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the mean time, I think you may comfort yourself and companions with the certainty of receiving it ere long. I am, Sir, your most humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
[The following were answers by Mr. Jefferson, to questions addressed to him by Monsieur de Meusnier, author of that part of the Encyclopedic Methodique, entitled Economic politique et diplomatique.]
1. What has led Congress to determine, that the concurrence of seven votes is requisite in questions, which, by the Confedera tion, are submitted to the decision of a majority of the United States, in Congress assembled?
The ninth article of Confederation, section six, evidently es tablishes three orders of questions in Congress. 1. The greater ones, which relate to making peace or war, alliances, coinage, requisitions for money, raising military force, or appointing its commander in chief. 2. The lesser ones, which comprehend all other matters submitted by the Confederation to the federal head. 3. The single question of adjourning from day to day. This gradation of questions is distinctly characterised by the ar ticle.
In proportion to the magnitude of these questions, a greater concurrence of the voices composing the Union, was thought ne cessary. Three degrees of concurrence, well distinguished by substantial circumstances, offered themselves to notice. 1. A concurrence of a majority of the people of the Union. It was thought that this would be insured, by requiring the voices of nine States; because, according to the loose estimates which had then been made of the inhabitants, and the proportion of them which were free, it was believed, that even the nine smallest would in clude a majority of the free citizens of the Union. The voices, therefore, of nine States were required in the greater questions. 2. A concurrence of the majority of the States. Seven constitute that majority. This number, therefore, was required in the lesser questions. 3. A concurrence of the majority of Congress, that is to say, of the States actually present in it. As there is no Con gress, when there are not seven States present, this concurrence could never be of less than four States. But these might happen to be the four smallest, which would not include one ninth part of the free citizens of the Union. This kind of majority, therefore, was entrusted with nothing but the power of adjourning them selves from day to day.
