June 21st
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ON THIS DAY IN 1788
CONSTITUTION RATIFIED
“The Citizens of Alexandria, when convened, constituted the first public company in America, which had the pleasure of pouring [a] libation to the prosperity of the ten States that had actually adopted the general government.”
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To Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
Mount Vernon, 28 June 1788
Dear Sir,
I had the pleasure to receive, a day or two ago, your obliging letter of the 24th of last month, in which you advise me of the ratification of the federal Constitution by South Carolina. By a more rapid water conveyance, that good news had some few days before arrived at Baltimore, so as to have been very opportunely communicated to the Convention of this State, in session at Richmond. It is with great satisfaction I have it now in my power to inform you that, on the 25th instant, the Delegates of Virginia adopted the Constitution, in toto, by a division of eighty nine in favour of it to seventy nine against it; and that, notwithstanding the majority is so small, yet, in consequence of some conciliatory conduct and recommendatory amendments, a happy acquiescence it is said is likely to terminate the business here in as favorable a manner as could possibly have been expected.
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
National Gallery of Art
No sooner had the Citizens of Alexandria (who are federal to a man) received the intelligence by the Mail last night, than they determined to devote this day to festivity. But their exhilaration was greatly increased, and a much keener zest given to their enjoyment, by the arrival of an Express (two hours before day) with the news that the Convention of New Hampshire had, on the 21st instant, acceded to the new Confederacy by a majority of eleven voices, that is to say, fifty seven to forty six.*
Thus the Citizens of Alexandria, when convened, constituted the first public company in America, which had the pleasure of pouring [a] libation to the prosperity of the ten States that had actually adopted the general government.** The day itself is memorable for more reasons than one. It was recollected that this day is the Anniversary of the battles of Sullivan’s Island and Monmouth. I have just returned from assisting at the entertainment, and mention these details, unimportant as they are in themselves, the rather because I think we may rationally indulge the pleasing hope that the Union will now be established upon a durable basis, and that Providence seems still disposed to favour the members of it, with unequalled opportunities for political happiness.
* New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the Constitution, after which the Constitution officially replaced the Articles of Confederation.
** In a 29 June letter to Tobias Lear, Washington wrote: “The cannon roared, and the Town was illuminated yesterday, as magnificent a dinner as Mr. Wise could provide (to which this family were invited and went), was displayed before the principal male Inhabitants of the Town; whose Ears were saluted at every quaff with the melody of federal Guns. And on Monday, the business it seems is to recommence and finish, with fiddling and Dancing, for the amusement, and benefit of the Ladies.”
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