Richard Henry Lee to Charles Lee (August 28, 1789)

The enclosed paper will shew you the amendments passeed the H. of R. to the Constitution—They are short of some essentials, as Election interference & Standing Army &c. I was surpised to find in the Senate that it was proposed we should prospone the consideration of Amendments until Experience had shewn the necessity of any—As if experience was more necessary to prove the propriety of those great principles of Civil Liberty which the wisdom of Ages has found to be necessary barriers against the encroachments of power in the hands of frail Men!1 My Colleague was sick & absent. The laboring oar was with me. A Majority of 2 thirds however agreed to take the Amendments under consideration next Monday—I hope that if we cannot gain the whole loaf, we shall at least have some bread.