“William Pierce to George Tucker,” June 27, 1787. In Supplement to Max Farrand's The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, edited by James H. Hutson. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987. https://consource.org/document/william-pierce-to-st-george-tucker-1787-6-27/20130122081133/

My dear Sir:

I wish it was in my power to give you some information respecting the proceedings of the Convention, but we are enjoined to secrecy. I dare not say anything.

You may suppose that where there are a variety of interests, there will be a variety of projects. Nothing can conquer the force of local habit. Some are for one thing, and some for another, but I believe we shall ultimately agree on some sort of Government.

Burlemaqui¹ relates a circumstance which he has borrowed from Herodotus² that is a good deal in the style of our various sentiments. On the death of Cambyses of Persia there was an attempt made to re-establish the Government and to effect the punishment of the Magus who had usurped the Throne as a descendant from Cyprus. A question was proposed in the Council of the seven Chiefs, of this sort what is the best kind of Government for the present state of Persia? One was of opinion that Persia ought to be a Republic; another was of opinion that it ought to be a strong Aristocracy, and a third (who I think was Darius) was convinced that no other Government would suit it but a Monarchy.

I pray you not from this story to conclude that we are to have a Monarchy. I related it merely to give you some idea of the various opinions which we have sometimes started…