meetings were solely to aggrandize himself.

THE LETTERS OF A LANDHOLDER, WRITTEN BY OLIVER ELLSWORTH.

Printed In
The Connecticut Courant
And
The American Mercury,
November, 1787-March, 1788.

Note.

The letters of a Landholder were so obviously written by a a member of the
federal convention, that their authorship could not long remain a secret.
They were published simultaneously in the _Connecticut Courant_ at
Hartford and the _American Mercury_ at Litchfield, and this so clearly
indicated Oliver Ellsworth as the writer that they were at once credited
to his pen.

The letters had a very wide circulation, numbers being reprinted as far
north as New Hampshire, and as far south as Maryland. They called out
several replies, three of which, by Gerry, Williams and Martin, are
printed in this collection.

A Landholder, I.

The Connecticut Courant, (Number 1189)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1787.

TO THE HOLDERS AND TILLERS OF LAND.

The writer of the following passed the first part of his life in
mercantile employments, and by industry and economy acquired a sufficient
sum on retiring from trade to purchase and stock a decent plantation, on
which he now lives in the state of a farmer. By his present employment he
is interested in the prosperity of agriculture, and those who derive a
support from cultivating the earth. An acquaintance with business has
freed him from many prejudices and jealousies, which he sees in his
neighbors, who have not intermingled with mankind, nor learned by
experience the method of managing an extensive circulating property.
Conscious of an honest intention he wishes to address his brethren on some
political subjects which now engage the public attention, and will in the
sequel greatly influence the value of landed property. The new
constitution for the United States is now before the public, the people
are to determine, and the people at large generally determine right, when
they have had means of information.

It proves the honesty and patriotism of the gentlemen who composed the
general Convention, that they chose to submit their system to the people
rather than the legislatures, whose decisions are often influenced by men
in the higher departments of government, who have provided well for
themselves and dread any change least they should be injured by its
operation. I would not wish to exclude from a State Convention those
gentlemen who compose the higher bran