Joseph Jones to James Madison (June 24, 1789)

I thank you for the copy of the amendments proposed to the constitution which you lately inclosed to me—they are calculated to secure the personal rights of the people so far as declarations on paper can effect the purpose, leaving unimpaired the great Powers of the government—they are of such a nature as to be generally acceptable and of course more likely to obtain the assent of Congress than wo'd any proposition tending to separate the powers or lessen them in either branch.1 The Part that speaks of facts triable by Jury not otherwise reexaminable than may consist with the principles of the common law means I suppose that the Court of app{ea}ls. shall not re-examine the facts but by a Jury, or what is the true meaning?2