New-York, Sunday evening.
My Dear Sir:
Yours, of yesterday, is this instant come to hand, and I have but a
few minutes to answer it. I am sorry that your situation obliges you
to listen to propositions of the nature you describe. My opinion is,
that a reservation of a right to withdraw, if amendments be not decided
on under the form of the Constitution within a certain time, is a
_conditional_ ratification; that it does not make New-York a member of
the new Union, and consequently that she could not be received on that
plan. Compacts must be reciprocal--this principle would not in such a
case be preserved. The Constitution requires an adoption _in toto_ and
_for ever_. It has been so adopted by the other States. An adoption
for a limited time would be as defective as an adoption of some of the
articles only. In short, any _condition_ whatever must vitiate the
ratification. What the new Congress, by virtue of the power to admit
new States, may be _able_ and disposed to do in such case, I do not
inquire, as I suppose that is not the material point at present. I
have not a moment to add more than my fervent wishes for your success
and happiness. The idea of reserving a right to withdraw was started
at Richmond, and considered as a conditional ratification, which was
itself abandoned as worse than a rejection.
Yours,
James Madison, Jr.