Documents

Title:

Commitee of Style Draft of the United States Constitution

Object Name:

Documents

Creator:

Printer: John Dunlap

Date:

circa1787

Material:

laid paper, iron gall ink

Dimensions:

H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches
The dimesions listed are for the original. Dimensions in the mylar sleeve: 11.0625 x 18.5 and in the mat: 15.5625 x 22.375.

Description:

Two folio sheets (four pages) broadside-style document, printing ink on laid paper with corrections and amendments in iron gall ink by Rufus King, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1787. Begins, "WE the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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." and ends "The ratification of the convention of nine States, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this constitution betweem the States so ratifying the same."

Provenance:

The Committee of Style and Arrangement consisting of William Samuel Johnson of Connecticut as chairman, Alexander Hamilton of New York, Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, James Madison of Virginia, and Rufus King of Massachusetts worked together "to revise the style of, and arrange, the articles which have been agreed to by the House." The Committee incorporated all of the changes discussed in the Convention and the delegates debated each paragraph of the revised draft. Gouverneur Morris is credited with providing the preamble phrase: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union�"---a dramatic change from the opening of the previous version. The Committee reduced the twenty-three articles of the amended draft to seven plus two resolutions that dealt with the mechanics of ratifying the Constitution and inaugurating the new government. Copies were then printed and distributed to all of the delegates at the Convention. Few changes were made resulting in the Constitution being adopted on September 17, 1787.

Rufus King, a representative from Massachusetts, was not only one of the most youthful of the delegates at Philadelphia, but also one of the most important. He numbered among the most capable orators. Furthermore, he attended every session. Although he came to the Convention unconvinced that major changes should be made in the Articles of Confederation, his views underwent a startling transformation during the debates. With Madison, he became a leading figure in the nationalist caucus. He served with distinction on the Committee of Postponed Matters and the Committee of Style. He also took notes on the proceedings included on his draft from the Committee of Style.

This draft was presented to the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinnati by John Gardiner Gilman President of the New Hampshire Society of the Cincinniati 1896-1905 and grandnephew of Nicholas Gilman. Presumably it was handed down in the Nicholas Gilman family.

Subjects:

Committees, Constitution, Constitutional conventions, Constitutions, Draft, Documents

People:

King, Rufus, Gilman, John Gardiner, Dunlap, John

Place of Origin:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Collection Name:

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire

Item Number:

1990.201

Accession Number:

1990.201

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the American Independence Museum

Credit Line:

Gift of John Gardiner Gilman, President of the Society of Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire, 1896-1905.

Participating Organization:

American Independence Museum