Selections and Excerpts from the Lee Papers, Part III [pp. 428-439]

Selections and Excerpts from the Lee Papers.
a thousand little difficulties that prevent
us from selling.
I found the Convention at Philadelphia
very busy and very secret; it would seem
however, from a variety of circumstances
that we shall hear of a Government not
unlike the British Constitution. That is,
an Executive with two Branches composing a federal Legislature and possessing
adequate tone. This departure from simple democracy seems indispensably necessary, if any government at all is to exist
in North America. Indeed the minds of
men have been so hurt by the injustice,
folly and wickedness of the State legislatures and State Executives, that people
in general seem ready for any thing. I
hope however, that this tendency to extremes will be so controlled as to secure
fully and completely the democratic influence acting within just bounds. The
Land speculators continue to urge the
open Mississippi immediately, against
every principle of policy, common good
and common sense-upon this I shall
write you more fully hereafter. The bills
of R. Morris have been refused in France,
to a very considerable amount, it is said.
Time must discover how this will work,
and what it will produce. The discoveries of fraud amongst the great officers of
State in France proves that private embezzlementof public money is not confined
to America. There seems to be much
convulsion in France on this occasion at
N. B.-If you had not learnt every
body as well as you have, I would say,
are you not astonished to be informed
that the marked Resolutions in the Daily
Advertiser of the 18th instant should be
so opposed as probably to frustrate them,
although it is certain a parcel of scoundrel speculators, went directly after the
appropriation of last September and cheated the soldiers out of 2700 dollars for less
than a penny in the pound. And though
the money is yet in the Public Treasury
and their resolves only calculated to prevent the fraud from being carried into
effect.
P. S.-I do really consider it a thing
of consequence to the public interest that
Col. H. Lee of Stratford should be in our
next Assembly, and therefore I wish you
would exert yourself with the old Squire
to get his resignation, or disqualification
rather, so that his nephew may get early
into the house of Delegates. I know that
it is like persuading a man to sign his
own death warrant, but upon my word
the state of public affairs renders this
sacrifice of place and vanity, necessary.
MY DEAR BROTHER.
By the time this letter reaches Alexandria, I hope you will have returned there
with the satisfaction of having left our
friends in Westmoreland, all in a fair way
of recovery. I am very thankful for
your letter from Stratford, which is
1859.]
437
New Tork, May 19th, 1790.
My DEAR BROTHER.
Since my arrival here I have written to
you twice and have received as many letters from you. I think you mention to
have written one letter that I have not
received, viz. in answer to mine of the
18th. Your letters to Mr. Dorchmer and
Mr. Hammond have been delivered, and
I wish they may have the proposed effect.
But your commissions of gallantry have
not yet been executed and perhaps never
may, at least in the precise way that you
mention. Having been brought nearly
to my grave by a severe illness, I feel very
little disposed to Gallantry.
I do most perfectly agree with you that
men (not Government) are wanted. I
have long thought so, but now I know it.
This goes by a young gentleman, and you
know how careless now-a-days, such are.
So that for politics I must refer you to
the enclosed papers. I hope to hear from
you frequently, and I will endeavor to be
equally comniunicative. Your affectionate Bro.
present.
My love, if you please, to Mrs. Lee,
and when you have an opportunity let me
know that you are all well.
Farewell.
New York, June 10th, 1790.