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VII-B. GENERAL COMMENTARIES, 10 DECEMBER 1788
The third Class as I may suppose are a set of Men which are as wise
and knowing as the other above mentioned, but their Friends or Re-
lations as they suppose have been used ill this War between Great Brit-
ain and the States, by the people of the States, therefore have a Spirit
of Envy and Revenge and doing all they can to put a Stop if possible
to the uniting of those States in a friendly Government in hopes thereby
to see a final destruction to fall on them-
The fourth and last Class are a numerous people who mind their
own Business and know but little of State Affairs; but are chiefly led by
the opinion and Arguments of the three other Classes. Therefore I
hope the Gentlemen of the first Class will exert themselves to the ut-
most of their power and Influence to join the Uniting those States into
a Federal Government as is proposed by the Convention-For if that
Constitution dont take place I shall look upon those States to be a
ruined people.-A Striking and Convincing instance known to all the
people of a America-the Indian Tribes when the White people made
War against them a single Tribe would go alone to War and so become
an easy conquest, but had they gained all those Tribes together how
much stronger and Powerful would they have been; perhaps so Strong
that the White people could never have drove them out of their Lands-
As also suppose a Ship lays at an anchor and her Cable being but one
single strand when the Storm of Wind and Rain beats, the great Swell-
ing Waves against her; the single Strand without a doubt will soon Break
asunder and she will be drove off in an unknown Ocean or Drove
against some Sands or Rocks and so be broken to pieces and entirely
lost-But suppose there were twelve or thirteen such Strands or small
Cords and they by a good Ropemaker were well lade and twisted to-
gether it would make it so much stronger that it would hold Secure
the Vessel agst. all Tempests and Storms so that they would be in no
danger altho the Winds Blow and the Rain Beating on her ever so
Violently.-Just so is in Comparison those thirteen States if they remain
single they will be of little Strength and may perhaps be maid an easy
Conquest of from Abroad. But when joined together they will be strong
and powerfull so as to defend themselves against their different Ene-
mies and keep peace and Order at home. As for the Articles or pro-
posals Fixed and Ordered by the Convention I have looked over them
and deliberately considered them and according to myJudgment I think
they are exceedingly well done-But in case of some alteration is need-
full the president of the Congress, the Senate and the Legislatures have
it in their power to make such Alterations as they in their Wisdom shall
think fit-I suppose that General Washington will be chosen President
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