the legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of the Article 5th. The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several States shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either case shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress: Provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth Section of the first article; and that no State, without it's consent, shall be deprived of it's equal suffrage in the Senate. Article 6th. All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State-legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. Article 7th. The ratification of the Convention of nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the same. Done in Convention this twenty Sixth day of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight By Order of the Convention EDM PENDLETON President [SEAL.] [INDORSEMENT.] Virginia Ratification of the Fœderal Constitution by the State of Virginia. Ent page 126 @ 141. Wednesday July 2. 1788* Congress assembled present Newhamshire Massachusetts Rhodeisland Connecticut New York New Jersey, Pensylvania Virginia North Carolina South Carolina & Georgia & from Maryland Mr Contee The State of Newhampshire having ratified the constitution transmitted to them by the Act ["of the Act" stricken out] of the 28 of Sept' last & transmitted to Congress their ratification & the same being read, the president reminded Congress that this was the ninth ratification transmitted & laid before them. Whereupon On Motion of Mr Clarke seconded by Mr Edwards Ordered That the ratifications of the constitution of the United States transmitted to Congress be referred to a come to examine the same and report an Act to Congress for putting the said constitution into operation in pursuance of the resolutions of the late federal Convention. On the question to agree to this Order the yeas & nays being required by Mr Yates The Committee to whom was referred the report from the Come of the whole on the address & resolutions from the district of Kentucky being, at their desire, discharged, therupon a motion was made by Mr Brown seconded by Mr Carrington for the purpose of ratifying & confirming the Compact between the State of Virginia & the said district the order of the day Ordered that the consideration of this motion be ["post to poned till" stricken out] for morrow. Ordered that the ratifications of the Constitution of the United States transmitted to Congress be referred to a Committee to examine the same and report an Act to Congress for putting the said Constitution into operation in pursuance of the resolutions of the late federal Convention Passed-July 2. 1788 Mr Carrington Mr Edwards Mr Baldwin Mr Otis Mr Tucker [INDORSEMENT.] To whom where referred the ratifications of the Constitution of the U: S-* Thursday July 3. 1788† Congress assembled present Newhampshire Massachusetts Rhodeisland New York New Jersey, Pensylvania Virginia North Carolina South Carolina & Georgia & from Connecticut Mr Huntington & from Maryland Mr Contee The Order of the day being called for, the motion of Mr Brown was read in the words following Whereas it appears to Congress that the state of Vir *From "Reports of Committees Relating to Congress, Presid't & Members" (No. 23, p. 331). From the "Rough" Journal of Congress (No. 1, vol. 39). |