Washington was the great man of his day and the members not only respected and admired him; some of them were actually afraid of him.

When he rose to his feet he was almost the Commander-in-Chief again.

There is evidence to show that his support or disapproval was at times a decisive factor in the deliberations of the Convention.
Virginia, which had taken a conspicuous part in the calling of the Convention, was looked to for leadership in the work that was to be done.

James Madison, next to Washington the most important member of the Virginia delegation, was the very opposite of Washington in many respects--small and slight in stature, inconspicuous in dress as in figure, modest and retiring, but with a quick, active mind and wide knowledge obtained both from experience in public affairs and from extensive reading.

Washington was the man of action; Madison, the scholar in politics.