Thanks. I went to the local library (small town) to get a discussion book on the Federalist Papers. I had to order it, so..... I'm reading Fred Barbash's The Founding. He seems fairly conservative, at least in his Preface, but he maintains that Madison and Hamilton wanted a more powerful central government, and actually disdained States Rights. I always thought the Constitution framers were more state's rights fans, but realized we needed a wee bit stronger federal (central) government and wrote the Constitution accordingly.
Barbash also mentions Madison's Notes of Debates in the Federal Constitution of 1787. Does anyone know if it worth trying to locate this? I've read Page Smith's A New Age Now Begins (although I lost the books due to water damage . . .), and his chapters on the Convention were very informative. I really liked the part where a copy of the minutes (or notes) was found outside the meeting room and Washington informed the group of such. He said the owner may retrieve the copy any time from his desk (under Washington's watchful eye!). No one ever claimed them!! Classic Washington.
I also recomend The Summer of 1787 by David Stewart. This tells the same story from a different angle, highlighting the role played by James Wilson.