William Blount to John Gray Blount (July 19, 1787)

WILLIAM BLOUNT TO JOHN GRAY BLOUNT

Newyork July 19th 1787. I had yesterday a letter from Davie in which he says "since you left us We have progressed obliquely and retrogaded directly so that we stand on the same Spot you left us" and when I left them much Progress was not made. My Colleagues were very unanimous. H. W. are there Head and were in Sentiment with Virginia who seemed to take the lead Madison at their Head tho Randolph and Mason are also great. The general outlines were to have a National Assembly composed of three Branches the first to be elected by the People at large and to consist of about 70 Members, the second Branch of a less Number to be chosen by the respective Legislatures for a longer Duration and the third an Executive of a single Man for a still longer Time. I must confess not withstanding all I heard in favour of this System I am not in sentiment with my Colleagues for as I have before said I still think we shall ultimately end not many Years just be seperate and distinct Governments perfectly independent of each other. The little States were much opposed to the Politicks of the larger they insisted that each State ought to have an equal vote as in the present Confederation.1