In CONVENTION, Monday, September 17th, 1787. RESOLVED, HAT the preceding conftitution be laid before the United States in congrefs affembled, and that it is the opinion of this convention, that it fhould afterwards be submitted to a convention of delegates, chofen in each state by the people thereof, under the recommendation of its legislature, for their afsent and ratification; and that each convention affenting to, and ratifying the fame, fhould give notice thereof to the United States in congrefs affembled. RESOLVED, That it is the opinion of this convention, that as foon as the conventions of nine states shall have ratified this conftitution, the United States in congress affembled fhould fix a day on which electors fhould be appointed by the ftates which thall 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 fhould be appointed, and the fenators and reprefentatives elected: That the electors fhould 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 fecretary of the United States in congrefs affembled; that the fenators and reprefentatives fhould convene at the time and place affigned; that the senators fhould appoint a prefident of the fenate, for the fole purpose of receiving, opening and counting the votes for prefident; and, that after he fhould be chofen, the con C gress, together with the president, should, without delay,_ proceed to execute this constitution. p - GEORGE XVASHINGTON, Prg/ide/zf. v William fackshrz, Secretary; t ss' In C O NT EN T I O N, September 17th, 1787. S I R, W E have now' the honor to submit to theconsideratioxi of the United States in congress assembled, the constitution which has appeared to us the most adviseable. ,The friends of our country have long seen and desired, 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 tsio one body of men is evidentn-Hence results the necessity of a different organization. * It is obviously impracticable in the federal government of these states, to secure all rights of independent sovereignty to each, and yet provide for the interest and safety of all--Individuals entering into society, must give up a share of liberty to preserve t ie rest. The magnitude ossf the sacrifice 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 rig hts which must be surrendered, and those which may be relgerved; and on 'the present occasion this difficulty was encreased by a difference among the several states as to their situation, extent, habits, and particular interests. - _ In all our deliberations on this subject, we kept steadily in our view, that which appears to us the 'greatest interest of every true American, the coniohdation of our Union, in which is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety,si perhaps our national existence. This 'lmportant consideration, seriously and deeply impressedpn our minds, led each Pea;" in the convention to be less rigxd on points of inferior ma ni. tude, than might have been otherwise expected; andvthus the constitution, which we now present, 18 the result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concesiion ~ 1 which the peculiarity of our political fituation rendered indifpenfible. That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every ftate 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 with.---With great respect, we have the honor to be, fir, your excellency's moft obedient and humble fervants. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prefident. By the unanimous order of the Convention. His Excellency the President of Congress. 1 COMMENTARIES ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE Convention of the People of the State of Pennsylvania being duly organized on the 21ft of November, 1787, proceeded to the confideration of the New Conftitution propofed by the General Convention of Delegates from twelve of the thirteen United States-for the acceptance of the people of the individual States; and on the 26th, having read that inftrument twice over, a debate commenced, from which are extracted the following fpeeches, forming, as it were, a complete comment and differtation upon the fubject of a Republican Government. It may, however, not be amifs in us to remark, previous to entering on our extracts, that the opponents to the new system of * government were urgent in stating immediately their objections, which were reducible to the following points : |