Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Stephen Higginson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03468 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 February 1787 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 32.7 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy
Thanks Higginson for his observations on the current state of the government. Says Higginson's views are "perfectly just and well founded" and that Higginson has "a greater degree of attention, and thought on the subject, than most other gentlemen..." Shares his thoughts about the state of affairs, noting "the whole must be taken to peices [sic], and a new one erected on the bases of publick Liberty and public happiness..." Notes Congress has acceded to the idea of a Convention. Discusses the benefits the Convention would bring if the states were to agree to it. States he hopes that Higginson is able to attend along with Mr. [Rufus] King and General [Benjamin] Lincoln. Discusses the rebellion (Shays' Rebellion) that took place in Massachusetts and the effects it has had on the government and other states.
Henry Knox is likely referring to the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia from May to September of 1787. The Convention ultimately led to the rewriting of the Constitution.
[draft]
New York 25th February 1787.
Dear Sir
Permit me to render you my sincere acknowledgments for your esteemed favors of the 8th and 13th instant. Your observations and reflections, on the nature and present state of government throughout the union, are perfectly just and well founded, and evince that you have bestowed a greater degree of attention, and thought on the subject, than most other gentlemen with whom I have communicated. We have [strikeout] arrived at that point in politics, beyond which the force of our present institution, cannot urge us. Nor [inserted: indeed] can we rest where we are. Borne on the current of events, [inserted: we are passively driven] [struck: we [inserted: [strikeout] must either advance or recede, according as it ebbs or flows, and either may dome us to destruction] to our destruction. We know the right and yet the wrong purpose. The [multiplied] parts of the machine are liable to be [deformed] by the least accident. Nay so [illy] disproportioned are the parts that disorder is inevitable - the whole must be taken to peices, [sic] and a new one erected on the basis of public liberty and public happiness - [strikeout] less complex [2] and more [inserted: efficient &] durable.
You will have learnt by the last Thursday post that Congress have acceded to the idea of a convention - But [inserted: you] will also see, that the report [inserted: of the convention] is to be submited [sic] to Congress and the respective states. This is all that [struck: could be effected by] Congress [inserted: conceived itself authorized to do]. But it it is next to an impossibility that all the states should agree to an efficient government. The convention however will be attended with good effects. It will approximate the public mind [to a] general government, and the more the subject shall be discussed the sooner it will be accomplished - and were it possible to carry your mode of approbation into effect, the road to a good government would be much shorter than it would appear to be.
I hope you [strikeout] may find it convenient, to attend and that you will be chosen, and also our friend [inserted: Mr King &] Genl Lincoln [struck: Mr King] and those [inserted: other] gentlemen whom you [strikeout] [illegible] [3]
The energy of Massachusetts places [us] in an honorable point of view - The strongest arguments possible may be drawn from the events which have happen in that state, in order to effect a strong general government - [struck: But you know from our venture] [inserted: But the rebellion] [struck: it] has not had, and probably will not have the effect, that one would ration[ally] suppose - Although all the states, possess the seeds of disolution, [struck: wither and] [inserted: which] are hourly [strikeout] [stronger], [up] and manifesting themselves to an attentive observer, and in some states are nearly [strikeout] ripe, yet such is the the [infatuation] produced from several of causes that those more immediately on the spot Do not appear to observe them, a few men excepted - Pennsylvania [struck: for instance], who by her deadly parties will ever be [imbecille] in the hour of [intensive] danger, will if I am not much mistaken, exhibit, a shoking [illegible] of [struck: my] [inserted: this] opinion. But [struck: all parts] [inserted: many people] speak of the [struck: affairs] [inserted: disorders] of Massachusetts as produced by a [struck: perhaps] a well meaning [inserted: perhaps] but mistaken policy in the [manage] of her internal affairs - In short being men, they speak [struck: of events] the events what have happened in Massachusetts [4] as they speak of other events which have happened with out the circle of their immutable cognizance - In many instances they speak as erroneously [inserted: of the causes] of [things] which have [happened only] two [inserted: or three] hundred [miles] from them as the Britons used to do of us during the late war. This aptness in the minds of the different states to impute the rebellion [struck: of local cau] Massachusetts to local causes will prevent those measures [inserted: necessary to the establishment of a force] [but won't] controul events. Although I am very far from despairing yet I am pretty much intent to think that if an efficient government shall be esta[blished] in any reasonable time, that it will rather be the effect of accident than disign [sic].
You may rest assured that your communications to me shall be confidentially retained and shall expect the same from you.
I am my dear sir
with great esteem & respect
Your very humble Sert
HKnox
Stephen Higginson Esq
[docket]
Draft of a letter, to Stephen
Higginson Esqr. 26 Feby 1787
Subject the proposed
convention at [strikeout] [inserted: Philadelphia]
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