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

by Max Farrand

LXXVII. James McClurg to James Madison.^[1]

Richmond Augt. 5. 87.

I am much obliged to you for your communication of the proceedings of ye Convention, since I left them; for I feel that anxiety about ye result, which it’s Importance must give to every honest citizen. If I thought that my return could contribute in the smallest degree to it’s Improvement, nothing should keep me away. But as I know that the talents, knowledge, and well-establish’d character, of our present delegates, have justly inspired this country with ye most entire confidence in their determinations; & that my vote could only operate to produce a division, & so destroy ye vote of ye State, I think that my attendance now would certainly be useless, perhaps injurious.

1. Documentary History of the Constitution, IV, 244–245.