Letter from the Federal Convention President
to the President of Congress, Transmitting the Constitution
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
