British with a bad frame of government, and with a good one he feared we
should eat them up. Debtors in desperate circumstances, who have not
resolution to be either honest or industrious, will be the next men to
take the alarm. They have long been upheld by the property of their
creditors and the mercy of the public, and daily destroy a thousand honest
men who are unsuspicious. Paper money and tender acts, is the only
atmosphere in which they can breathe, and live. This is now so generally
known that by being a friend to such measures a man effectually advertises
himself as a bankrupt. The opposition of these we expect, but for the sake
of all honest and industrious debtors, we most earnestly wish the proposed
constitution may pass, for whatever gives a new spring to business will
extricate them from their difficulties.

There is another kind of people will be found in the opposition. Men of
much self importance and supposed skill in politics, who are not of
sufficient consequence to obtain public employment, but can spread
jealousies in the little districts of country where they are placed. These
are always jealous of men in place and of public measures, and aim at
making themselves consequential by distrusting every one in the higher
offices of society.

It is a strange madness of some persons, immediately to distrust th