Jersey, agree to, ratify, and confirm, the same and every part thereof. 'Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the members present, this 18th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the twelfth." GEORGIA.-In Convention, Wednesday, January 2nd, 85. d. 1788. 'To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: 'Whereas, The form of a Constitution for the Government of the United States of America, was, on the 17th day of September, 1787, agreed upon and reported to Congress, by the Deputies of the said United States, convened in Philadelphia, which said Constitution is written in the words following, to wit:2 'And Whereas, The United States in Congress assembled did, on the 28th day of September, 1787, Resolve, unanimously, "That the said report, with the resolutions and letter accompanying the same, be transmitted to the several Legislatures, in order to be submitted to a Convention of Delegates chosen in each State by the people thereof, in conformity to the resolves of the Convention made and provided in that case:". 'And Whereas, The Legislature of the State of Georgia did, on the 26th day of October, 1787, in pursuance of the above recited resolution of Congress, Resolve, That a Convention be elected on the day of the next general election, and in the same manner that representatives are elected; and that the said Convention consist of not more than three members from each county; and that the said Convention should meet at Augusta, on the fourth Tuesday in December then next, and as soon thereafter as convenient, proceed to consider the said report and resolutions, and to adopt or reject any part or the whole thereof: 'Now know ye, that we, the Delegates of the people of the State of Georgia, in Convention met, pursuant to the resolu 1 Elliot's Debates, Vol. 1, p. 320-2. 2 Here follows a copy of the constitution. 2 85. e. 85. f. tions of the Legislature aforesaid, having taken into our serious consideration the said Constitution, have assented to, ratified, and adopted, and by these presents do, in virtue of the powers and authority to us given by the people of the said State for that purpose, for and in behalf of ourselves and our constituents, fully and entirely assent to, ratify, and adopt the said Constitution. 'Done in Convention, at Augusta, in the said State, on the 2nd day of January, in the year of our Lord, 1788, and of the Independence of the United States, the twelfth." CONNECTICUT.-'In the name of the People of the State of Connecticut. 'We, the Delegates of the People of said State, in General Convention assembled, pursuant to an Act of the Legislature in October last, have assented to, and ratified, and by these presents do assent to, ratify, and adopt the Constitution reported by the Convention of Delegates, in Philadelphia, on the 17th day of September, A. D., 1787, for the United States of America. 'Done in Convention, at Hartford, this 9th day of January, A. D., 1788. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.' MASSACHUSETTS.-' Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 'The Convention having impartially discussed, and fully considered, the Constitution for the United States of America, reported to Congress by the Convention of Delegates from the United States of America, and submitted to us by a resolution of the General Court of the said Commonwealth, passed the 25th day of October, last past, and acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Supreme Ruler of the Universe in affording the people of the United States, in the course of his providence, an opportunity, deliberately and peaceably, without fraud or surprise, of entering into 1 Elliot's Debates, Vol. I, p. 323. an explicit and solemn compact with each other, by assenting to and ratifying a new Constitution, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity,-do, in the name and in behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, assent to and ratify the said Constitution for the United States of America. 'And as it is the opinion of this Convention, that certain amendments and alterations in the said Constitution would remove the fears, and quiet the apprehensions, of many of the good people of this Commonwealth, and more effectually guard against an undue administration of the Federal Government,-the Convention do therefore recommend that the following alterations and provisions be introduced into the said Constitution : 'I. That it explicitly declare that all powers not expressly delegated by the aforesaid Constitution are reserved to the several States, to be by them exercised. II. That there shall be one representative to every thirty thousand persons, according to the census mentioned in the Constitution, until the whole number of the representatives amounts to two hundred. 'III. That Congress do not exercise the powers vested in them by the 4th section of the 1st Article, but in cases where a State shall neglect or refuse to make the regulations therein mentioned, or shall make regulations subversive of the right of the people to a free and equal representation in Congress, agreeably to the Constitution. 'IV. That Congress do not lay direct taxes but when the moneys arising from the impost and excise are insufficient for the public exigencies, nor then, until Congress shall have first made a requisition upon the States to assess, levy, and pay, their respective proportions of such requisition, agreeably to the census fixed in the said Constitution, in such way and manner as the Legislatures of the States shall think best; and in such case, if any State shall neglect or refuse to pay its proportion, pursuant to such requisition, then Congress may assess and levy such State's proportion, together with interest thereon at the rate of six per cent. per annum, from the time of payment prescribed in such requisition. 'V. That Congress erect no company of merchants with exclusive advantages of commerce. 'VI. That no person shall be tried for any crime by which he may incur an infamous punishment, or loss of life, until he be first indicted by a grand jury, except in such cases as may arise in the government and regulation of the land and naval forces. VII The Supreme Judicial Federal Court shall have no jurisdiction of causes between citizens of different States, unless the matter in dispute, whether it concerns the realty or personalty, be of the value of three thousand dollars at the least; nor shall the Federal Judicial powers extend to any actions between citizens of different States, where the matter in dispute, whether it concerns the realty or personalty, is not of the value of fifteen hundred dollars at least. 'VIII. In civil actions between citizens of different States, every issue of fact, arising in actions at common law, shall be tried by a jury, if the parties, or either of them, request it. 'IX. Congress shall at no time consent that any person, holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall accept of a title of nobility, or any other title or office, from any king, prince, or foreign state. 'And the Convention do, in the name and in behalf of the people of this Commonwealth, enjoin it upon their representatives in Congress, at all times, until the alterations and provisions aforesaid have been considered, agreeably to the fifth article of the said Constitution, to exert all their influence, and use all reasonable and legal methods, to obtain a ratification of the said alterations and provisions, in such manner as is provided in the said article. 'And that the United States, in Congress assembled, may have due notice of the assent and ratification of the said Constitution by this Convention, it is Resolved, That the assent and ratification aforesaid be engrossed on parchment, together with the recommendation and injunction. aforesaid, and with this resolution: and that his Excellency, John Hancock, Esq., President, and the Hon. William Cushing, Esq., Vice President of the Convention, transmit the same, countersigned by the Secretary of the Convention, under their hands and seals, to the United States in Congress assembled.'1 MARYLAND.-'In Convention of the Delegates of the people of the State of Maryland, April 28, 1788. 'We, the Delegates of the people of the State of Maryland, having fully considered the Constitution of the United States of America, reported to Congress, by the Convention of Deputies, from the United States of America, held in Philadelphia, on the 17th day of September, in the year 1787, of which the annexed is a copy, and submitted to us by a resolution of the General Assembly of Maryland, in November Session, 1787, do, for ourselves, and in the name, and on behalf of the people of this State, assent to, and ratify the said Constitution. 'In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.2 SOUTH CAROLINA.-'In Convention of the people of the State of South Carolina, by their representatives, held in the City of Charleston, on Monday the 12th day of May, and continued by divers adjournments to Friday the 23d day of May, Anno Domini, 1788, and in the twelfth year of the Independence of the United States of America. "The Convention, having maturely considered the Constitution, or form of Government, reported to Congress by the Convention of Delegates from the United States of America, and submitted to them by a resolution of the Legislature of this State, passed the 17th and 18th days of February last, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for 1 Elliot's Debates, Vol. 1, pp. 322–3. 2 Elliot's Debates, Vol. 1, p. 324. 885. g. 885. h. |