I
am exceedingly sorry it is out of my power to hold out to you any flattering expectations on the score of amendments; it appears to me that both houses are almost wholly composed of fœderalists: those who call themselves Antis are so extremely luke warm, as scarcely to deserve the appelation: Some gentlemen here from motives of policy have it in contemplation to effect amendments which shall affect personal liberty alone, leaving the great points of the Jud{iciar}y & direct taxation &c. to stand as they are; their object is in my opinion unquestionably to break the spirit of the party by divisions; after this I presume many of the most sanguine expect to go on coolly, in sapping the independence of the State legislatures:
1 In this system however of divide & impera, they are opposed by a very heavy column, from the little states, who being in possession of rights they had no pretensions to in justice, are afraid of touching subject which may bring into investigation &controversy their fortunate situation: last munday a string of amendments were presented to the lower House; these altogether respected personal liberty; & I would now inclose you a copy did I not know that Parker had done it already: Even these amendments were opposed by Georgia New Hampshire & Connecticut: they were however submitted to a comm{itt}ee. of the whole on the state of the nation, & it is thought will not be taken up again for one while. I understood that the mover was so embarass'd in the course of the business that he was once or twice on the point of withdrawing the motion & it was thought by some that the commitment was more owing to personal respect than a love of the subject introduced. In the Senate I think that prospects are even less favorable although no direct proposition has yet been brought forward; I have suggested to my colleague the propriety of bringing forward the amendments of the state before the Senate, but he thinks it will be best to wait till they come up from the representatives.