In CONVENTION, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1787.

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:

RESOLVED,

THAT 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 affent and ratification; and that each Convention affenting to, and ratifying the fame, fhould give Notice thereof to the United States in Congrefs affembled.

Refolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention, that as foon as the Conventions of Nine States fhall have ratified this Conftitution, the United States in Congress affembled fhould fix a day on which Electors fhould be appointed by the States which shall have ratified the fame, and a day on

which the Electors fhould affemble to vote for the Prefident, and the time and place for commencing proceedings under this Conftitution: That after fuch 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 Prefident, and fhould tranfmit their votes certified, figned, fealed and directed, as the Conftitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in Congress affembled, that the Senators and Reprefentatives fhould convene at the time and place affigned; that the Senators fhould appoint a Prefident of the Senate, for the fole purpose of receiving, opening and counting the votes for Prefident; and, that after he fhall be chofen, the Congress, together with the Prefident, fhould, without delay, proceed to execute this Conftitution.

By the unanimous Order of the Convention,

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prefident..

William Jackfon, Secretary.

In CONVENTION, SEPTEMBER 17, 1787.

SIR,

WE

E have now the honor to fubmit to the confideration of the United States in Congrefs affembled, that Conftitution which has appeared to us the moft advisable.

The friends of our country have long feen and defired, that the power of making war, peace and treaties, that of levying money and regulating commerce, and the correfpondent executive and judicial authorities,

fhould

fhould be fully and effectually vefted in the general gỡ. vernment of the Union: but the impropriety of delegating fuch extenfive trust to one body of men is evident-Hence results the neceffity of a different organization.

It is obviously impracticable in the foederal government of these States, to fecure all rights of independent sovereignty to each, and yet provide for the intereft and fafety of all.-Individuals entering into fociety, must give up a fhare of liberty to preferve the reft. The magnitude of the facrifice must depend as well on fituation and circumftance, as on the object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to draw with precifion the line between those rights which must be furrendered, and those which may be referved; and on the prefent occafion this difficulty was increased by a difference among the feveral States as to their fituation, extent, habits, and particular interefts.

In all our deliberations on this subject, we kept fteadily 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, safety, perhaps our national existence. This important confideration, seriously and deeply impreffed 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 prefent, is the refult of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and conceffion which the peculiarity of our political fituation 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 interefts been alone confulted, the confequences might have been particularly disagreeable 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 lafting welfare of that country fo dear to us all, and fecure her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent wish.

With great refpect,

We have the honor to be,

SIR,

Your Excellency's most obedient,
And humble fervants,

GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prefident.

By unanimous Order of the Convention.

His Excellency the Prefident of Congress.

The constitution has been ratified by the conventions of more than nine states.

THE END OF THE FOURTH AND LAST VOLUME.

ERRAT A.

Page 17, line 14, read two three

P. 107, 1. 10, read Phillips's.

for 160 read 33.

P. 164, 1. 30, read who were. P. 267, 1. 19, read 74 gun fhips. P. 271, 1. 4, read led. P. 324, 1. 2, read manded. P. 340, 1. 28, read of their. P. 347, 1, 22, read were.