farrand’s records and the preamble, we the people

8/9/2019 FARRAND’s RECORDS and the Preamble, We the People

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FARRAND’S RECORDS and The Preamble, We the People

In Farrand’s Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from August 31, 1787,at page 473 we find,

It was moved and seconded to refer such parts of the Constitution as have been postponed, and such parts of reports as have not been acted on to aCommittee of a Member from each State

which passed in the affirmative

In Farrand’s Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September 8,1787, at page 553 we find,

A Committee was then appointed by Ballot to revise the stile of

and arrange the articles which had been agreen to by the House. TheCommittee consisted of Mr. Johnson, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Govr. Morris,Mr. Madison and Mr. King.

That would be Hamilton of NY, Johnson of CT, King of MA, Madison of VA, andMorris of NJ. It was the Committee of Style and Arrangement.

In Farrand’s Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September 10,1787, at page 565 we find the then-existing Preamble wording,

RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 565

COMMITTEE OF STYLE

PROCEEDINGS OF CONVENTION REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE OFSTYLE AND ARRANCEMENT 1

We the people of the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts,Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina,South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish thefollowing Constitution for the Government of Ourselves and our Posterity.

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1 Compiled by the editor from the proceedings of the Convention.


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In Farrand’s Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September 12, 1787, at page 590 we find the newly worded Preamble delivered by theCommittee of Style,

590 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION

COMMITTEE OF STYLE

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF STYLE 8

WE, the People of the United States, in order to form

a more perfect union, to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote thet general welfare, andsecure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, doordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

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8 Madison’s copy of this report is a printed broadside, preserved, with other printed papers, in Volume XV of “Writings toMadison.” It shows additions, alterations and interlineations inMadison’s handwriting, and these are indicated here by enclosing in

angle brackets. Underscoring was likewise done by pen. As the top of his copy Madison wrote:

“As Reported by Come. Of revision, or Stile & arrangement.Sept. 12. Consisting of Mr Johnson Mr Hamilton Mr. Morris, Mr.Madison & Mr King.”

In Farrand’s Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September 17, 1787, at page 651 we find the final version,

T H E C O N S T I T U T I O NO F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S 1

WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in Order to form a more perfectUnion, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for thecommon defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the


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Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain andestablish this Constitution for the United States of America.

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1 The Constitution is engrossed on for sheets of parchment(13½” X 15½”). The present copy attempts to reprint the originalexactly, except that interlineations are indicated by enclosing them inangle brackets. The indented note at the end is in the original.

In Farrand’s Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September 17, 1787, at page 665, we find the Order of George Washington, President of theConvention.

The State of Rhode Island is not presented. The State of New York is not presented either, although some purported entitity styled the State of “Mr.Hamilton from New York” is presented. This anomaly is due to the New York delegation walking out of the Convention, except for Hamilton who was leftwithout authority to act on behalf of the State of New York.

Note that it is the States, individually, that are presented, not the aggregateconsolidated mass of people comprising the total citizenry of all the States.

In Convention Monday September 17th, 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 Constitution be laid before the UnitedStates in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of thisConvention, that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, under theRecommendation of its Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification;and that each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should


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farrand’s records and the preamble, we the people

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