September 1, 1787: An End in Sight

Elbridge Gerry in the background indicating his opposition to the Constitution.

Faulkner Mural in the Rotunda of the National Archives

“I would not remain here two hours was I not under a necessity of staying to prevent my colleagues from saying that I broke up the representation, & that they were averse to an arbitrary system of Government, for such it is at present, and such they must give their voice to unless it meets with considerable alterations."

--Elbridge Gerry

Saturday, September 1, 1787: The Convention Today
Today’s session was one of the briefest. A new Committee of Eleven had been appointed the previous day to consider the Constitution’s remaining loose ends. Today, Brearly (NJ) provided a partial report from that committee, and Rutledge (SC) gave a report from a different committee. Neither report was debated or voted on, and the Convention adjourned.

Synopsis

• The Convention quickly adjourned so a newly appointed Committee of Eleven could finish work on the remaining unresolved issues.

Delegates Today

• Johnson (CT) again dined at Wilson’s (PA).
• Washington (VA) dined and drank tea at Mary and Robert Morris’s (PA).
• Franklin (PA) presided at the meeting of the State’s Supreme Executive Council.
• A thoroughly alarmed and depressed Gerry (MA) wrote his ailing wife: “I am distressed my dearest Girl exceedingly, at the information in yours of the 29th & 30th of your indisposition, & shall prepare myself to leave this city on the arrival of the next post unless you are better.” He gave her detailed advice on what to eat. Later, he dined with Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (SC) and his wife Mary Pinckney.

Philadelphia Today

• It rained most of the day and was cool.
• Pennsylvania’s Supreme Executive Council ordered the Treasurer to pay the Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia 920 pounds “to be applied toward the further improvement of the navigation in the bay and river Delaware, payable out of the duties arising from tonnage.”