The New Hampshire Gazette

MORE ABOUT THOMAS PAINE.

"Thomas Paine, in his letter to General Washington, says, "It was only to the absolute necessity of establishing some Federal authority, extending equally over all the states, that an instrument so inconsistent as the present Federal constitution is, obtained a suffrage." P. 4. "As to the point of consolidating the states into a Federal government, it so happens, that the proposition for that purpose came originally from myself. I proposed it in a letter to Chancellor Livingston in the Spring of the year 1782." p.5.

"I have always been opposed to the mode of refining government up to an individual, or what is called a single executive." Note, p. 5. "The federal constitution is a copy, not quite so base as the original, of the form of the British government." P. 7. "I declare myself opposed to several matters in the constitution, particularly to the manner in which, what is called the executive. is formed, and to the long duration of the Senate. and if I live to return to America, I will use all my endeavors to have them altered."p. 4. 5.

From the above extracts we learn clearly Thomas Paine's opinion of the present Constitution of the United States. It is inconsistent, a copy of the British government, but not quite so base. Thomas wishes for consolidation; for a plurality in the executive: there are several matters to which he cannot be reconciled, and if he lives to come over he will try to have them altered. But how is that, Thomas has lately sent a complimentary epistle to Mr. Jefferson "on the triumph of republicanism in the United States?" Is not the constitution to remain the same? Or is it now to be altered? If it remain the same, and almost as base as the British government, how in the name of the world, does "republicanism triumph?" These questions force themselves upon the mind, and it naturally looks out for some solution.