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I.
THE DEBATE OVER THE
CONSTITUTION IN VIRGINIA
3 September 1787-31 March 1788
Introduction
The documents in this volume deal with the public and private meet-
ings on the Constitution; the calling of the state ratifying Convention
by the state legislature; and the public and private commentaries on
the Constitution. Except for several groupings, the documents have
been arranged chronologically.
Meetings on the Constitution
Federalists used public meetings as forums to praise the Constitution
and to instruct state legislators to support the calling of a state con-
vention. At least eight such meetings were held: Berkeley County, 28
September; Alexandria and Fairfax County, 28 September-2 October;
Williamsburg, 6 October; Fredericksburg, 20 October; Frederick
County, 22 October; Henrico County, 22 October; and Petersburg,
24 October.
During four meetings from 21 November through 13 December,
the Union Society of Richmond debated and overwhelmingly endorsed
the Constitution. "The Political Club" of Danville, Ky., discussed the
Constitution and made significant revisions during its biweekly meet-
ings from 23 February through 17 May 1788.
The General Assembly and the Constitution
In the fall of 1787 the General Assembly took two major actions
on the Constitution. On 15 October it convened at the statehouse in
Richmond and received the Constitution from Governor Edmund Ran-
dolph. The House of Delegates read the Constitution and on the 16th
resolved to consider it on the 25th. On that day, the House adopted
resolutions providing for a ratifying convention to consider the Con-
stitution. Six days later the Senate accepted the resolutions with
amendments, and the House concurred. Between 30 November and
12 December the legislature considered and enacted a bill providing
for the payment of the convention delegates and for communications
with other states on constitutional matters.
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