William Grayson to John Lamb (June 9, 1788)

I recieved your letter by Colo. Oswald, and the same evening laid it before the Commee. of Opposition: they have directed the Chairman to answer it by Colo. Oswald:-some of our proposed amendments are finished in the Commee.; the others will be forwarded as soon as agreed on:

I am sorry to observe to you that our affairs in the Convention are suspended by a hair: I really cannot tell you on which side the scale will turn: the difference I am satisfied on the main question will be exceedingly small indeed:-

The Governor has declared in favor of the Constitution without amendments before adoption: this however has not injured us:-neither has the news of the ratification of South Carolina: the opposition upon the whole is firm & united; there are seven or eight dubious characters, whose opinions are not known & on whose decisions the fate of this important question will ultimately depend: should all of them be on the other side it will make a majority of four or five agt. us.

You will be pleased to consider this in the light of a private letter; at all events so far, as to prevent my being quoted in the public newspaper.-I will do myself the pleasure of giving you the earliest notice of the final decision of this Assembly; should we be strong enough to command the question, I think it will be highly expedient for the Convention to open a correspondence with yours: this however is my sentimts. not knowing how others will think on the occasion.