<P> Though most of their complaints did not result in changes, a couple did . Mason succeeded in adding "high crimes and misdemeanors" to the impeachment clause . Gerry also convinced the Convention to include a second method for ratification of amendments . The report out of the Committee of Detail had included only one mechanism for constitutional amendment, in which two - thirds of the states had to ask Congress to convene a convention for consideration of amendments . Upon Gerry's urging, the Convention added back the Virginia Plan's original method whereby Congress would propose amendments that the states would then ratify . All amendments to the Constitution, save the 21st amendment, have been made through this latter method . </P> <P> Despite their successes, these three dissenters grew increasingly unpopular as most other delegates wanted to bring the Convention's business to an end and return home . As the Convention was drawing to a conclusion, and delegates prepared to refer the Constitution to the Committee on Style to pen the final version, one delegate raised an objection over civil trials . He wanted to guarantee the right to a jury trial in civil matters, and Mason saw in this a larger opportunity . Mason told the Convention that the constitution should include a bill of rights, which he thought could be prepared in a few hours . Gerry agreed, though the rest of the committee overruled them . They wanted to go home, and thought this was nothing more than another delaying tactic . </P> <P> Few at the time realized how important the issue would become, with the absence of a bill of rights becoming the main argument of the anti-Federalists against ratification . Most of the Convention's delegates thought that states already protected individual rights, and that the Constitution did not authorize the national government to take away rights, so there was no need to include protections of rights . Once the Convention moved beyond this point, the delegates addressed a couple of last - minute issues . Importantly, they modified the language that required spending bills to originate in the House of Representatives and be flatly accepted or rejected, unmodified, by the Senate . The new language empowered the Senate to modify spending bills proposed by the House . </P> <P> Once the final modifications had been made, the Committee of Style and Arrangement was appointed "to revise the style of and arrange the articles which had been agreed to by the house ." Unlike other committees, whose members were named so the committees included members from different regions, this final committee included no champions of the small states . Its members were mostly in favor of a strong national government and unsympathetic to calls for states' rights . They were William Samuel Johnson (Connecticut), Alexander Hamilton (New York), Gouverneur Morris (Pennsylvania), James Madison (Virginia), and Rufus King (Massachusetts). On Wednesday, September 12, the report of the "committee of style" was ordered printed for the convenience of the delegates . For three days, the Convention compared this final version with the proceedings of the Convention . The Constitution was then ordered engrossed on Saturday, September 15 by Jacob Shallus, and was submitted for signing on September 17 . It made at least one important change to what the Convention had agreed to; King wanted to prevent states from interfering in contracts . Although the Convention never took up the matter, his language was now inserted, creating the contract clause . </P>

When did the first delegation of the constitutional convention meet