CORRECTION. The note on page 60 is erroneous in stating that the meetinghouse where the sessions of the Convention were held, is the building still standing. The present building, however, stands on the same site as the former building, where the Convention sat.

CONTENTS.

Preface,

Note to the First Edition of the Debates,

Commission of the Massachusetts Delegates to the Federal Convention,

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES as proposed for ratification

by the Federal Convention,

Resolutions of the Federal Convention,

Letter from George Washington, President of the Federal Convention,

to the President of Congress,

iii

xi

XV

1

15

16

Message of Governor Hancock to the Massachusetts Legislature,.

Proceedings of the Legislature, before the Convention,

18

19

Resolves of Massachusetts calling a Convention, .

22

Letter of Hon. Elbridge Gerry, read in the legislature,

24

Proceedings of the Legislature, after the Convention, .

321

Amendments to the Constitution adopted since the ratification by the

COMMISSION OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DELEGATES.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

By his Excellency, JAMES BOWDOIN, Esq., Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

To the Honorable FRANCIS DANA, ELBRIDGE GERRY,

NATHANIEL GORHAM, RUFUS KING, and CALEB STRONG, Esqrs.,

Greeting:

Whereas, Congress did, on the 21st day of February, A. D. 1787, resolve, That, in the opinion of Congress, it is expedient that, on the second Monday in May next, a Convention of Delegates, who shall have been appointed by the several States, to be held at Philadelphia, for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, and reporting to Congress, and the several Legislatures, such alterations and provisions therein as shall, when agreed to in Congress, and confirmed by the States, render the Federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of Government and the preservation of the Union." And whereas, the General Court have constituted and appointed you their delegates, to attend and represent this Commonwealth in the said proposed Convention, and have, by a resolution of theirs of the tenth of March last, requested me to commission you for that purpose.

Now, therefore, know ye, that in pursuance of the resolutions aforesaid, I do, by these presents, commission you, the said Francis Dana, Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King, and Caleb Strong, Esqrs., or any three of you, to meet such delegates as may be appointed by the other, or any of the other States in the Union, to meet in Convention at Philadelphia, at the time, and for the purposes aforesaid.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the public seal of the Commonwealth aforesaid to be hereunto affixed. Given at the Council Chamber, in [L. S.] Boston, the ninth day of April, A. D. 1787, and in the eleventh year of the independence of the United States of America.

By his Excellency's command.

JAMES BOWDOIN.

JOHN AVERY, JUN., Secretary.