1From James Madison to Rufus King, 25 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
The final question in our Convention has just been decided in the affirmative by 89 ays 79 noes. Recommendatory amendments will attend the act of ratification; but are yet to be settled. The business was closed with due decorum & solemnity; and an acquiescence of the minority can not be in the least doubted. Some of the leaders as might be imagined have however a keen feeling of their...
2To James Madison from Rufus King, 23 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
Our prospects are gloomy, but hope is not entirely extinguished. Gerry has not returned to the Convention, & I think will not again be invited. We are now thinking of amendments to be submitted not as a condition of our assent & Ratification; but as the opinion of the Convention subjoined to their Ratification. This scheme may gain a few members, but the issue is doubtful. Farewel RC ( DLC );...
3From James Madison to Rufus King, 9 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have been for two days & still am laid up with a bilious attack. Writing is scarcely practicable & very injurious to me. I can only say to you therefore appearances have not changed sensibly since my last. I think we have a majority as yet; but the other party are ingenious & indefatigable. I wish you all happiness & am Yrs. RC ( NHi ). Addressed in an unidentified hand. Docketed by King.
4To James Madison from Rufus King, 30 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
This day for the first our President Mr. Hancock took his Seat in convention, and we shall probably terminate our business on Saturday or Tuesday next. I cannot predict the issue, but our Hopes are increasing—if Mr. Hancock does not disappoint our present Expectations our wishes will be gratified. But his character is not entirely free from a portion of caprice—this however is confidential....
5From James Madison to Rufus King, 22 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
We are at length approaching the close of our deliberations on the several parts of the Constitution. The Judiciary Department has been gone over; though perhaps it may receive some additional disquisitions. The attack has apparently been less formidable than I had apprehended. Independently of some particular interests, the objections against it have not been calculated in my opinion to make...
6To James Madison from Rufus King, 16 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
We may have 360 members in our Convention, not more than 330 have yet taken their Seats. Immediately after the settlement of Elections the Convention resolved that they would consider and freely deliberate on each paragraph without taking a [question on any of them individually,] & that on the question whether they wd. ratify, each [member] shd. be at liberty [to disc]uss the plan at large....
7To James Madison from Rufus King, 3 February 1788 (Madison Papers)
I inclose a newspaper of yesterday containing the propositions communicated by Mr. Hancock to the Convention, on Thursday last. Mr. Adams who contrary to his own Sentiments has been hitherto silent in convention, has given his public & explicit approbation of Mr. Hancock’s propositions. We flatter ourselves that the weight of these two characters will insure our success, but the Event is not...
8To James Madison from Rufus King, 20 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
Our convention proceeds slowly. An apprehension that the liberties of the people are in danger, and a distrust of men of property or Education have a more powerful Effect upon the minds of our Opponents than any specific Objections against the constitution. If the Opposition was grounded on any precise Points, I am persuaded that it might be weakened if not entirely overcome. But every Attempt...
9From James Madison to Rufus King, 13 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
I am tolerably well over the bilious indisposition which confined me at the date of my last. The progress of the Convention is extremely slow; though from the impatience of the members, I think the Session will not be long. The issue of it is more doubtful than was apprehended when I last wrote. The ostensible points of opposition are direct taxation, the imperfect representation in the H. of...
10To James Madison from Rufus King, 6 February 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have the satisfaction to inform you that on the final Question of assinting to & ratifying the constitution our convention divided, and 187. were in the affirmative & 168 in the negative: the majority although small is extremely respectable, and the minority are in good Temper; they have the magnanimity to declare that they will devote their Lives & property to support the Government, and I...
11From James Madison to Rufus King, 23 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
I have this instant recd. your favr. of the 16. and have but a few moments to thank you for it. I have also just recd. a letter from Genl. Washington. It contains nothing very material or new. The Genl. thinks that although there is an uncertainty in the case, the final decision will prove that a large majority in Virga. are in favor of the Constitution. If nine States should precede it seems...
12To James Madison from Rufus King, 25 May 1788 (Madison Papers)
I leave this city Tomorrow for Boston, and shall be extremely obliged to you to inform me of the Progress and determination of your Convention—you can with difficulty conceive the real anxiety experienced in Massachusetts concerning your Decision—there remains no doubt that a very large majority of the People of Mass: are in favor of the federal constitution. The late Elections for Governor...
13To James Madison from Rufus King, 20 July 1788 (Madison Papers)
I most sincerely congratulate you on the decision of your convention, and am pleased to hear from your Colleague Mr. Brown that by this Time you have returned to New York. I am greatly indebted to you for the frequent information of the progress of your Convention, and should before now have made you my acknowledgements, had I not supposed that you was on your way to Congress, and that Letters...
14From James Madison to Rufus King, 4 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
I thank you sincerely for your favor previous to your leaving N. York. The information in it is agreeable an[d] useful. Our Convention met on Monday. I did not arr[ive] till the evening of that day. Mr. Pendleton had been unanimously put into the chair. The debates commenced to day. The Govr. has declared the day of previous amendments past, and thrown himself fully into our scale. M—s—n &...
15To James Madison from Rufus King, 27 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
I hope your information will be confirmed; that the Tide is again turning in favor of the Constitution in Virginia. We make but slow progress in our Convention, the Friends of the Constitution who in addition to their own weight, are respectable as they represent a very large proportion of the Good Sense and Property of this State, have the Task not only of answering, but also of stating and...
16From James Madison to Rufus King, 18 June 1788 (Madison Papers)
No question has yet been taken by which real strength of parties in our Convention can be measured. There is not a majority of more than three or four on either side. Both sides claim it. I think however it rather lies as yet in favor of the Constitution. But it is so small as to justify apprehensions from accidents as well as change of opinion. An unwillingness to risk a positive decision on...
17To James Madison from Rufus King, 6 January 1788 (Madison Papers)
I send you a copy of the confederation between the New England Colonies, together with a few Extracts from the Journals of the Commissioners. As I hope to leave Town on Tuesday for Boston, I pray you to return me these papers Sometime Tomorrow. You are sensible that information from the southern States relative to the proposed Constitution will be of importance to us at Boston while engaged on...
18Rufus King to William Grayson and Madison, 11 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
Extra[c]t of a Letter from a Gentleman in Boston of the 4th. March 1787. to R King— “—— has come back from Virginia with News that the Commissioners on the part of New York alarmed the Virginia Delegates, with an account that the Commissioners on the part of Massachusetts were for a monarchy ; & that those Delegates wrote their Legislature of it, who shut their Galaries and made a most serious...
19Madison and William Grayson to Rufus King, 11 March 1787 (Madison Papers)
Mr. M & Mr Grayson present their complts to Mr. King and beg leave to inform him that the doors of the Assembly were shut on a letter from Col Carrington & Col. Lee, which Mr. Grayson saw but did not sign for reasons irrelative to the present subject. Mr. M. was in the Legislature at the time and knows the cause was very different from the one mentioned to Mr. King. Both of them are satisfied...