Title
[Document, 1787 January 07]
Library Location
Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University
Name
Jay, John, 1745-1829 (Author)
Washington, George, 1732-1799 (Addressee)
Format
correspondence
Digital Project
Papers of John Jay
Date
January 07, 1787
Language
English
Physical Description
4 pages
Subjects
United States--History--1783-1865; Jay, John, 1745-1829
Summary
He does not believe that any greater degree of power in Congress will alter the situation of the United States Rather some change in the form of government must be made. A King would be the last resort, but a governor-general more suitable. Perhaps the governor-general should have a council of the great judicial officers to exercise a vote over Congressional acts. Divide Congress into an upper and lower House, the former to serve for life, the latter annually. Let the states retain only so much power which they need for domestic purposes. Convention promises to be poorest way to set up new government. Let it be done by State conventions, or by declaration of the present Congress that the current form of government is ineffectual, and a referral of the matter to the people. The change must emanate from the source of sovereignty- the People.
Identifier
columbia.jay.08424