culars, its object and
its tendency.

Its object was self interest built on the ruins of the country, and its
tendency is the disgrace of its authors and the final prosperity of the
same country they meant to depress. Whether the constitution will be
adopted at the first trial in the conventions of nine states is at present
doubtful. It is certain, however, that its enemies have great difficulties
to encounter arising from their disunion: in the different states where
the opposition rages the most, their principles are totally opposite to
each other, and their objections discordant and irreconcilable, so that no
regular system can be formed among you, and you will betray each other's
motives.

In Massachusetts the opposition began with you, and from motives most
pitifully selfish and despicable, you addressed yourself to the feelings
of the Shays faction, and that faction will be your only support. In New
York the opposition is not to this constitution in particular, but to the
federal impost, it is confined wholly to salary-men and their connections,
men whose salary is paid by the state impost. This class of citizens are
endeavoring to convince the ignorant part of the community that an annual
income of fifty thousand pounds, extorted from the citizens of
Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, is a great blessing to the
state of New York. And although the regulation of trade and other
advantages of a federal government would secure more than five times that
sum to the people of that state, yet, as this would not come through the
same hands, these men find fault with the constitution. In Pennsylvania
the old quarrel respecting their state constitution has thrown the state
into parties for a number of years. One of these parties happened to
declare for the new federal constitution, and this was a sufficient motive
for the other to oppose it; the dispute there is not upon the merits of
the subject, but it is their old warfare carried on with different
weapons, and it was an even chance that the parties had taken different
sides from what they have taken, for there is no doubt but either party
would sacrifice the whole country to the destruction of their enemies. In
Virginia the opposition wholly originated in two principles; the madness
of Mason, and the enemity of the Lee faction to General Washington. Had
the General not attended the convention nor given his sentiments
respecting the constitution, the Lee party wo