The great convention adjourned on the seventeenth of September, after directing a copy of the constitution, with an accompanying letter, to be sent to the Congress. The journal of the convention was placed in the hands of Washington (by whom it was afterward deposited in the department of state); and on the following morning he wrote in his dairy: “The business being thus closed, the members adjourned to the City Tavern, dined together, and took a cordial leave of each other; after which, I returned to my lodgings, did some business with, and received the papers from, the secretary of the convention, and retired to meditate on the momentous work which had been executed, after not less than five, for a large part of the time six, and sometimes seven hours' sitting every day (except Sundays, and the ten days' adjournment to give a committee an opportunity and time to arrange the business) for more than four months.”
FOOTNOTES:
[8] The following are the names of the delegates: New Hampshire—John Langdon, John Pickering, Nicholas Gilman, and Benjamin West. Massachusetts—Francis Dana, Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King, and Caleb Strong. Connecticut—William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman, and Oliver Ellsworth. New York—Robert Yates, John Lansing, Jr., and Alexander Hamilton. New Jersey—David Brearly, William Churchill Houston, William Paterson, John Neilson, William Livingston, Abraham Clark, and Jonathan Dayton. Pennsylvania—Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Jared Ingersoll, Thomas Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and Benjamin Franklin. Delaware—George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, and Jacob Broom. Maryland—James M'Henry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll, John Francis Mercer, and Luther Martin. Virginia—George Washington, Patrick Henry (refused to serve, and James M'Clure was nominated in his place), Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, Jr., George Mason, and George Wythe. North Carolina—Richard Caswell, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, and Willie Jones: Caswell and Jones having declined to serve, William Blount and Hugh Williamson were chosen in their places. South Carolina—John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and Pierce Butler. Georgia—William Few, Abraham Baldwin, William Pierce, George Walton, William Houston, and Nathaniel Pendleton.
[9] Curtis's History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States is by far the most ample and reliable source of information on this subject.
[10] The following are the names of the delegates who signed the constitution: Geo. Washington, President, and deputy from Virginia. New Hampshire—John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman. Massachusetts—Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King. Connecticut—William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman. New York—Alexander Hamilton. New Jersey—William Livingston, David Brearly, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton. Pennsylvania—Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris. Delaware—George Reed, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom. Maryland—James M'Henry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll. Virginia—John Blair, James Madison, Jr. North Carolina—William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson. South Carolina—John Rutledge, Charles C. Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia—William Few, Abraham Baldwin. Attest: William Jackson, Secretary.
CHAPTER VII.
the constitution submitted to the state legislatures—the great conflict of opinions—washington's letters to mrs. graham and lafayette on the subject—hamilton prepares for the battle—his preliminary remarks—opposition to the constitution—the federalist—stormy debates in state conventions—ratification of the constitution—measures for establishing the new government—washington's thankfulness for the result—washington spontaneously nominated for the presidency—his great reluctance to enter upon public life again—letters to his friends on the subject—washington elected president of the united states—preparations for leaving home—visit to, and parting with his mother—his journey to the seat of government like a triumphal procession—honors by the way—arrival and reception at new york—his sense of responsibility.