mirror of
https://github.com/nhammer514/textfiles-politics.git
synced 2024-12-27 08:19:26 -05:00
79 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
79 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
|
LETTER OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION, TO THE
|
|||
|
|
PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, TRANSMITTING THE CONSTITUTION
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In Convention
|
|||
|
|
September 17, 1787
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sir,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
We have now the honor to submit to the consideration of the
|
|||
|
|
United States in Congress assembled, that Constitution which
|
|||
|
|
has appeared to us the most advisable.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
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 to one body of men is evident
|
|||
|
|
-- Hence results the necessity of a different organization.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It is obviously impractical 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 the rest. The magnitude of the sacrifice
|
|||
|
|
must depend as well on situation and circumstances, 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
|
|||
|
|
surrendered, and those which may be reserved; 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 consolidation of our Union, in which is
|
|||
|
|
involved our prosperity, felicity, safety, perhaps our national
|
|||
|
|
existence. This important consideration, seriously 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 result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual
|
|||
|
|
deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political
|
|||
|
|
situation rendered indispensable.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every
|
|||
|
|
state is not perhaps to be expected; but each will doubtless
|
|||
|
|
consider that had her interest been alone consulted, the
|
|||
|
|
consequences 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 lasting welfare of that country so dear
|
|||
|
|
to us all, and secure 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
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Prepared by Gerald Murphy (The Cleveland Free-Net - aa300)
|
|||
|
|
Distributed by the Cybercasting Services Division of the
|
|||
|
|
National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Permission is hereby granted to download, reprint, and/or otherwise
|
|||
|
|
redistribute this file, provided appropriate point of origin
|
|||
|
|
credit is given to the preparer(s) and the National Public
|
|||
|
|
Telecomputing Network.
|
|||
|
|
V R T
|
|||
|
|
|