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Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 4
Contents:
U.S. History
From Edmund Randolph.
Richmond, 6 December, 1789.
DEAR SIR,
When I had the honor of writing to you last, the amendments had, I believe, been under consideration in a Committee of the Whole, and ten were adopted, and the two last rejected. Upon the report being made to the House, and without a debate of any consequence, the whole twelve were ratified. They are now with the Senate, who were yesterday employed about them. That body will attempt to postpone them; for a majority is unfriendly to the Government. But an effort will be made against this destructive measure.
In the House of Delegates, it was yesterday moved to declare the remainder of the amendments, proposed by our Convention, essential to the rights and liberties of the people. An amendment was offered, saying that, in pursuance of the will of the people, as expressed by our Convention, the General Assembly ought to urge Congress to a reconsideration of them. The amendment was carried by the Speaker giving a casting vote. This shows the strength of the parties; and that, in the House of Delegates, the antifederal force has diminished much since the last year. A representation is to be prepared, and the inclosed speaks the temper which we wish to exhibit in it. Whether we shall succeed in our attempt to carry such a remonstrance through, is with me very doubtful. It will be pushed, because it seems to discountenance any future importunities for amendments, which, in my opinion, is now a very important point. I should have been sanguine in my belief of carrying the representation through, in its present form, if the friends would have joined the enemies of the Constitution, in suspending the ratification of the eleventh amendment, which is exceptionable to me, in giving a handle to say, that Congress have endeavoured to administer an opiate, by an alteration, which is merely plausible.
The twelfth amendment does not appear to me to have any real effect, unless it be to excite a dispute between the United States and every particular State, as to what is delegated. It accords pretty nearly with what our Convention proposed; but, being once adopted, it may produce new matter for the cavils of the designing. I am, dear Sir, your
Obliged and affectionate friend and servant,
EDMUND RANDOLPH.
P. S. I shall do myself the honor of replying to your official letter, as soon as the Assembly rises.
Contents:
Chicago:
Edmund Randolph, "From Edmund Randolph.," Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 4 in Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, ed. Jared Sparks (Freeport, NY: Books for Libraries Press, 1853), 297–299. Original Sources, accessed July 12, 2025, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=LHFV6KXXG5JWS7U.
MLA:
Randolph, Edmund. "From Edmund Randolph." Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 4, in Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, edited by Jared Sparks, Vol. 4, Freeport, NY, Books for Libraries Press, 1853, pp. 297–299. Original Sources. 12 Jul. 2025. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=LHFV6KXXG5JWS7U.
Harvard:
Randolph, E, 'From Edmund Randolph.' in Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Vol. 4. cited in 1853, Correspondence of the American Revolution: Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, ed. , Books for Libraries Press, Freeport, NY, pp.297–299. Original Sources, retrieved 12 July 2025, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=LHFV6KXXG5JWS7U.
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