Note 898 — Chapter VIII

"They will rise and for lack of argument, say, Mṛ Speaker, this measure will never do, the People Sir, will never bear it.... These small Politicians, returned home, ... tell their Constituents such & such measures are taking place altho' I did my utmost to prevent it—The People must take care of themselves or they are undone. Stir up a County Convention and by Trumpeting lies from Town to Town get one [a convention] collected and Consisting of Persons of small Abilities—of little or no property—embarrass'd in their Circumstances—and of no great Integrity—and these Geniouses vainly conceiving they are competent to regulate the affairs of State—make some hasty incoherent Resolves, and these end in Sedition, Riot, & Rebellion." (Sewell to Thatcher, Dec., 1787; Hist. Mag. (2d Series), vi, 257.)