received was in New Hampshire, where the convention met early
in February and then adjourned until June to see what the other States
might do. But this delay proved to be of no consequence for, when the
time came for the second meeting of the New Hampshire delegates, eight
States had already acted favorably and adoption was regarded as a
certainty. This was sufficient to put a stop to any further waiting, and
New Hampshire added its name to the list on the 21st of June; but the
division of opinion was fairly well represented by the smallness of the
majority, the vote standing 57 to 46.

Nine States had now ratified the Constitution and it was to go into
effect among them. But the support of Virginia and New York was of so
much importance that their decisions were awaited with uneasiness. In
Virginia, in spite of the support of such men as Washington and Madison,
the sentiment for and against the Constitution was fairly evenly
divided, and the opposition numbered in its ranks other names of almost
equal influence, such as Patrick Henry and George Mason. Feeling ran
high; the contest was a bitter one and, even after the elections had
been held and the convention had opened, early in June, the decision was
in doubt and remained in doubt until the very end. The situation was,
in one respect at least, similar to that which had existed in
Massachusetts, in that it was possible to get a substantial majority
in favor of the Constitution provided certain amendments were made. The
same arguments were used; strengthened on the one side by what other
States had done, and on the other side by the plea that now was the time
to hold out for amendments. The example of Massachusetts, however, seems
to have been decisive, and on the 25th of June, four days later than
New Hampshire, the Virginia convention voted to ratify, "under the
conviction that whatsoever imperfections may exist in the Constitution
ought rather to be examined in the mode prescribed therein, than
to bring the Union into danger by delay, with a hope of obtaining
amendments previous to the ratification."

When the New York convention began its sessions on the 17th of June, it
is said that more than two-thirds of the delegates were Anti-Federalist
in sentiment. How a majority in favor of the Constitution was obtained
has never been adequately explained, but it is certain that the main
credit for the achievement belongs to Alexander Hamilton. He had early
realized how g