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    The Philadelphia Convention: In Their Own Words
    The Philadelphia Convention: In Their Own Words
    The Philadelphia Convention: In Their Own Words
    Ebook116 pages1 hour

    The Philadelphia Convention: In Their Own Words

    By Catherine McGrew Jaime

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    About this ebook

    The debates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 have intrigued me for some time now. While researching the participants in those debates, I ran across a number of their letters and diaries from that summer. As I read the letters, I was struck by their hopes and frustrations, that they often so freely shared with others through their writings.

    But oftentimes, the recipients of the letters were names I did not recognize. I set out to determine who the Convention delegates were corresponding with, and what the connections to them could be.

    So, here is a fascinating look at many of the writings from that period.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCatherine McGrew Jaime
    Release dateJun 8, 2011
    ISBN9781458144102
    The Philadelphia Convention: In Their Own Words
    Author

    Catherine McGrew Jaime

    Historian, and Author, Homeschool Mom of 12

    Read more from Catherine Mc Grew Jaime

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      Book preview

      The Philadelphia Convention - Catherine McGrew Jaime

      The Philadelphia Convention:

      In Their Own Words

      Organized and edited by:

      Catherine McGrew Jaime

      Smashwords Edition

      Copyright 2011 by Catherine McGrew Jaime

      Smashwords Edition, License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this e-book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to www.Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      ~~~

      Introduction

      Welcome to the Constitutional Convention and the men who met in Philadelphia during the long, hot summer of 1787. Through their letters and diary entries we can see more of their ideas and thoughts from over 200 years ago.

      Seventy-four men were chosen to represent the thirteen states, but not all came to Philadelphia, and not all who came spoke or wrote as much as some of the others. Here I share the perspectives of many participants and outsiders, as the Convention was happening, as shown through their numerous writings at the time.

      Many more letters and journals still exist from that critical summer, but I wanted to give just a good sampling of the hopes and frustrations of those in attendance and some of those who cheered them on from the outside.

      I have chosen to keep my commentary to a minimum, mainly identifying who’s who in the various communications. Many of the writers and recipients are well known, but many required a fair amount of digging to discover, and I believe they’ve been identified correctly.

      I hope you enjoy this look at the words of many of our founders: some funny, some biting, some questioning, and some criticizing.

      ~~~

      Sunday, May 14

      Diary entry

      by General George Washington

      (One of the Virginia delegates

      to the Convention in Philadelphia)

      This being the day appointed for the Convention to meet, such Members as were in town assembled at the State House; but only two States being represented—viz.—Virginia and Pennsylvania—agreed to attend at the same place at 11 o’clock tomorrow…

      Letter from William Shippen

      (a prominent Philadelphia doctor)

      to his son Thomas

      Eight members of Convention met this morning, old Franklin first on the ground…He is pushing to make Temple Franklin Secretary of the Convention. Jackson is a Candidate.

      ~~~

      Monday, May 15

      Diary entry

      by General George Washington

      (Virginia delegate)

      Repaired, at the hour appointed to the State House, but no more States being represented than were yesterday (though several more members had come in) we agreed to meet again tomorrow. Governor Randolph from Virginia came in to day. Dined with the Members, to the Genl. Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati.

      Letter from General Erastus Wolcott

      (a prominent Connecticut politician)

      to the Governor and General Assembly of Connecticut

      The Subscriber, impressed with a lively Sense of the Honour done him in an Appointment he has received…as a Delegate to a general Convention of the States…takes Liberty on this Occasion to return his grateful Acknowledgement…But having never had the Small Pox a Disorder to which he would be greatly exposed in the City to which he is appointed to repair, he cannot suppose it would be prudent for him to hazard his Life without the most pressing Necessity and as there are many Gentlemen in the State who are at least equally capable to execute the business of such a Commission to the Satisfaction of the public as himself, that would not be exposed to the Effects of that fatal Disorder, such a Necessity cannot exist. This Consideration when duly weighed, he is confident, will be his sufficient Apology to the Honorable Assembly in declining the Appointment he has had Honour to receive.

      Your Honor’s most obedient and most humble Servant,

      Erastus Wolcott

      Letter from James Madison

      (Virginia Delegate)

      to Thomas Jefferson

      (U.S. Minister to France)

      Monday last was the day for the meeting of the Convention. The number as yet assembled is but small. Among the few is General Washington who arrived on Sunday evening amidst the acclamations of the people, as well as more sober marks of the affection and veneration which continues to be felt for his character. The Governor Messrs. Wythe & Blair, and Doctor. McClurg are also here. Colonel Mason is to be here in a day or two. There is a prospect of a pretty full meeting on the whole, though there is less punctuality in the outset than was to be wished. Of this the late bad weather has been the principal cause. I mention these circumstances because it is possible, this may reach you before you hear from me through any other channel, and I add no others because it is merely possible.

      ~~~

      Thursday, May 18

      Letter from Benjamin Franklin

      (Pennsylvania delegate)

      to Richard Pierce

      We have now meeting here a Convention of the principal people in the several States, for the purpose of revising the federal Constitution, and proposing such amendments as shall be thoroughly necessary. It is a most important business, and I hope will be attended with success.

      ~~~

      May 19

      Letter from George Mason

      (Virginia delegate)

      to his son George Mason, Jr.

      Upon our arrival here on Thursday evening, seventeenth May, I found only the States of Virginia and Pennsylvania fully represented; and there are at this time only five — New York, the two Carolinas, and the two before mentioned. All the States, Rhode Island excepted, have made their appointments; but the members drop in slowly; some of the deputies from the Eastern States are here, but none of them have yet a sufficient representation, and it will probably be several days before the Convention will be authorized to proceed to business. The expectations and hopes of all the Union center in this Convention. God grant that we may be able to concert effectual means of preserving our country from the evils which threaten us.

      The Virginia deputies (who are all here) meet and confer together two or three hours every day, in order to form a proper correspondence of sentiments; and for form’s sake, to see what new deputies are arrived, and to grow into some acquaintance with each other, we regularly meet every day at three o’clock. These and some occasional conversations with the deputies of different States, and with some of the general officers of the late army (who are here upon a general meeting of the Cincinnati), are the only opportunities I have hitherto had of forming any opinion upon the great subject of our mission, and, consequently, a very imperfect and indecisive one. Yet, upon the great principles of it, I have reason to hope there will be greater unanimity and less opposition, except from the little States, than was at first apprehended. 

      The most prevalent idea in the principal States seems to be a total alteration of the present federal system, and substituting a great national council or parliament, consisting of two branches of the legislature, founded upon the principles of equal proportionate representation, with full legislative powers upon all the subjects of the Union; and an executive: and to make the several State legislatures subordinate to the national, by giving the latter the power of a negative upon all such laws as they shall judge contrary to the interest of the federal Union.

      It is easy to foresee that there will be much difficulty in organizing a government upon this great scale, and at the same time reserving to the State legislatures a sufficient portion of power for promoting and securing the prosperity and happiness of their respective citizens; yet with a proper degree of coolness, liberality and candor (very rare commodities by the bye), I doubt not but it may be effected.

      There are among a variety some very eccentric opinions upon this great subject; and what is a very extraordinary phenomenon, we are likely to find the republicans… issue from the Southern and Middle

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