Dear Sir:
I have been very much indisposed the greater part of the time since you left the State is the reason I have not before this done myself the Honor of Acknowledging your receipt of the 20th May & 12th of June, which came to hand some weeks past. However, I am now able to be about & hope to get restored to health.
The Convention in my Judgment have done wisely in enjoining secrecy in their Members, was the case otherwise it would give more room to Bablers & Scriblers to exercise their powers than they can be at liberty to take in their present case.
From the hint you threw out in your first letter I am induced to think that the plan of a National Parliament and Supreme Executive with adequate powers to the Government of the Union will be more suitable to our situation & circumstances than any other, but I should wish also an independent Judicial department to decide any contest that may happen between the United States and individual States & between one State and another; this however is only a hint, you may not see the necessity of it as forcible as I do and I presume ’tis now too late to offer any reasons for the establishment, as that matter I flatter myself is before this got over; all I can say respecting the Convention is to recommend a perseverence to the end, to the deputies from this State.
I had, previous to the receipt of your letter, written to the Collectors and spoken to Colo. Read particularly to retain the Monies in their hands directed by the Assembly to be applied to the discharge of the allowances to the deputies, subject to such further drafts as might be made in their favor. Your warrant for £128, two months
allowance in addition to the former four months, I forwarded to Mr. John G. Blount some Time past.