The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787/Volume 3/Appendix A/CXXVI

by Max Farrand

ⅭⅩⅩⅥ. George Mason to George Washington.^[1]

Gunston-Hall Octor. 7th. 1787.

I take the Liberty to enclose you my Objections to the new Constitution of Government; which a little Moderation & Temper, in the latter End of the Convention, might have removed. I am however most decidedly of Opinion, that it ought to be submitted to a Convention chosen by the People, for that special Purpose; and shou’d any Attempt be made to prevent the calling such a Convention here, such a Measure shall have every Opposition in my Power to give it. You will readily observe, that my Objections are not numerous (the greater Part of the inclosed paper containing Reasonings upon the probable Effects of the exceptionable Parts) tho’ in my mind, some of them are capital ones.^[2]

1. Documentary History of the Constitution, IV, 315.
2. The enclosure consisted of Mason’s well known objections to the Constitution. The paper is practically identical with that printed in the Records of September 15.