Here also were two of the ablest statesmen of their time, Alexander Hamilton of New York, and James Madison of Virginia.
Connecticut sent two of her great men, Oliver Ellsworth, afterwards chief justice of the United States, and Roger Sherman, the learned shoemaker.
Near Robert Morris, the great financier, sat his namesake, Gouverneur Morris, who originated our decimal system of money, and James Wilson, one of the most learned lawyers of his day.
The two brilliant Pinckneys and John Rutledge, the silver-tongued orator, were there to represent South Carolina.
Then there were Elbridge Gerry and Rufus King of Massachusetts, John Langdon of New Hampshire, John Dickinson of Delaware, and the great orator, Edmund Randolph of Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams would no doubt have been delegates, had they not been abroad in the service of their country. Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams remained at home; for they did not approve of the convention.
How Rhode Island must have missed her most eminent citizen, Nathanael Greene, who had just died of sunstroke, in the prime of manhood!
Washington was elected president of the convention. The doors were locked, and, every member being pledged to secrecy, they settled down to work.
| James Madison |