Letter from Nathan Dane to Rufus King (1787)

by Nathan Dane
  • June 19, 1789
Image: Rufus King. Gilbert Stuart (1819-1820). National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; this acquisition was made possible by a generous contribution from the James Smithson Society. NPG.88.1
Why does Dane believe it is important for the public to only see the “digested result” of the Convention proceedings? What challenges might this approach help the delegates avoid during their deliberations?
Given that Dane was not a participant in the Convention, what reasoning does he provide in support of the secrecy rule? To what extent do you think his opinion reflected broader public sentiment at the time, and why?
Constitutional Convention

I fully agree to the propriety of the Convention order restraining its members from communicating its doings, tho’ I feel a strong desire and curiosity to know how it proceeds. I think the public never ought to see anything but the final report of the Convention–the digested result only, of their deliberations and enquiries.

Whether the plans of the Southern, Eastern or Middle States succeed, never, in my opinion, ought to be known. A few reflections on the subject lead me to doubt whether one of your members, Mr. P.2, who two or three days since came to this city, fully understood the true meaning, full and just extent of the order not to communicate & c.

Footnotes
  1. 1. Nathan Dane (1752–1835), a Massachusetts statesman and member of Congress from 1785–1788.
  2. 2. Most likely a reference to William Pierce (1740–1789), a delegate from Georgia.
Prior Document
No prior document in this Era
Next Document
No next document in this Era
Teacher Programs

See Our List of Programs

Conversation-based seminars for collegial PD, one-day and multi-day seminars, graduate credit seminars (MA degree), online and in-person.

Programs

Check out our collection of primary source readers

Coming soon! World War I & the 1920s!

Bookstore