September 9, 1787: Homesick

Johanthan Dayton by Henry Harrison, 1911

Collection of the US House of Representatives, https://history.house.gov/Collection/Detail/29587

“We have happily so far finished our business, as to be employed in giving it its last polish and preparing it for the public inspection. This, I conclude, may be done in three or four days, at which time the public curiosity and our desire of returning to our respective homes, will equally be gratified.”

--Johnathan Dayton to his Father Elias

Sunday, September 9, 1787: The Convention Today

As the Convention enjoyed its customary Sunday recess, even the most pessimistic of the delegates must have felt that their work was nearly complete. They had worked through the Committee of Detail’s draft Constitution, they had debated the work of the Committee on Unfinished Parts, and they had finally agreed on a method of electing the President which most delegates could support.

In a sign of coming closure, they had appointed a Committee of Style and Arrangement to put the new frame of government in final form. Johnson’s (CT) diary does not indicate that the committee met this Sunday, although its members (Johnson, Hamilton (NY), Gouverneur Morris (PA), Madison (VA), and King (MA)) may have worked on an individual basis as part of their day of rest.

Most delegates probably assumed that this would be their last Sunday in Philadelphia. None of them regretted that possibility.

Synopsis

• The Convention was adjourned for Sunday recess.

Delegates Today

• Johnson (CT) visited John Penn at his country seat.
• Washington (VA) made a visit to Don Diego Gardoqui, the Minister from Spain to the United States, who had come down from New York to visit him. He then dined at Robert Morris’s home. In a letter to his nephew, he confessed “I am quite homesick.” He estimated the Convention would finish “in the course of this Week.”
• McHenry (MD) wrote his wife. “I shall soon I hope rejoin the home as it is likely the convention will finish their business in about eight days.”
• Gerry (MA) wrote his wife. “I am myself of opinion that Thursday will finish the Business to which I have every prospect at present of giving my negative.” He also called on Gardoqui, who was not at home when he inquired.

Philadelphia Today

• Once again, the weather was cool and pleasant.