:

;

our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-Seven, and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof, we have hereunto fubScribed our names.

New-Hampshire,

Massachusetts,

Connecticut,
New-York,

New-Fersey,

Pennsylvania,

Delaware,

Maryland,

Virginia,

GEORGE WASHINGTON,

President, and Deputy from Virginia.

John Langdon,
Nicholas Gilman.

(Nathaniel Gorham,
Rufus King.

William Samuel Johnfon,
Roger Sherman.

Alexander Hamilton.

William Livingston,
David Brearley,
William Paterson,
Jonathan Dayton.

PRESENT,

THE STATES OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT, MR. HAMILTON, FROM NEW YORK, NEW-JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, NORTH-CAROLINA, SOUTH-CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA:

T

RESOLVED,

HAT the preceding conftitution be laid before the United States in Congress affembled, and that it is the opinion of this convention, that it should afterwards be fubmitted to a convention of Delegates, chofen in each state by the people thereof, under the recommendation of its legislature, for their assent and ratification; and that each convention assenting to, and ratifying the fame, should give notice thereof to the United States in Congress assembled.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this convention, that as foon as the conventions of nine states shall have ratified this constitution, the United States in Congrefs assembled should fix a day on which electors should be appointed by the states which shall have ratified the fame, and a day on which the electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the time and place for

commencing proceedings under this constitution. That
after such publication, the electors should be appointed,
and the Senators and Representatives elected. That the
electors should meet on the day fixed for the election of
the President, and should tranfmit their votes, certified,
figned, fealed and directed, as the constitution requires,
to the Secretary of the United States in Congrefs affem-
bled. That the Senators and Representatives should
convene at the time and place affigned. That the Sena-
tors should appoint a President of the Senate, for the
fole purpose of receiving, opening and counting the
votes for President; and, that after he shall be chofen,
the Congrefs, together with the President, should, with-
out delay, proceed to execute this constitution..
By the Unanimous Order of the Convention:

GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.
WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary.

IN CONVENTIΟΝ,
September, 17, 1787.

SIR,

W

:

E have now the honor to fubmit to the confideration of the United States in Congress afsembled, that constitution which has appeared to us the most advisable.

The friends of our country have long seen and defired, that the power of making war, peace and treaties; that of levying money and regulating commerce, and the correspondent executive and judicial authorities, should be fully and effectually vested in the general government of the Union: But the impropriety of delegating such extensive trust to one body of men is evidentHence results the necessity of a different organization.

It is obviously impracticable in the federal government of these states, to secure all rights of independent fovereignty to each, and yet provide for the intereft and fafety of all: Individuals entering into fociety, must give up a share of liberty to preferve the rest. The magnitude of the facrifice must depend as well on situation and circumstance, as on the object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to draw with precision the line between those rights which must be furrendered, and those which may be referved; and on the present occafion, this difficulty was encreased by a difference among the several ftates as to their situation, extent, habits, and particular interests.

In all our deliberations on this fubject we kept steadily in our view, that which appears to us the greatest interest of every true American, the consolidation of our Union, in which is involved our profperity, felicity, fafety, perhaps our national existence. This important confideration, feriously and deeply impressed on our minds, led each state in the convention to be less rigid on points of inferior magnitude, than might have been otherwise expected; and thus the constitution, which we now present, is the refult of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and conceffion which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensible.

That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every state, is not perhaps to be expected; but each will doubtless confider, that had her interest been alone consulted, the confequences might have been particularly difagreeable or injurious to others; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably have been expected, we hope and believe; that it may promote the lasting welfare of that country so dear to us all, and fecure her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent wish.

With great respect,

We have the Honor to be,

SIR,

Your Excellency's most

Obedient and humble Servants:
GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.

: By unanimous Order of the Convention. His Excellency

THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS,

ACTS

PASSED AT THE

FIRST SESSION

OF THE

FIRST CONGRESS

OF THE

United States of America,

BEGUN AND HELD AT THE CITY OF NEW-YORK,

On Wednesday the Fourth of March,

IN THE YEAR M, DCC, LXXXIX:

AND OF THE

Independence of the United States

THE THIRTEENTH.