Copy of a Letter from Poughkeepsie, dated Friday, July 25, 1788.
"... The question was brought on this morning. M. Smith made a short speech, declaring his object in originally bringing forward the proposition. He hoped it would unite both sides; but as he found it would not, and that there was no alternative between adopting and rejecting the Constitution, he should vote against the proposition. It was carried against it by a majority of 3. Thank God we have now got the Constitution; I congratulate you.
"I will give you the Yeas and Nays and you may rely on the accuracy of it.
YEAS. 6 from Ulster County. 3 Columbia 6 Montgomery Wesner ? Wood ? Orange Herring ? Swartwout Dutchess Yates ? Lansing ? Ten-Eyck ? Albany Thompson ? Carman Queens Tredwell Suffolk Williams ? Baker ? Washington Parker ? _________ Total 28. NAYS. 19 Old Fœderalists. Havens ? J. Smith ? Suffolk County. Scudder ? Jones ? Schenck ? Queens Lawrence ? Platt ? M. Smith ? Dutchess G. Livingston ? Akin ? Woodhul Orange Hopkins Washington _________ Total 31.["]
Extract of another Letter from the same Gentleman wrote Friday afternoon, shortly after he had closed the foregoing.
"The Committee just this moment rose and reported; the President in the chair; the question called, and the House agreed to the report by a majority of five, 30 for it, 25 against it. There were several members out of doors, but they were all for us. Let us mingle an ejaculation to Heaven for our success. All they have to do, is to engross the Ratification."
Extract of another Letter from a Member of the Convention at Poughkeepsie, to his Correspondent in Staten-Island, dated half past three o'clock Friday afternoon.
"The Convention has this minute adjourned to meet again at 5 o'clock, and, in the intermediate space have but just time to communicate to you our success. The Constitution has, comparatively speaking, undergone an ordeal [by] torture, and been preserved, as by fire. We have this day completed an unconditional Adoption of it—Yeas 30, Nays 25. Let all around you, and particularly Mr. B—, partake of this information, that they may likewise partake of the general joy, which must animate every lover of his country, and friend to Union, on the tidings of so auspicious an event.
"We are in hopes to be with you by Tuesday next. We will say no more until we meet. May the God of Heaven protect and preserve you all; this is our wish flowing from the purest affection."