Rufus King is frequently quoted to the effect that the men of that time had been accustomed to considering themselves subjects of the British king.

Even at the time of the Convention there is good evidence to show that some of the members were still agitating the desirability of establishing a monarchy in the United States.

It was a common rumor that a son of George III was to be invited to come over, and there is reason to believe that only a few months before the Convention met Prince Henry of Prussia was approached by prominent people in this country to see if he could be induced to accept the headship of the States, that is, to become the king of the United States.

The members of the Convention evidently thought that they were establishing something like a monarchy.

As Randolph said, the people would see "the form at least of a little monarch," and they did not want him to have despotic powers.