The same paper contains the ratification of South Carolina; the amendments proposed by her seconding Massachusetts; her federal procession, dinner

al fresco, etc, etc.

The ratification is as follows:

"In convention of the people of the state of South Carolina, by their representatives held in the city of Charleston [from the 12th to the 23d of May, 1788]. 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 legisla ture of this state, passed the 17th and 18th days of February last, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to the people of the said united states and their posterity, DO, in the name and behalf of the people of this state, hereby assent to and ratify the said constitution. Done in convention, the 23d of May, A. D., 1788, and of the independence of the united states of America, the twelfth. THOMAS PINCKNEY, [L. S.] President.

ATTEST:

JOHN S. DART, [L. S.]
Secretary.

The convention also declared formally that, "it is essential to the preservation of the rights reserved to the several states, and the freedom of the people under the operations of a general government, that the right of prescribing the time, place and manner of holding their elections to the federal legislature, should be forever inseparably annexed to the sovereignty of the several states," except the declaration goes on to say- where the state legislature shall neglect to perform the same, according to the tenor of the federal constitution, the federal government may interfere as authorized therein: - this of course would be by virtue of the state's authority.

"This convention doth also declare that no section, or paragraph, of the said constitution warrants a construction that the states do not retain every power not expressly relinquished by them, and vested in the general government of the union."

"Resolved, that it be a standing instruction to all such delegates as may hereafter be elected to represent this state in the general government, to exert their utmost abilities and influence to effect an alteration of the constitution conformable to the aforegoing resolutions."

[Virginia Gazette, June 26, 1788.]

It is announced that, "yesterday the grand question came on before the Honorable, the convention of this state, for the ratification of the federal constitution," and that the vote was 89 for, and 79 against ratification, also that 17 or 18 members were appointed a committee to prepare amendments to recommend for future adoption.

Ibid., July 3, 1788. In this number is printed the act of ratification of Virginia, also 20 articles for a bill of rights, and 21 amendments which the convention desired should be added to the federal constitution-they, "in the name and behalf of the people of this commonwealth," enjoining it upon all representatives in congress to exert themselves continually to have them ratified, and to conform to the spirit of them, as far as the federal constitution would allow, in all laws that might be meanwhile passed.

The first amendment proposed by Virginia is the same that Massachusetts originated, viz: “That each state in the union shall respectively retain every

power, jurisdiction, and right which is not by this constitution delegated to the congress of the united states, or to the departments of the federal government.'

The act of ratification is as follows:

"VIRGINIA, to-wit: We the delegates of the people of Virginia, duly elected in pursuance of a recommendation from the general assembly, and now met in convention, having fully and freely investigated and discussed the proceedings of the federal convention, and being prepared as well as the most mature deliberation hath enabled us, to decide thereon, DO, in the name and behalf of the people of Virginia, declare and make known that these powers granted under the constitution, being derived from the people of the united states, may be resumed by them, whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury, or oppression, and that every power not granted thereby remains with them and with their will: That, therefore, no right of any denomination can be cancelled, abridged, restrained, or modified by the congress, by the senate, or house of representatives, acting in any capacity, by the president, or any department, or officer of the united states, except in those instances in which power is given by the constitution for those purposes. That among other essential rights, the liberty of conscience and of the press cannot be cancelled, abridged, restrained or modified by any authority of the united states.

With these impressions, with a solemn appeal to the Searcher of hearts for the purity of our intentions, and under the conviction that, whatever imperfections may exist in the constitution, ought rather to be examined in the mode prescribed therein, than to bring the union into danger, by a delay, with a hope of obtaining amendments previous to the ratification:

We, the said delegates, in the name and in behalf of the people of Virginia, do by these presents, assent to, and ratify the said constitution, recommended on the 17th day of September, 1787, by the federal convention, for the government of the united states; hereby announcing to all those whom it may concern, that the said constitution is binding on the said PEOPLE."

In the same number is the following extract from a letter from New Hampshire, dated June 21, 1788: "I have the great pleasure of informing you that this state has this day adopted the federal constitution: This important question was carried by a majority of eleven-ayes 57 — nays 46.”

Ibid., July 24, 1788. A letter from London speaks of "the constitution agreed on by the convention, and proposed to the states for their acceptance and ratification;" and the hope is expressed that as everything is devised" for securing their liberties, for the establishment of the public credit, and for promoting the peace and harmony of the states none will be so wanting as to reject a code which appears so fraught with every blessing."

In the news from Boston is an item about Providence and Newport, R. I., celebrating "the ratification of the constitution by New Hampshire." In the former several salutes were fired on Federal Hill, and the college boys "named the beautiful green around the college, FEDERAL PARADE.

In the same number, is a long report of the proceedings in the convention of New York, Jay, Hamilton, Duane, Livingston, and others, debating.

In the course of the report it is stated that, in the afternoon a considerable number of the federalists had a meeting "to congratulate each other on the happy news from Virginia;" and "they fired ten cannon in honor of the ten adopting states."

The ratification of Virginia seemed to have a favorable influence: "The spirit of warm contention" "between the parties in the convention" seemed to subside, and it is stated that "the convention are now framing their objections to the constitution for amendments; it is supposed they will be similar to those of Virginia."

It is further stated that, accounts from New York indicate "that the final question was to have been taken in the honorable convention yesterday," and that "the constitution would be carried in the same mode as by Virginia."

In the same number is a letter dated July 7, 1788, from a country girl in Philadelphia, to her sister in Reading, in which she speaks of a procession she witnessed: "... Then came several arm in arm, bearing flags with Delaware, Va., S. C., Conn., etc., painted in large letters on them-signifying the propriety of union among us; of which I cannot understand the meaning, as we were all united before, and this may tend to disunite us."

A letter from N. Y., July 14, says: "The last accounts from our convention are unfavorable. I fear their mode of (what they call an) adoption will Should they reject, commotions will ensue."

amount to a rejection.

[Virginia Gazette, July 31, 1788.]

A letter from Poughkeepsie, dated July 11, says: "This morning Mr. Jay brought forward the grand question, by a resolution for adopting the constitution. He spoke forcibly and commanded great attention. . . . The Chancellor also spoke. Our worthy chief justice; also Mr. Smith, Mr. Lansing, and the governor, spoke against the resolution; and from what fell from them, they seem determined to support a conditional adoption. This the feder alists consider a rejection under another name, and no doubt will protest against it."

Ibid., Aug. 7, 1788. "NEW YORK, July 12. From the Independent Journal Extraordinary, New York, Monday, July 28, 1788. On Saturday evening, about nine o'clock, arrived the joyful tidings of the adoption of the new constitution, yeas 30, nays 25-majority 5." [This is a mistake the vote was 30 to 27, majority 3.] The account goes on to state that bells were rung and guns fired. The "federal ship Hamilton" fired a salute; general joy prevailed and several malcontents 'drank freely of the federal bowl," and declared themselves "reconciled to the new constitution."

The same number contains a letter from Providence which says: "The opposers of the new constitution in this state feel beaten and are bitter." . . . The writer further says that, though the people of Providence "have not celebrated the ratification of the constitution by ten states, . . . yet there is no town on the Continent whose inhabitants are more universally federal," etc.

Ibid., Aug. 14, 1788. "Ratification of the constitution by the convention of the state of New York.

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We, the delegates of the people of the state of New York, duly elected and met in convention, having maturely considered the constitution for the united states of America in the name and in the behalf of the people of the state of New York, do, by these presents, assent to, and ratify the said constitution."

veas

Ibid., Aug. 28, 1789. "A Petersburg paper says the convention of the state of North Carolina have not actually rejected the constitution, but have proposed a bill of rights and amendments," intending to adopt when the amendments should be made; all of which was agreed to by a majority of 102 184, nays 82. The opinion of the convention is "that congress will call a general convention to consider proposed amendments," and that they "will be submitted to conventions in the several states." "The convention showed every disposition to promote the interest of the union, . . . and, perceiving exceptions in the new constitution, they thought themselves justifiable in post

poning the ultimate decision of the important question until it should be reconsidered by the several states, and such objections removed as might be found necessary to the preservation of the union."

Ibid., Sept. 4, 1788. This number contains the following:

"STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

In CONVENTION, Aug. 2, 1788. Resolved that a declaration of rights, asserting and securing from encroachment the great principles of civil and religious liberty, and the unalienable rights of the people, together with amendments to the most ambiguous and exceptionable parts of the said constitution of government, ought to be laid before congress, or the convention of the states that shall, or may be called for the purpose of amending the said constitution, for their consideration, previous to the ratification of the constitution aforesaid, on the part of the state of North Carolina."

There are 20 declarations of right and 26 amendments proposed. The first amendment is as follows: That each state in the union shall respectively retain every power, jurisdiction and right, which is not, by this constitution, delegated to the congress of the united states, or to the departments of the federal government."

Ibid., Sept. 18, 1788. A letter of a correspondent of a Philadelphia paper asks as follows: "Why have not congress complied with the recommendation of the federal convention in organizing the new government, when adopted by NINE states? The plan proposed by that august body, has been re-echoed by eleven states, a considerable while since, yet, strange to tell! (in a republican government) the great voice of the people has not been respected by our rulers.'

The same number contains an able article, signed "Solon, Jr.," from the Providence Gazette:

". . . Many of the people, and some respectable states in the union, think the new constitution needs amendments. The ratification of it by the state of New York, bears a singular complexion, and North Carolina has refused to ratify it." He then says, the making of these amendments "must be done by the states under the old confederation, or as an operation of the new constitution. Eleven states having ratified the constitution unconditionally, it is not likely that they will so far recede from that measure, as to humor the remaining two states, in holding a convention under the old confederation."

Ibid., Oct. 9, 1788. Extract from the letter of a gentleman in London, dated July 26, 1788: "I suppose before this time, nine states at least will have adopted the new constitution."

Ibid., Nov. 6, 1788. "The general assembly [of Virginia] have taken measures to organize the new government. They have resolved to lay off the state into districts," each to "appoint" a representative. "Saturday next the senators are to be elected." It is also stated that the house of delegates, by a great majority, resolved that "an application be made to the congress of the new government to call a convention of the states to take into their consideration the defects of the new constitution."

Ibid., Nov. 13, 1788. "A bill has passed the house of delegates, for laying off the commonwealth into twelve districts, for the choice of electors to elect the president of the national government.'

"The honorable Richard Henry Lee and William Grayson, esquires, were elected members of the senate from this state."

[Virginia Gazette, December 4, 1788.]

The Newport Herald says a motion was made in the general assembly of Rhode Island, "for the appointment of a convention to consider the proposed constitution." The motion was lost by 40 nays to 14 yeas.

"It appears," says the editor, "that the legislature are determined to hazard the consequences of a separation from the union."

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Ibid., Dec. 25, 1788. A late London paper is quoted as follows: By the last account seven of the states had acceded to the plan; . no doubt is entertained of the concurrence of South Carolina and Virginia. The congress will soon perfect the constitution of the confederated republic.' Charles Carroll (of Carrollton) and John Henry are so the editor says elected" SENATORS in the new CONGRESS " from Maryland.

Ibid., Feb. 5, 1789. The editor says New York, for some reason, “will have no agency in the choice of those important officers, the president and vicepresident; nor will she be represented in that body where her most important interests will be at stake, the senate of the united states."

"Yesterday 10 of the electors of this state met at the capitol for the purpose of electing a president and vice-president; the ballots stood as follows:

"Gen. Washington, president, 10; John Adams, vice-president, 5; Henry Clinton, vice-president, 3; John Hancock, vice-president, 1; John Jay, vicepresident, 1.

"The following gentlemen are elected representatives in the congress of the united states for this state, viz: John Page, James Madison, Jr., Samuel Griffin, Theodorick Bland, Andrew Moore, Alexander White and Richard B. Lee, esquires."

Ibid., Feb. 19, 1789. "A gentleman in Georgia thus writes to a friend in Rhode Island: 'Our old state constitution, which, like that of Pennsylvania, has a single house of assembly, is found so defective, that a convention to frame a new one is ordered. Our present ideas are that, the new one shall be nearly similar to the new federal constitution. I am sorry to hear that your state still continues averse to the new government ? ""

Ibid., Feb. 26, 1789. "" 'Philadelphia, Feb. 6. The ten federal electors chosen by this state, gave ten votes for Gen. Washington, as president, and eight for Hon. John Adams, as vice-president."

No. 3.

THE UNION OF STATES.

Extracts from the American Museum, from January, 1787, to July, 1789. The American Museum, or Repository of Ancient and modern fugitive pieces. Matthew Carey. Philadelphia: Carey, Stewart & Co.

This plan of preserving valuable papers, etc., was that of Dr. Franklin. It was also highly approved by Gen. Washington.

[American Museum, January, 1787.]

In an address to the people of the United States, by Benjamin Rush, M. D.,

to suggest the defects of the Confederation" he says: "they consist 1st, In