[Footnote 13: See p. 270.]
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _January 18, 1887_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives_:
As a matter of national interest, and one solely within the discretion
and control of Congress, I transmit the accompanying memorial of the
executive committee of the subconstitutional centennial commission,
proposing to celebrate on the 17th of September, in the city of
Philadelphia, as the day upon which and the place where the convention
that framed the Federal Constitution concluded their labors and
submitted the results for ratification to the thirteen States then
composing the United States.
The epoch was one of the deepest interest and the events well worthy of
commemoration.
I am aware that as each State acted independently in giving its adhesion
to the new Constitution the dates and anniversaries of their several
ratifications are not coincident. Some action looking to a national
expression in relation to the celebration of the close of the first
century of popular government under a written constitution has already
been suggested, and whilst stating the great interest I share in the
renewed examination by the American people of the historical foundations
of their Government, I do not feel warranted in discriminating in favor
or against the propositions to select one day or place in preference to
all others, and therefore content myself with conveying to Congress
these expressions of popular feeling and interest upon the subject,
hoping that in a spirit of patriotic cooperation, rather than of local
competition, fitting measures may be enacted by Congress which will give
the amplest opportunity all over these United States for the
manifestation of the affection and confidence of a free and mighty
nation in the institutions of a Government of which they are the
fortunate inheritors and under which unexampled prosperity has been
enjoyed by all classes and conditions in our social system.