"I CONGRATULATE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE CONSTITUTION" MARSHALL, JOHN. Autograph Letter Signed, "JMarshall," to attorney Archibald Stuart, with a postscript additionally Signed, "JM." The letter, reporting that he will be at Fauquier [County, VA] until the end of the month, requesting that he convey the enclosed [not present], offering congratulations on the progress of the ratification of the Federal Constitution, reporting a weaking of the opposition after the ratification by New York, expressing anxiety that the next assembly might do something foolish, and, in the postscript: "You must let us see you in October; if you do not I shall be able to give you a night. Mr. Madison wrote to me that he wou[l]d . . . pay the money long ago for . . . this judgment . . . ag[ains]t Lock[h]art but he has deceiv[e]d me." 2 pages, square 8vo, with integral address leaf; small hole with minor loss to signature, marked chipping at all edges with loss to few words of text, complete separations at folds inexpertly repaired with tissue on first page. Np, 6 August 1788 ". . . I congratulate on the progress of the constitution. The adoption by New York seems to have given the finishing blow to opposition. The Antis hereabout hang their ears . . . . Yet I am afraid the next [as]sembly will do some foolish thing on the subject. Tis pity that so many of the clever fellows of the former assemblies have deserted this."
On July 26, 1788, the Convention of the State of New York met in Poughkeepsie and voted 30 to 27 in favor of ratifying the Federal Constitution.