Note that the Resolution from Congress begins, “Resolved that in the opinion of Congress....” The records of the ratification conventions includes the authority of each state delegation. Only four states limited the authority of their delegates.
Delaware insisted that its delegates demand a continuation of one vote for each state in Congress. Massachusetts and New York both insisted that their delegates only act to amend the Articles of Confederation, not “do what was necessary” in the words of Alexander Hamilton in the Final Report of the Annapolis Convention.
At the end, New York was no longer present. Two of its delegates left on July 10th, never to return. Hamilton did come back to Philadelphia, but since he was not a quorum. NY was officially absent.
Rhode Island was absent. It took no part in the Convention and initially refused even to hold a ratification convention. That leaves Massachusetts. Two of its three delegates, Rufus King and Nathanial Gorham, after communicating with John Hancock and other state leaders at home, decided to exceed their authority, and vote for the new Constitution. The third Massachusetts delegate was Elbridge Gerry (origin of the word “Gerrymander”) stuck to his guns, refused to vote for the new Constitution, and refused to sign it,
So, the argument that the Philadelphia Convention was a “run-away” actually boils down to an argument that two delegates, Gorham and King, were run-aways. The Articles of Confederation give Congress zero authority to call or control a convention.
And now you know the rest of the story.
John / Billybob
Thanks for checking in. You always add a lot to discussions about the Constitution.