Excerpts from The Papers of George Mason, 1725-1792

Robert A. Rutland, ed., 3 vols. (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1970).

1787 Documents

The Federal Convention of 1787

p. 885: Ed. Note: George Mason's decision to accept a place on the Virginia delegation at the Federal Convention is understandable only in the light of events from March 1785 onward. By an accident of history he was unaware of his appointment to what became the Mount Vernon Conference of 1785 until the business was at hand. His refusal to serve would have been a deathblow to the scheduled meeting, which may have been planned for his convenience (Alexandria was the original site) in the first place. The accord reached by Mason and Alexander Henderson with the Maryland delegates was the entering wedge for those nationalists who believed the new nation could not survive unless the Articles of Confederation were drastically restructured.

p. 886: Most informed citizens in 1787 agreed that the preceding year had been an unusually bad one for the Continental Congress. . . . The wrangle with Spain over navigation rights on the Mississippi had revealed an ugly sectional split among the states regarding the fundamental western policy of expansion.

1 Oct 1787 From Richard Henry Lee, pp. 996-1000.

p. 997: "You are well acquainted with Thos. Stone & others of influence in Maryland-I think it will be a great point to get Maryld. & Virginia to join in the plan of Amendments & return it with them"

20 Oct 1787 To Elbridge Gerry, pp. 1005-1007.

p. 1005: "After [my son John's] Return [from London] he will settle in Trade, either in Alexandria or George Town; if the Inland Navigation of Potomack River succeeds, he will probably prefer George Town, or the Situation opposite to it, on the Virginia Side; where the Land belongs to me, for about three miles upon the River, in such Manner as to command all the deep Water on that Shore."

4 Nov 1787 From George Washington, pp. 1009-1010.

p. 1009: "In consequence of a resolution which passed at the last meeting of the Potomk. Company, and in behalf of the Directors, I transmit the enclosed Petition to you. . . ."

p. 1010: Ed. Note: The enclosed petition sought help from the Virginia legislature through a specific enactment that would compel shareholders in the Potomack Navigation Company to pay their levies promptly. Predictably, Washington's prestige brought a prompt response from the lawmakers. . . .