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Convention: A Daily Journal

Center for Civics Education

Convention: A Daily Journal

Convention: A Daily Journal is a day-by-day journal of the 1787 Constitutional Convention convened by twelve of the original thirteen states to amend the Articles of Confederation and create a “more perfect union.” It chronicles the daily activities of the Convention, profiles the delegates and their interactions with each other, and looks back to life in America in the 1780s. Writing in the first person, the story is told from an “observer” hearing events as told in contemporary newspaper accounts and delegates’ personal notes and letters.


Tuesday, July 10, 1787

July 10, 2020 - 4 minute read


Alexander Hamilton & George Washington

Alexander Hamilton left the Convention on June 29. Upon his arrival in New York he sent a letter to George Washington, “seriously and deeply distressed at the aspect of the Councils which prevailed when I left Philadelphia. I fear that we shall let slip the golden opportunity of rescuing the American empire from disunion and misery.” Nevertheless, he was heartened by numerous conversations “in my passage through the Jerseys” by the public sentiment supporting “a well mounted government.”

This evening, Washington responded, lamenting that the “Councils are now, if possible, in a worse train than ever. You will find but little ground on which the hope of a good establishment can be formed. In a word, I almost despair of seeing a favorable issue to the proceedings of the Convention and do therefore repent having had any agency in the business.”

“The men who oppose a strong and energetic government are, in my opinion,” Washington continued, “narrow minded politicians or are under the influence of local views. The apprehension expressed by them that the people will not accede to the form proposed is the ostensible, not the real cause of the opposition.”

Washington’s despair is undoubtedly fueled by the back-and-forth bickering which consumed today’s session at the State House. It began as soon as Rufus King announced the results of the committee appointed yesterday charged with re-working the recommendation of the prior committee. Instead of fifty-six members of the first branch of the legislature, the new committee proposed sixty-five, to be apportioned as: New Hampshire – 3; Massachusetts – 8; Rhode Island – 1; Connecticut - 5; New York – 6; New Jersey – 4; Pennsylvania – 8; Delaware -1; Maryland – 6; Virginia – 6; North Carolina – 5; South Carolina – 5; and Georgia – 3. By this arrangement, seven States would receive an additional representative; one would receive two more.

John Rutledge was on his feet immediately, proposing that New Hampshire be reduced from three to two, launching a curious debate. Resurrecting an argument used yesterday about Georgia, King argued that New Hampshire “probably has more than 120,000 inhabitants and an extensive country of tolerable fertility…and may be expected to increase fast.” He also perceives that differences of interests do not, as previously thought, lie “between the great and small States, but between the southern and the eastern.”

General Pinckney was glad one member had been added to Virginia, “as he considers her as a Southern State,” and that “the members of Georgia were increased.” Hugh Williamson weighed in, not for reducing New Hampshire, but “for reducing some others.” New Jersey’s Jonathan Dayton retorted: “The line between the northern and southern interests had been improperly drawn - Pennsylvania is the dividing State, there being six on each side of her.” It went downhill from there but is worth sharing to fully understand Washington’s despair. Gen. Pinckney “dwelt on the superior wealth of the southern States and insisted on having its due weight in the government.” Gouverneur Morris declared, “If the southern States are to supply money, the northern States are to spill their blood.” He opposes reducing New Hampshire. The proposal to reduce New Hampshire failed.

Gen. Pinkney and Alexander Martin moved that six representatives, rather than five, be allowed to North Carolina. The motion failed. Gen. Pinckney and Pierce Butler made the same motion in favor of South Carolina. The motion failed. Gen. Pinckney and William Houston moved that Georgia be allowed four instead of three. The motion failed. Gen. Pinckney’s apparent strategy was to ally with a delegate from individual States to advocate for additional representation, but its effect was dubious.

Then Madison tried a new approach, to double the number allowed to each State. It did not address the apportionment of delegates, but Madison’s concern, shared by George Mason, was that “a majority of a quorum of sixty-five members is too small a number to represent the whole inhabitants of the United States.” Mason put it bluntly, “Thirty-eight will, being a majority of sixty-five, form a quorum. Twenty will be a majority of thirty-eight. This is certainly too small a number to make laws for America.” Delaware’s George Read offered another reason to support Madison. Under the committee’s proposal, Delaware and Rhode Island would have but a single member…In case of accident to either of these, one State would have no representative present to give explanations or information of its interests.”

Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth are concerned about the expense of doubling the number, especially for those required to travel long distances. Madison’s motion failed 2 – 9. The committee’s proposal for apportioning representatives passed 9 – 2, South Carolina and Georgia in the negative. Like Madison, John Randolph is searching for solutions. He proposed that a census be taken periodically to ascertain the population of each State for representation purposes. While it was postponed, the recommendation has potential.

Three delegates left for New York today. North Carolina’s William Blount informed Gov. Caswell he is needed to achieve the quorum of seven States required for Congress to conduct business. Robert Yates and John Lansing withdrew in protest, leaving New York unrepresented. Hamilton will return but as only one of three appointed delegates, therefore having no authority to officially represent New York due to lack of a quorum.

Washington’s attention was somewhat diverted this evening by tea at Mr. Bingham’s and attending a play at Southward Theater. But he closed his letter to Hamilton writing, “I am sorry you went away. I wish you were back. The crisis is equally important and alarming.”

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