Founding Made Plain every word, clause by clause
1787Transmittal:
1Letter of the President of the Federal Convention,
2Dated September 17, 1787,
3to the President of Congress,
4Transmitting the Constitution.
5In Convention, September 17, 1787.
6Sir,
7We have now the honor
8 to submit to the consideration
9 of the United States in Congress assembled,
10 that Constitution
11 which has appeared to us the most adviseable.
12The friends of our country
13 have long seen and desired,
14 that the power of making
15 war, peace, and treaties,
16 that of levying money
17 and regulating commerce,
18 and the correspondent
19 executive and judicial authorities
20 should be fully and effectually vested
21 in the general government of the Union:
22But the impropriety
23 of delegating such extensive trust
24 to one body of men
25 is evident-
26Hence results the necessity
27 of a different organization.
28It is obviously impracticable
29 in the federal government of these states,
30 to secure all rights of independent sovereignty
31 to each,
32 and yet provide for the interest and safety of all:
33Individuals entering into society,
34 must give up a share of liberty
35 to preserve the rest.
36The magnitude of the sacrifice
37 must depend as well
38 on situation and circumstance,
39 as on the object to be obtained.
40It is at all times difficult
41 to draw with precision the line
42 between those rights
43 which must be surrendered,
44 and those which may be reserved;
45and on the present occasion
46 this difficulty was encreased
47 by a difference among the several states
48 as to their situation, extent, habits,
49 and particular interests.
50In all our deliberations on this subject
51 we kept steadily in our view,
52 that which appears to us
53 the greatest interest of every true American,
54 the consolidation of our Union,
55 in which is involved our prosperity,
56 felicity, safety,
57 perhaps our national existence.
58This important consideration,
59 seriously and deeply impressed on our minds,
60 led each state in the Convention
61 to be less rigid
62 on points of inferior magnitude,
63 than might have been otherwise expected;
64and thus the Constitution,
65 which we now present,
66 is the result of a spirit of amity,
67 and of that mutual deference and concession
68 which the peculiarity
69 of our political situation
70 rendered indispensible.
71That it will meet
72 the full and entire approbation of every state
73 is not perhaps to be expected;
74but each will doubtless consider,
75 that had her interest been alone consulted,
76 the consequences might have been
77 particularly disagreeable or injurious to others;
78that it is liable to as few exceptions
79 as could reasonably have been expected,
80 we hope and believe;
81that it may promote the lasting welfare
82 of that country so dear to us all,
83 and secure her freedom and happiness,
84 is our most ardent wish.
85With great respect,
86We have the honor to be, Sir,
87Your Excellency's most obedient and humble servants,
88GEORGE WASHINGTON, President.
89By unanimous Order of the Convention.
90His Excellency the PRESIDENT of CONGRESS.

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