Letter of Transmittal

The Convention, upon completing its work on
the Constitution, wrote a letter to the Congress. The letter, known as The Letter of Transmittal, laid out for Congress
that which the Convention felt should happen next: that the Constitution should
be presented to the states and that each state should ratify the Constitution
and notify Congress of such ratification. The remainder of the Letter
outlined, in short order, how the government ought to be replaced once
ratification was complete. It was a bold, dare say revolutionary,
statement.

The following text was taken from Miracle at Philadelphia and
confirmed via comparison with an image of the
Letter.

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 proceeding 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 Election 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 assigned; 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.