Elliot’s Debates: Volume 1
Journal of the Federal Convention
Monday, September 17, 1787.
Close of the General Convention.
The engrossed Constitution being read, it was moved that the Constitution be signed by the members in the following, as a convenient form:
“Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the states present, the 17th September, &c. In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.”
It was moved to reconsider the clause declaring that “the number of representatives shall not exceed one for every forty thousand,” in order to strike out “forty thousand,” and insert “thirty thousand;” which passed in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the Constitution, enrolled in order to be signed,all the states answered, “Ay.”
On the question to agree to the above form of signing, it passed in the affirmative.
Yeas: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, 10. Divided: South Carolina, 1.
It was moved that the Journal, and other papers of the Convention, be deposited with the president; which passed in the affirmative.
Yeas: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 10. Nay: Maryland, 1.
The president having asked what the Convention meant should be done with the Journal, it was resolved, nem. Con., “That he retain the Journal and other papers, subject to the order of the Congress, if ever formed under this Constitution.”
The members proceeded to sign the Constitution; and the Convention then dissolved itself by an adjournment sine die.
