Former Delegate to the Constitutional Convention James Madison, of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a letter to former President George Washington, of the Constitutional Convention writes that the convention did not exceed its authority granted by Congress, as its mission was
of obtaining a firm national Government; that as the powers of the Convention were defined by their Commissions in nearly the same terms with the powers of Congress given by the Confederation on the subject of alterations, Congress were not more restrained from acceding to the new plan, than the Convention were from proposing it. (emphasis in the original)
[restored 7/18/2026]
Subsequent Events:
Authority:
Articles of Confederation, Article XIII
ccc-2point0.com/Articles-of-Confederation
References:
Convention: James Madison to George Washington
press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch6s15.html
Current U.s. National Debt:
