Page images
PDF
EPUB

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Wednesday, June 18th, 1788.

The Convention met according to adjournment at Concord in said State.

Several persons appeared and produced certificates of their being elected members of the Convention ;-some of which were from Towns which had before made returns of other persons, who had been admitted to a seat in Convention at Exeter; and after much debate thereon came to the following votes:

Voted, That it is the opinion of this Convention that Mr. Allen returned by the Town of Walpole was not legally elected a member of Convention.

[P. 26.] Voted, That it is the opinion of this Convention, that Mr. Fowler returned by the Town of Boscawen was not legally elected a member.

Adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.

Thursday, June 19th, 1788.

Motion

The Convention met according to adjournment. was made to appoint a Committee to consider of and report such amendments as they should judge necessary to be proposed in alteration of the Constitution :—which motion was postponed for the further discussion of the Constitution :And after some debate Adjourned to 3 o'clock, P. M.

Met accordingly. Proceeded to a general discussion of the Constitution.

Adjourned to 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.

[P. 27.]

Friday, June 20th, 1788.

The Convention met according to adjournment. Resumed the motion of yesterday for a Committee &

Voted, That Mr. Langdon, Mr. Bartlett, Mr. Badger, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Atherton, Mr. Dow, Mr. Bellows, Mr. West, Mr. Livermore, Mr. Worster, Mr. Parker, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Smith, Mr. Hooper, and Mr. Barrett, be a committee to consider of and report such articles as they shall think proper to be proposed as amendments to the Federal Constitution, and lay the same before this Convention.

Adjourned to 3 o'clock P. M. Met accordingly.

The Committee to consider of and report such Articles as they should think proper to be proposed as amendments to the Federal Constitution Reported as follows: (viz.)

First, That it be explicitly declared that all powers not expressly and particularly delegated by the aforesaid Constitution, are reserved to the several States to be by them exercised.

[P. 28.] Secondly, That there shall be one representative to every thirty Thousand persons according to the census mentioned in the Constitution until the whole number of Representatives amounts to two hundred.

Thirdly, That Congress do not exercise the powers vested in them by the fourth section of the first Article, but in cases when a State shall neglect or refuse to make the regulations therein mentioned, or shall make regulations subversive of the rights of the people to a free and equal representation in Congress; nor shall Congress in any case make regulations contrary to a free and equal Representation.

Fourthly, That Congress do not lay direct Taxes but when the money arising from the Impost excise and their other resources are insufficient for the public Exigences; nor then until Congress shall have first made a requisition upon the States to assess, levy and pay their respective proportions of such requisitions, agreeably to the [P. 29.] Census fixed in the said Constitution, in such way and manner as the Legislature of the State_shall think best; and in such case, if any State shall neglect, then Congress may assess, and levy such State's proportion, together with the Interest thereon at the rate of six pr Cent. pr Annum, from the time of payment prescribed in such requisition.

Fifthly, That Congress erect no company of Merchants with exclusive advantages of Commerce.

Sixthly, 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.

Seventhly, All common law cases between citizens of different states shall be commenced in the common Law Courts of the respective States; and no appeal shall be allowed to the federal Court in such cases unless the sum or value of the thing in controversy amount to three thousand dollars.

[P. 30.] Eighthly, 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.

Ninthly, Congress shall at no time consent that any person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall accept a title of nobility, or any other title or office from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Tenthly, That no standing army shall be kept up in time of peace, unless with the consent of three fourths of the members of each branch of Congress; nor shall soldiers, in time of peace, be quartered upon private houses without the consent of the owners.

Eleventhly, Congress shall make no laws touching religion or to infringe the rights of Conscience.

Twelfthly, Congress shall never disarm any citizen unless such as are or have been in actual rebellion.

[blocks in formation]

[P. 31.] Which Report being read and considered was received and accepted.

Motion was then made by Mr. Atherton, seconded by Mr. Parker, That this Convention ratify the proposed Constitution, together with the amendments; but that said Constitution do not operate in the State of New Hampshire without said amendments.

After some debate, motion was made by Mr. Livermore, seconded by Mr. Bartlett & others, to postpone the motion made by Mr. Atherton, to make way for the following motion, (viz.) That in case the Constitution be adopted, that the amendments reported by the Committee be recommended to Congress-which motion of Mr. Atherton being postponed, adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.

Saturday, June 21st, 1788.

The Convention met according to adjournment.

Resumed the consideration of Mr. Livermore's motion:— which being determined by the Convention in the affirmative, [P. 32.] Motion was then made by Mr. Atherton, seconded by Mr. Hooper, that the Convention adjourn to some future day; but it was negatived.

Motion was then made by Mr. Livermore, seconded by Mr. Langdon and others, That the main question be now put for the adoption of the Constitution;-and the yeas and nays being called, were as follows:

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

In Convention of the Delegates of the People of the State of New Hampshire, June 21st, 1788:

The Convention having impartially discussed and fully [P. 34.] 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 said State passed the fourteenth day of December 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 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 State of New Hampshire, as

sent to and ratify the said Constitution for the United States of America; and as it is the opinion of this Convention, [P. 35.] 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 State, 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 :

First, That it be explicitly declared that all powers not expressly and particularly delegated by the aforesaid Constitution, are reserved to the several States to be by them exercised.

Secondly, That there shall be one Representative to every thirty Thousand persons according to the Census mentioned in the Constitution, until the whole number of Representatives amounts to two hundred.

Thirdly, That Congress do not exercise the power vested in them by the fourth Section of the first Article, but in cases when a State shall neglect or refuse to make the reg[P. 36.] ulations therein mentioned, or shall make regulations subversive of the rights of the people to a free and equal representation in Congress, nor shall Congress in any case make regulations contrary to a free and equal representation.

Fourthly, That Congress do not lay direct Taxes but when the money arising from the impost excise and their other resources 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 Legislature of the State shall think best; and in such case, if any State shall neglect, then Congress may assess and Levy such State's proportion, together with the interest thereon at the rate of six pr. cent pr. Annum from the time of payment prescribed in such requisition.

[P. 37.] Fifthly, That Congress erect no company of Merchants with exclusive advantages of commerce.

Sixthly, 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

« PreviousContinue »