Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, only 39 endorsed the Constitution. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign. Alexander Hamilton, one of the three delegates from New York, was the only one from his state to sign the document. John Lansing and Robert Yates, the other two New York delegates, left the convention early, explaining their departure in a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton. They opposed any system that would consolidate the United States into one government and believed that the convention was exceeding its instructions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of New York delegates who did not sign the Constitution | 2 |
| Names of New York delegates who did not sign the Constitution | John Lansing, Robert Yates |
| Reason for not signing | Concern about the dangers of centralizing power and the belief that the convention was exceeding its instructions |
| Action taken by delegates who did not sign | Left the convention early, wrote a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton explaining their departure and opposition to the Constitution, and worked against ratification |
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What You'll Learn
- John Lansing and Robert Yates left the convention due to concerns about centralising power
- Alexander Hamilton was the only delegate from New York to sign the Constitution
- Hamilton's nationalism put him at odds with other delegates from his state
- Benjamin Franklin expressed reservations about the document but signed anyway
- Some delegates wanted a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution
John Lansing and Robert Yates left the convention due to concerns about centralising power
John Lansing and Robert Yates, delegates from New York, left the Constitutional Convention in 1787 due to concerns about centralising power. They believed that the convention was exceeding its instructions by consolidating the United States into one government, rather than simply amending the Articles of Confederation. In a joint letter to Governor George Clinton of New York, Lansing and Yates warned against the dangers of centralising power and urged opposition to the adoption of the Constitution. They argued that the kind of government recommended by the convention could not "afford that security to equal and permanent liberty which we wished to make an invariable object of our pursuit".
Lansing and Yates' concerns about centralising power were shared by other delegates at the convention. Some delegates felt that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government and wanted specific statements of rights protected and upheld through the document. These rights included freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, and the right to petition. While some delegates tried to assure concerned parties that anything not outlined in the Constitution remained protected and in the hands of the states or the people, many wanted these rights explicitly stated in a Bill of Rights.
The delegates who remained at the convention recognised the importance of addressing these concerns. Even before the convention adjourned, there were already plans to add amendments—a Bill of Rights—to specifically outline and protect individual freedoms. However, some delegates still refused to sign the Constitution, using their signatures as a way to signal their ongoing concerns about the document's power without a Bill of Rights.
The language of the concluding endorsement of the Constitution was made intentionally ambiguous by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Benjamin Franklin, in an attempt to win over the votes of dissenting delegates. This was done in hopes of achieving unanimous support from each state, even if individual assent from every delegate was not possible. Ultimately, the Constitution was endorsed by 39 delegates representing 12 states, with only Rhode Island declining to send delegates.
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Alexander Hamilton was the only delegate from New York to sign the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates representing 12 states endorsed the Constitution, which was created during a four-month-long convention.
The other two delegates from New York, John Lansing Jr. and Robert Yates, left the convention early and refused to sign the Constitution. They opposed the centralization of power and believed that the convention exceeded its instructions by writing an entirely new constitution instead of simply amending the existing Articles of Confederation. In a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton, they warned against the dangers of consolidating the United States under one government and urged opposition to adopting the Constitution. Yates continued to criticize the Constitution in a series of letters signed with pseudonyms, and he voted against ratification at the Poughkeepsie convention.
Some delegates at the Constitutional Convention chose not to sign the document to signal their concerns, particularly regarding the lack of specific statements of rights protected and upheld through the Constitution. While most delegates tried to assure concerned parties that anything not outlined in the Constitution remained protected and in the hands of the states or the people, some wanted these freedoms explicitly guaranteed in a Bill of Rights. Before the convention adjourned, there were already plans to add amendments, but some delegates still refused to sign to express their dissatisfaction.
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Hamilton's nationalism put him at odds with other delegates from his state
Alexander Hamilton's nationalism put him at odds with other delegates from his state, New York, during the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Hamilton was a dedicated nationalist from the start, and he orchestrated the groundswell for a Constitutional Convention. However, his state's anti-nationalist delegation, including John Lansing and Robert Yates, disagreed with his views. They believed in states' rights and opposed any system that would consolidate the United States into one government.
Hamilton's extreme nationalism and desire for a stronger central government put him at odds with most of the delegates from New York. He was frustrated by the conservative views of his fellow delegates, Lansing and Yates, who shared similar anti-federalist sentiments. They warned against the dangers of centralizing power and urged opposition to adopting the Constitution. In a joint letter to Governor George Clinton of New York, they expressed their concerns about the convention exceeding its instructions and their commitment to protecting liberty and preventing the consolidation of power.
Hamilton, on the other hand, was a strong advocate for a stronger central government and played a crucial role in urging the calling of the Constitutional Convention. He represented New York at the Annapolis Convention in 1786, where he pushed for the convention to draft a new constitution rather than simply amend the existing Articles of Confederation. While he served in the legislature and was appointed as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, his frequent absences on legal business limited his participation in the debates.
Despite their differences, Hamilton was the only one of the three delegates from New York who signed the final document. He was crucial in securing New York's ratification of the Constitution, even though he had to take a backseat to delegates with more moderate views, such as James Madison and Gouverneur Morris, during the convention. Hamilton's nationalism and belief in a strong central government influenced his actions during the convention and set him apart from his fellow delegates from New York.
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Benjamin Franklin expressed reservations about the document but signed anyway
Benjamin Franklin, a respected statesman and delegate representing Pennsylvania at the convention, expressed reservations about the US Constitution but ultimately signed the document. In his longest speech of the convention, Franklin stated that he did not approve of several parts of the Constitution but was unsure if he ever would. He also acknowledged that the Constitution was "near to perfection".
> I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.
Franklin, aged 81, was painfully afflicted with gout and kidney stones during the convention. Despite this, he gave a speech to address the three delegates who had announced their refusal to sign the Constitution—Gerry (MA), Randolph (VA), and Mason (VA). He attempted to convince them to abandon their opposition, citing his own experience of being persuaded to change his opinions "on important subjects" by "better information" or "fuller consideration".
Franklin also expressed his belief in the necessity of a general government and his doubt that any other convention could produce a better Constitution:
> In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected?
In addition to Franklin, other delegates at the Constitutional Convention decided not to sign the document to signal their concerns about its power without a Bill of Rights. Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry refused to sign as there was no Bill of Rights in the original Constitution. They believed that anything not outlined in the Constitution—such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom to assemble—should be explicitly protected and left in the hands of the states or the people.
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Some delegates wanted a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates representing 12 states endorsed the Constitution, which was created during a four-month-long convention. However, not all delegates were satisfied with the final document. Some New York delegates, including John Lansing and Robert Yates, refused to sign the Constitution due to their concerns about centralising power and the absence of a Bill of Rights.
Lansing and Yates, along with other dissenting delegates, believed that the convention exceeded its instructions by drafting an entirely new constitution instead of amending the existing Articles of Confederation. They warned that consolidating the United States under one government would jeopardise the security of equal and permanent liberty. In a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton, they expressed their opposition to centralising power and urged against adopting the Constitution. Yates, a strong supporter of independence and a key figure in drafting New York State's first constitution, continued to criticise the Constitution through a series of letters signed with pseudonyms.
The absence of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution was a significant concern for many delegates, including those from New York. They wanted specific statements protecting rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, and the right to petition. While some delegates assured that any rights not outlined in the Constitution remained protected and in the hands of the states or the people, others insisted on having these rights explicitly written and legally protected.
Before the Constitutional Convention adjourned, plans were already underway to add amendments—a Bill of Rights—to address these concerns. However, some delegates, including those from New York, remained steadfast in their decision not to sign the Constitution without a Bill of Rights. They wanted to signal their strong stance on this issue, even if it meant potentially sacrificing the support of their state.
The delegates who refused to sign the Constitution, despite facing a difficult choice, prioritised their principles and conscience. Their actions reflected a commitment to their beliefs and values, even if it meant going against the majority or facing potential consequences. This demonstrates the complexity and importance of the decisions made during the formation of the United States Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
Some New York delegates believed that the convention was exceeding its instructions by writing an entirely new constitution, instead of amending the existing Articles of Confederation. They opposed a centralized government and believed that the convention would not consider any such consolidation.
John Lansing and Robert Yates.
They wrote a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton, explaining their departure and urging opposition to the adoption of the Constitution.
Yates continued to criticize the Constitution in a series of letters signed "Brutus" and "Sydney" and voted against ratification at the Poughkeepsie convention.
Yes, Alexander Hamilton was the only one of the three delegates from New York who signed the document.
