Letter from George Mason to Arthur Lee (1787): Early Attendance at the Convention

by George Mason
  • May 21, 1787
Image: The Signing of the United States Constitution, Louis S. Glanzman (1987) Commissioned by the PA, DE, NJ State Societies, Daughters of the American Revolution. Independence National Historical Park Collection.
Constitutional Convention
What does Mason identify as the “most prevalent Idea” regarding the future framework of government? How does this proposal seek to confer greater power to the national government?

The Convention was initially called “for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.” However, Mason’s letter, written before formal proceedings began, suggests that some delegates may have understood their roles differently. What does this reveal about how the delegates’ perceptions were beginning to shift from the original purpose of the Convention?

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I arrived in this city on Thursday evening last, but found so few of the deputies here from the several States that I am unable to form any certain opinion on the subject of our mission. The most prevalent Idea I think at present is a total change of the federal System, and instituting a great national council or parliament upon the Principles of equal, proportionate representation, consisting on two branches of the legislature invested with full legislative powers upon the objects of the Union; and to make the State legislatures subordinate to the national . . . executive, and a judiciary system with cognizance of all such matters as depend upon the law of nations, and such other objects as the local courts of justice may be inadequate to. . . .

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