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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.04105 |
| From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0087] January-February 1789 |
| Title | Lafayette to Henry Knox about the Constitution, George Washington as potential President, European politics and French politics |
| Date | 4 February 1788 |
| Author | Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834) |
| Recipient | Knox, Henry |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Lafayette anxiously awaits ratification results of the U.S. Constitution, discusses debates between himself, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson and "Common Sense" [Thomas Paine] regarding the need for Constitutional amendments, and stresses the importance of "the General's" [George Washington's] acceptance of the presidency. He begins by updating Knox on European affairs, saying that they are "too much Entangled together for me to give you an Exact description." He mentions that the Ottoman Empire, with the assistance of Great Britain, is attacking both the Russians and Austrians, and that Britain fears an alliance of "the Imperial Court, france and Spain…." France wants peace because of "Her deranged finances" and "the spirit of popular Opposition." Lafayette adds that it will be hard to back away from war after what occurred in Holland "Because perfidy in other Nations is not a sufficient apology, and those who cheat in politics Have a Right to laugh at those who Have been cheated untill they are able to take a Revenge…." He also discusses an edict giving a civil estate to non-Catholic subjects. Regarding the U.S. Constitution, he writes that it "is an admirable work, altho' I take the liberty to wish for some Amendments - but the point is to have it first adopted by nine States - and then you may get the dissenters by means of some improvements which Mr Jefferson, Common Sense, and myself are debating in a Convention of our own as Earnestly as if we were to decide upon it." He has no doubt that Washington will be selected as the first president, and stresses that he must accept "as it is the best way to Carry to perfection a Work Nearer to it than Any of the Kind that Ever was framed." He closes by asking Knox to show this letter to "our friend [Alexander] Hamilton" and asks after the family of the late General Nathanael Greene. |
| Subjects | France US Constitution French Revolution Religion Revolutionary War General Ratification Government and Civics Federalists Global History and Civics Politics President Literature and Language Arts US Constitutional Amendment Bill of Rights Election Military History Finance Peace Catholicism Religion Civil Rights |
| People | Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834) |
| Place written | Paris, France |
| Theme | Creating a New Government; Government & Politics; The Presidency; Foreign Affairs; Religion |
| Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Transcript | Show/hide Download PDF |