M^r King suggested that the Journals of the Convention should be either destroyed, or deposited in the custody of the President. He thought if suffered to be made public, a bad use would be made of them by those who would wish to prevent the adoption of the Constitution. M^r Wilson preferd the second expedient, he had at one time liked the first best; but as false suggestions may be propagated it should not be made impossible to contradict them. A question was then put on depositing the Journals and other papers of the Convention in the hands of the President, on which, N. H. ay. M^{tts} ay. C^t ay. N. J. ay. Pen^a ay. Del. ay. M^d no.[107] V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.[108] [107] This negative of Maryland was occasioned by the language of the instructions to the Deputies of that State, which required them to report to the State, the _proceedings_ of the Convention.--Madison's Note. [108] "Major Jackson presents his most respectful compliments to General Washington-- "He begs leave to request his signature to forty Diplomas intended for the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati. "Major Jackson, after burning all the loose scraps of paper which belong to the Convention, will this evening wait upon the General with the Journals and other papers which their vote directs to be delivered to His Excellency. "Monday evening" Endorsed in Washington's hand: "Maj^r W^m Jackson 17^{th} Sep. 1787."--Wash. MSS. The President having asked what the Convention meant should be done with the Journals &c. whether copies were to be allowed to the members if applied for. It was Resolved nem. con: "that he retain the Journal and other papers, subject to the order of Congress, if ever formed under the Constitution." The members then proceeded to sign the instrument. Whilst the last members were signing it Doct^r Franklin looking towards the President's Chair, at the back of which a rising sun happened to be painted, observed to a few members near him, that Painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art a rising from a setting sun. I have said he, often and often in the course of the Session, and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun. The Constitution being signed by all the members except M^r Randolph, M^r Mason and M^r Gerry, who declined giving it the sanction of their names, the Convention dissolved itself by an Adjournment sine die[109]--