FARRANDS RECORDS and The Preamble, We the People

In Farrands 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 a
Committee of a Member from each State
which passed in the affirmative
In Farrands 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. The
Committee 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, and
Morris of NJ. It was the Committee of Style and Arrangement.
In Farrands 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 OF
STYLE AND ARRANCEMENT1
We the people of the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, NewJersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina,
South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the
following Constitution for the Government of Ourselves and our
Posterity.
___
1

Compiled by the editor from the proceedings of the Convention.

In Farrands Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September

12, 1787, at page 590 we find the newly worded Preamble delivered by the
Committee of Style,
590 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION
COMMITTEE OF STYLE
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF STYLE8
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, and
secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.
_____
Madisons copy of this report is a printed broadside,
preserved, with other printed papers, in Volume XV of Writings to
Madison. It shows additions, alterations and interlineations in
Madisons 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:
8

As Reported by Come. Of revision, or Stile & arrangement.

Sept. 12. Consisting of Mr Johnson Mr Hamilton Mr. Morris, Mr.
Madison & Mr King.
In Farrands Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September
17, 1787, at page 651 we find the final version,
THE CONSTITUTION
O F T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S1
WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the

Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and

establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
_____
The Constitution is engrossed on for sheets of parchment
(13 X 15). The present copy attempts to reprint the original
exactly, except that interlineations are indicated by enclosing them in
angle brackets<>. The indented note at the end is in the original.
1

In Farrands Records of the Constitutional Convention, Vol. 2, from September

17, 1787, at page 665, we find the Order of George Washington, President of the
Convention.
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 left
without authority to act on behalf of the State of New York.
Note that it is the States, individually, that are presented, not the aggregate
consolidated 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 United
States in Congress assembled, and that it is the Opinion of this
Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of
Delegates, chosen in each State by the People thereof, under the
Recommendation of its Legislature, for their Assent and Ratification;
and that each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the Same, should

give Notice thereof to the United States in Congress assembled.

Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that as
soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this
Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled should fix a
Day on which Electors should be appointed by the States which shall
have ratified the same, and a Day on which the Electors should
assemble to vote for the President, and the Time and place for
commencing Proceedings under this Constitution. That after such
Publication the Electors should be appointed, and the Senators and
Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the Day
fixed for the Elec666

RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION

LETTER TO CONGRESS

tion of the President, and should transmit their votes certified signed,
sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of
the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and
Representatives should convene at the Time and Place asigned; that
the Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole
Purpose of receiving, opening and counting the Votes for President;
and, that after he shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the
President, should, without Delay, proceed to execute this
Constitution. By the Unanimous Order of the Convention
Go: Washington Presidt.
W. Jackson Secretary