Letter from James Madison to Thomas Jefferson (1787): Reviewing the Attendees

by James Madison
  • June 06, 1787
Edited and introduced by Michelle Alderfer
What does Madison mean by, “The whole Community is big with expectation”? How does this reflect the public's perception of the Convention and the significance they attach to its outcomes? Additionally, do you think such expectations impacted the delegates’ deliberations? If so, how?
How would maintaining confidentiality help “secure unbiassed discussion” at the Convention? What risks could arise from sharing information about the Convention's proceedings, and how might this impact the Convention and its outcomes?
Constitutional Convention
Introduction

This letter is part of a collection of letters written at the beginning of the Constitutional Convention.  You can find a list of all letters in this collection here.

The Constitutional Convention was scheduled to begin on May 14, 1787, but on that date only eight delegates, four from Pennsylvania and four from Virginia, had arrived in Philadelphia. Lacking the necessary quorum, the delegates adjourned until a sufficient number of states were in attendance. As reflected in several of these letters, those who arrived promptly expressed frustration with the delays caused by the absence of other delegates.

By May 17, the remaining members of the Virginia delegation had assembled and began drafting the Virginia Plan. As delegates from other states gradually arrived throughout the following weeks, the Virginia delegation shared its proposal, establishing a foundation for the state’s active role in the Convention proceedings. While Virginia sought to build momentum, some states grew apprehensive of the Virginia Plan. George Read, a delegate from Delaware, shared concerns in private correspondence with a fellow delegate, writing, “I suspect it to be of importance to the small States that their deputies should keep a strict watch upon the movements and propositions from the larger States, who will probably combine to swallow up the smaller ones by addition, division, or impoverishment.” Although official proceedings would not begin for several more days, Read foreshadowed tensions that would grow in the early debates.

Enough states were represented by May 25 to meet the quorum, allowing official Convention proceedings to begin. The delegates first elected George Washington as president and William Jackson as secretary. Within the initial days, the Committee of Rules established ten rules for the Convention, including the notable secrecy rule which stipulated that “nothing spoken in the house be printed, or otherwise published or communicated without leave.” This rule was intended to “secure unbiased discussion…and prevent misconceptions;” however, delegates varied in their adherence to this rule in private correspondence. Still, as suggested by Act I letters, correspondence sent before the secrecy rule provided more detailed accounts of the Convention than those sent afterward.

On May 29, Edmund Randolph formally introduced the Virginia Plan to the Convention as a proposal to revise the Articles of Confederation. While the plan featured fifteen points, three key elements included: excluding states from roles in representation and elections; significantly reducing state powers in favor of expanding Congressional authority; and establishing a national government with legislative, executive and judicial branches, those in the legislative and executive branches serving specified terms. Over the following weeks, extensive discussion and debates led delegates to recognize that the Convention would extend longer than initially anticipated. They also began to realize that simply revising the Articles of Confederation would not be an adequate solution to the nation’s challenges.

As later Act I letters indicate, the delegates remained optimistic despite prolonged debates. They believed that an agreement would ultimately develop, resulting in a new framework for the national government that would strengthen federal authority, and ensure political and economic stability, while fostering greater unity among the states.

—Michelle Alderfer

“To Thomas Jefferson from James Madison, 6 June 1787,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://teachingamericanhistory.org/mow8.

The day fixed for the meeting of the Convention was the 14th.ult: on the 25th. and not before seven States were assembled. General Washington1 was placed una voce2 in the chair. The Secretaryship was given to Major Jackson3. The members present are from Massachusetts Mr. Gerry, Mr. Gorham, Mr. King, Mr. Strong4. From Connecticut Mr. Sherman Doct. S. Johnson, Mr. Elseworth5. From N. York Judge Yates, Mr. Lansing, Col. Hamilton6. N. Jersey, Governour Livingston, Judge Brearly, Mr. Patterson, Attorney Genl.7 (Mr. Houston and Mr. Clarke are absent members.)8 From Pennsylvania Doctr. Franklyn, Mr. Morris, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Fitzimmons, Mr. G. Clymer, Genl. Mifflin, Mr. Governeur Morris, Mr. Ingersoll9. From Delaware Mr. Jno. Dickenson, Mr. Read, Mr. Bedford, Mr. Broom, Mr. Bassett10. From Maryland Majr. Jenifer only11. Mr. McHenry, Mr. Danl. Carrol, Mr. Jno. Mercer, Mr. Luther Martin are absent members12. The three last have supplied the resignations of Mr. Stone, Mr. Carrol of Carolton, and Mr. T. Johnson as I have understood the case13. From Virginia Genl. Washington, Governor Randolph, Mr. Blair, Col. Mason, Docr. McClurg, J. Madison14. Mr. Wythe15 left us yesterday, being called home by the serious declension of his lady’s health. From N. Carolina, Col. Martin late Governor, Docr. Williamson, Mr. Spaight, Col. Davy16. — Col. Blount17 is another member but is detained by indisposition at N. York. From S. Carolina Mr. John Rutlidge, General Pinkney, Mr. Charles Pinkney, Majr. Pierce Butler18. Mr. Laurens19 is in the Commission from that State, but will be kept away by the want of health. From Georgia Col. Few, Majr. Pierce, formerly of Williamsbg and to Genl. Greene, Mr. Houston20. —Mr. Baldwin21 will be added to them in a few days. Walton and Pendleton22 are also in the deputation. N. Hamshire has appointed Deputies but they are not expected; the State treasury being empty it is said, and a substitution of private resources being inconvenient or impracticable. I mention this circumstance to take off the appearance of backwardness, which that State is not in the least chargeable with, if we are rightly informed of her disposition. Rhode Island has not yet acceded to the measure. As their Legislature meet very frequently, and can at any time be got together in a week, it is possible that caprice if no other motive may yet produce a unanimity of the States in this experiment.

In furnishing you with this list of names, I have exhausted all the means which I can make use of for gratifying your curiosity, It was thought expedient in order to secure unbiassed discussion within doors, and to prevent misconceptions and misconstructions without, to establish some rules of caution which will for no short time restrain even a confidential communication of our proceedings. The names of the members will satisfy you that the States have been serious in this business. The attendance of Genl. Washington is a proof of the light in which he regards it. The whole Community is big with expectation. And there can be no doubt but that the result will in some way or other have a powerful effect on our destiny. . . .

Footnotes
  1. 1. George Washington (1732–1799), delegate from Virginia and presided as president over the Constitutional Convention. 
  2. 2. Latin phrase meaning “with one voice” or “unanimously”.
  3. 3. William Jackson (1759–1828) from South Carolina served as secretary during the Constitutional Convention.
  4. 4. Elbridge Gerry (1744–1849), Nathaniel Gorham (1738–1796), Rufus King (1755–1827), and Caleb Strong (1745–1819) represented Massachusetts.
  5. 5. Roger Sherman (1723–1793), William Samuel Johnson (1727–1819), and Oliver Ellsworth (1745–1807) represented Connecticut.
  6. 6. Robert Yates (1738–1801), John Lansing, Jr. (1754–1829), and Alexander Hamilton (1757–1904) represented New York.
  7. 7. William Livingston (1723–1790), David Brearly (1745–1790), William Paterson (1745–1806) represented New Jersey.
  8. 8. William C. Houston (1746–1788) and Abraham Clark (1726–1794) were both selected as New Jersey delegates but were unable to attend the Convention proceedings.
  9. 9. Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), Robert Morris (1734–1806), James Wilson (1742–1798), Thomas Fitzsimons (1741–1811), George Clymer (1739–1813), Thomas Mifflin (1744–1799), Gouverneur Morris (1752–1816), and Jared Ingersoll (1749–1822) represented Pennsylvania.
  10. 10. John Dickinson (1732–1808), George Read (1733–1798), Gunning Bedford, Jr. (1747–1812), Jacob Broom (1752–1810), and Richard Bassett (1745–1815) represented Delaware.
  11. 11. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer (1723–1790) represented Maryland.
  12. 12. James McHenry (1753–1816), Daniel Carroll (1730–1796), John F. Mercer (1759–1821), and Luther Martin (1748–1826) were also delegates from Maryland, but each only attended a portion of the Convention proceedings.
  13. 13. Thomas Stone (1743–1787), Charles Carroll (1737–1832), and Governor Thomas Johnson (1732–1819) were elected as Maryland delegates but declined to attend the proceedings.
  14. 14. George Washington (1732–1799), Edmund Randolph (1753–1813), John Blair (1732–1792), George Mason (1725–1792), James McClurg (1746–1823), James Madison, Jr. (1751–1836) represented Virginia.
  15. 15. George Wythe (1726–1806) was a Virginia delegate but left early on during the Convention proceedings.
  16. 16. Alexander Martin (1740–1807), Hugh Williamson (1735–1819), Richard Dobbs Spaight (1758–1802), and William R. Davie (1756–1820) represented North Carolina.
  17. 17. William Blount (1749–1800) was a North Carolina delegate but only attended a portion of the Convention proceedings.
  18. 18. John Rutledge (1739–1800), Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (1746–1825), Charles Pinkney (17571824), and Pierce Butler (1744–1822) represented South Carolina.
  19. 19. Henry Laurens (1724–1792) was elected as a South Carolina delegate but declined to attend the proceedings.
  20. 20. William Few (1748–1828), William Leigh Pierce (1740–1789), and William Houston (1755–1813) represented Georgia. 
  21. 21. Abraham Baldwin (1754–1807) was a Georgia delegate but attended only a portion of the Convention proceedings.
  22. 22. George Walton (1749–1804) and Nathaniel Pendleton (1756–1821) were elected as Georgia delegates but declined to attend the proceedings.
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