Mercy Otis Warren on the Signing of the Constitution, 1787
Mercy O. Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History)
Warren wrote this letter to Catharine Macaulay three days after the US Constitution was adopted in Philadelphia. Regardless of individual reactions to it, she notes, everyone seemed conscious of its importance.
A Letter from Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787
Milton Septr 28 1787
I have my dear Madam postponed writing by several opportunities as I wished for the pleasure of transmitting to you the result of the Grand Convention of the United States. everything has for some time hung suspended in their determinations. I now forward them to you without any comment thereon. just because I do not think myself qualified to make any: and in the next place it might not be thought altogether prudent. It is now only three days since the publication of the recommendations of this respectable body has appeared in our papers. almost every one whom I have yet seen reads with attention holds the page with solemnity & silently wraps up his opinion within his own breast, as if afraid of interrupting that calm expectation that has pervaded all ranks for several months past. Our situation is truly delicate & critical. on the one hand we stand in need of a strong Federal Government founded on principles that will support the prosperity & union of the colonies. on the other we have struggled for liberty & made lofty sacrifices at her shrine: and there are still many among us who revere her name too much to relinquish (beyond a certain medium) the rights of man for the Dignity of Government. I should be happy to hear the observations of a Lady (who has made politics & Government so much the subject of her contemplations) on this new and complicated system; which I suppose will set in motion both the pens & the tongues of the political world. Happy indeed will this country be if a tranquil energetic Government can be adopted before the sword is drawn to give it a despotic master. The rumours of war assail our ears from the European shores. if the flames should really kindle there, I hope they will not spread beyond the ocean, unless internal feud, should rise to such a height as to lead the benevolent heart to wish for some foreign object to divert the General attention, & again convince this continent that we stand or fall together. But I turn from the field of war & the theater of political speculation too wide & extensive for the compass of a letter to a friend for whose health & happiness I am solicitous: & of whose employment I am curious to know. I think her active mind must be engaged on something of importance: which while it wears away life in pleasing pursuits, will furnish entertainment to her friends & improvement to mankind. I wish my dear madam I could give you a pleasing account of all those you kindly inquire after in the circle of my friends. but alas, my amiable Mrs. Russel has for several months been parrying the shafts of Death. while the slow & fatal Hectic is making sure & certain work by its consumptive fire. She was I think justly among [4] the first of your favorites on this side of the water. and if I recollect you were acquainted with her parents who are now trembling for the fate of both their blooming Daughters, attacked by the same disorder & by her phititians presumed in the last stages of this complaint. that baffles the art of man & cuts off the most promising enjoyment. You do not mention Miss Macaulay in either of your letters. have you not made us acquainted. I certainly feel interested in her happiness. & have figured to myself to accomplish a young lady in your daughter that I shall always be attentive to any important changes in her life & while you make her my best regards. yourself and Mr. Graham will accept the kind remembrance of Mr. Warren & his family in addition to those of your Affectionate friend & Humble Servt. M Warren
Source: Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01800.03.
A Letter from Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787
Milton Septr 28 1787
I have my dear Madam postponed writing by several opportunities as I wished for the pleasure of transmitting to you the result of the Grand Convention of the United States . . .
It is now only three days since the publication of the recommendations of this respectable body has appeared in our papers. almost every one whom I have yet seen reads with attention holds the page with solemnity & silently wraps up his opinion within his own breast, as if afraid of interrupting that calm expectation that has pervaded all ranks for several months past.
Our situation is truly delicate & critical. on the one hand we stand in need of a strong Federal Government founded on principles that will support the prosperity & union of the colonies. on the other we have struggled for liberty & made lofty sacrifices at her shrine: and there are still many among us who revere her name too much to relinquish (beyond a certain medium) the rights of man for the Dignity of Government. . . .
Happy indeed will this country be if a tranquil energetic Government can be adopted before the sword is drawn to give it a despotic master. The rumours of war assail our ears from the European shores. if the flames should really kindle there, I hope they will not spread beyond the ocean, unless internal feud, should rise to such a height as to lead the benevolent heart to wish for some foreign object to divert the General attention, & again convince this continent that we stand or fall together. . . .
Affectionate friend
& Humble Servt.
M Warren
Source: Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01800.03.
shrine – a holy place
despotic – using power in a cruel way
A Letter from Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787
Milton Septr 28 1787
I have my dear Madam postponed writing by several opportunities as I wished for the pleasure of transmitting to you the result of the Grand Convention of the United States. . . .
Our situation is truly delicate & critical. on the one hand we stand in need of a strong Federal Government founded on principles that will support the prosperity & union of the colonies. on the other we have struggled for liberty & made lofty sacrifices at her shrine. . . .
Happy indeed will this country be if a tranquil energetic Government can be adopted before the sword is drawn to give it a despotic master.
Affectionate friend
& Humble Servt.
M Warren
Source: Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01800.03.
shrine - a holy place
despotic - using power in a cruel way
Background
Warren wrote this letter to Catharine Macaulay three days after the US Constitution was adopted in Philadelphia. Regardless of individual reactions to it, she notes, everyone seemed conscious of its importance.
Transcript
A Letter from Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787
Milton Septr 28 1787
I have my dear Madam postponed writing by several opportunities as I wished for the pleasure of transmitting to you the result of the Grand Convention of the United States. everything has for some time hung suspended in their determinations. I now forward them to you without any comment thereon. just because I do not think myself qualified to make any: and in the next place it might not be thought altogether prudent. It is now only three days since the publication of the recommendations of this respectable body has appeared in our papers. almost every one whom I have yet seen reads with attention holds the page with solemnity & silently wraps up his opinion within his own breast, as if afraid of interrupting that calm expectation that has pervaded all ranks for several months past. Our situation is truly delicate & critical. on the one hand we stand in need of a strong Federal Government founded on principles that will support the prosperity & union of the colonies. on the other we have struggled for liberty & made lofty sacrifices at her shrine: and there are still many among us who revere her name too much to relinquish (beyond a certain medium) the rights of man for the Dignity of Government. I should be happy to hear the observations of a Lady (who has made politics & Government so much the subject of her contemplations) on this new and complicated system; which I suppose will set in motion both the pens & the tongues of the political world. Happy indeed will this country be if a tranquil energetic Government can be adopted before the sword is drawn to give it a despotic master. The rumours of war assail our ears from the European shores. if the flames should really kindle there, I hope they will not spread beyond the ocean, unless internal feud, should rise to such a height as to lead the benevolent heart to wish for some foreign object to divert the General attention, & again convince this continent that we stand or fall together. But I turn from the field of war & the theater of political speculation too wide & extensive for the compass of a letter to a friend for whose health & happiness I am solicitous: & of whose employment I am curious to know. I think her active mind must be engaged on something of importance: which while it wears away life in pleasing pursuits, will furnish entertainment to her friends & improvement to mankind. I wish my dear madam I could give you a pleasing account of all those you kindly inquire after in the circle of my friends. but alas, my amiable Mrs. Russel has for several months been parrying the shafts of Death. while the slow & fatal Hectic is making sure & certain work by its consumptive fire. She was I think justly among [4] the first of your favorites on this side of the water. and if I recollect you were acquainted with her parents who are now trembling for the fate of both their blooming Daughters, attacked by the same disorder & by her phititians presumed in the last stages of this complaint. that baffles the art of man & cuts off the most promising enjoyment. You do not mention Miss Macaulay in either of your letters. have you not made us acquainted. I certainly feel interested in her happiness. & have figured to myself to accomplish a young lady in your daughter that I shall always be attentive to any important changes in her life & while you make her my best regards. yourself and Mr. Graham will accept the kind remembrance of Mr. Warren & his family in addition to those of your Affectionate friend & Humble Servt. M Warren
Source: Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01800.03.
Excerpt
A Letter from Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787
Milton Septr 28 1787
I have my dear Madam postponed writing by several opportunities as I wished for the pleasure of transmitting to you the result of the Grand Convention of the United States . . .
It is now only three days since the publication of the recommendations of this respectable body has appeared in our papers. almost every one whom I have yet seen reads with attention holds the page with solemnity & silently wraps up his opinion within his own breast, as if afraid of interrupting that calm expectation that has pervaded all ranks for several months past.
Our situation is truly delicate & critical. on the one hand we stand in need of a strong Federal Government founded on principles that will support the prosperity & union of the colonies. on the other we have struggled for liberty & made lofty sacrifices at her shrine: and there are still many among us who revere her name too much to relinquish (beyond a certain medium) the rights of man for the Dignity of Government. . . .
Happy indeed will this country be if a tranquil energetic Government can be adopted before the sword is drawn to give it a despotic master. The rumours of war assail our ears from the European shores. if the flames should really kindle there, I hope they will not spread beyond the ocean, unless internal feud, should rise to such a height as to lead the benevolent heart to wish for some foreign object to divert the General attention, & again convince this continent that we stand or fall together. . . .
Affectionate friend
& Humble Servt.
M Warren
Source: Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01800.03.
shrine – a holy place
despotic – using power in a cruel way
Excerpt 100
A Letter from Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787
Milton Septr 28 1787
I have my dear Madam postponed writing by several opportunities as I wished for the pleasure of transmitting to you the result of the Grand Convention of the United States. . . .
Our situation is truly delicate & critical. on the one hand we stand in need of a strong Federal Government founded on principles that will support the prosperity & union of the colonies. on the other we have struggled for liberty & made lofty sacrifices at her shrine. . . .
Happy indeed will this country be if a tranquil energetic Government can be adopted before the sword is drawn to give it a despotic master.
Affectionate friend
& Humble Servt.
M Warren
Source: Mercy Otis Warren to Catharine Macaulay, September 28, 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC01800.03.
shrine - a holy place
despotic - using power in a cruel way
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