James Madison letter to Edmund Pendleton, 20 September 1787

PHILADELPHIA, September 20th. 1787.

DEAR SIR, The privilege of franking having ceased with the Convention, I have waited for this opportunity of inclosing you a copy of the proposed Constitution for the United States. I forbear to make any observ.ions on it, either on the side of its merits or its faults. The best judges of both will be those who can combine with a knowledge of the collective and permanent interest of America a freedom from the bias resulting from a participation in the work. If the plan proposed be worthy of adoptjon, the degree of unanimity attained in the Convention is a circumstance as fortunate as the very respectable dissent on the part of Virginia is a subject of regret. The double object of blending a proper stability and energy in the Government with the essential characters of the republican form, and of tracing a proper line of demarkation between the national and State authorities, was necessarily found to be as difficult as it was desirable, and to admit of an infinite diversity concerning the means among those who were unanimously agreed concerning the end.

I find, by a letter from my father, that he and my uncle Erasmus have lately paid their respects to Edmundsbury. I infer from his silence as to your health that no unfavorable change had happened in it. That this may find it perfectly re-established is the sincere and affectionate wish of,

Dear sir, your friend and humble serv.