The final
passage and adoption of the constitution completely defeated the
views of the combination, and saved us from an attempt to establish a
government over us by force. This fact throws a blaze of light on the
conduct of several members from New York and the eastern States in the
convention of Annapolis, and the grand convention. At that of Annapolis,
several eastern members most vehemently opposed Madison's proposition
for a more general convention, with more general powers. They wished
things to get more and more into confusion, to justify the violent
measure they proposed. The idea of establishing a government by
reasoning and agreement, they publicly ridiculed as an Utopian project,
visionary and unexampled.
February the 6th, 1798. Mr. Baldwin tells me, that in a conversation
yesterday with Goodhue, on the state of our affairs, Goodhue said, 'I'll
tell you what, I have made up my mind on this subject; I would rather
the old ship should go down than not'; (meaning the Union of the
States.) Mr. Hillhouse coming up, 'Well,' says Mr. Baldwin, 'I'll tell
my old friend Hillhouse what you say '; and he told him. 'Well,' says
Goodhue, 'I repeat, that I would rather the old ship should go down,
if we are to be always kept pumping so.' 'Mr. Hillhouse,' says Baldwin,
'you remember when we were learning logic together at school, there was
the case categorical and the case hypothetical.
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