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All and singular which premises by the tenour of these presents, I have caused to be exemplified. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the great seal of the said state to be affixed to these presents, at New Castle, the 2d day of April, in the year of our Lord 1787, and in the 11th year of the independence of the United States of America.

Attest.

JAMES BOOTH, Sec❜ry.

THOMAS COLLINS.

STATE OF MARYLAND.

An Act for the appointment of, and conferring powers in Deputies from this State to the Federal Convention.

Be it enacted by the general assembly of Maryland, That the honourable James M'Henry, Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll, John Francis Mercer, and Luther Martin, Esqrs. be appointed and authorized on behalf of this state, to meet such deputies as may be appointed and authorized by any other of the United States, to assemble in convention at Philadelphia, for the purpose of revising the federal system, and to join with them in considering such alterations and further provisions as may be necessary to render the federal constitution adequate to the exigencies of the union; and in reporting such an act for that purpose, to the

United States in Congress assembled, as when agreed to by them, and duly confirmed by the several states, will effectually provide for the same; and the said deputies, or such of them as shall attend the said convention, shall have full power to represent this state for the purposes aforesaid; and the said deputies are hereby directed to report the proceedings of the said convention, and any act agreed to therein, to the next session of the general assembly of this state.

By the House of Delegates, May 26, 1787.

Read and assented to.

By order,

WM. HARWOOD, Clerk.

True copy from the original.

WM. HARWOOD, Clerk H. D.

By the Senate, May 26, 1787.

Read and assented to.

By order,

J. DORSEY, Clerk.

True copy from the original.

J. DORSEY, Clerk Senate.

W. SMALLWOOD.

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

General Assembly begun and held at the Publick Buildings in the City of Richmond, on Monday the 16th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1786.

An Act for appointing Deputies from this Commonwealth to a Convention proposed to be held in the City of Philadelphia, in May next, for the purpose of revising the Federal Constitution.

WHEREAS the commissioners who assembled at Annapolis, on the 14th day of September last, for the purpose of devising and reporting the means of enabling Congress to provide effectually for the commercial interests of the United States, have represented the necessity of extending the revision of the federal system to all its defects, and have recommended that deputies for that purpose be appointed by the several legislatures, to meet in convention, in the city of Philadelphia, on the 2d day of May next, a provision which was preferable to a discussion of the subject in Congress, where it might be too much interrupted by the ordinary business before them, and where it would besides be deprived of the valuable counsels of sundry individuals who are disqualified by the constitution or laws of particular states, or restrained by peculiar circumstances from a seat in that assembly: And whereas the general assembly of this commonwealth taking into view the actual situation of the confederacy, as well as reflecting on the alarming representations made, from time to time, by the United States in Congress, particularly in their act of the 15th day of February last,

can no longer doubt that the crisis is arrived at which the good people of America are to decide the solemn question, whether they will by wise and magnanimous efforts, reap the just fruits of that independence which they have so gloriously acquired, and of that union which they have cemented with so much of their common blood, or whether by giving way to unmanly jealousies and prejudices, or to partial and transitory interests, they will renounce the auspicious blessings prepared for them by the revolution, and furnish to its enemies an eventual triumph over those by whose virtue and valour it has been accomplished: And whereas the same noble and extended policy, and the same fraternal and affectionate sentiments which originally determined the citizens of this commonwealth to unite with their brethren of the other states in establishing a federal government, cannot but be felt with equal force now as motives to lay aside every inferior consideration, and to concur in such farther concessions and provisions as may be necessary to secure the great objects for which that government was instituted, and to render the United States as happy in peace as they have been glorious in war.

Be it therefore enacted by the general assembly of the commonwealth of Virginia, That seven commissioners be appointed by joint ballot of both houses of assembly, who, or any three of them, are hereby authorized as deputies from this commonwealth, to meet such deputies as may be appointed and authorized by other states, to assemble in convention at Philadelphia as above recommended, and to join with them in devising and discussing all such alterations and farther provisions as may be necessary to render the federal

constitution adequate to the exigencies of the union; and in reporting such an act for that purpose to the United States in Congress, as when agreed to by them, and duly confirmed by the several states, will effectually provide for the same.

And be it further enacted, That in case of the death of any of the said deputies, or of their declining their appointments, the executive are hereby authorized to supply such vacancies. And the governour is requested to transmit forthwith a copy of this act to the United States in Congress, and to the executives of each of the states in the union.

(Signed)

JOHN JONES, Speaker of the Senate.

JOSEPH PRENTIS, Speaker of the
House of Delegates.

A true copy from the enrolment.

JOHN BECKLEY, Clerk H. D.

IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Monday, the 4th of December, 1786.

THE house, according to the order of the day, proceeded, by joint ballot with the senate, to the appointment of seven deputies, from this commonwealth, to a convention proposed to be held in the city of Philadelphia, in May next, for the purpose of revising the federal constitution; and the members having prepared tickets with the names of the persons to be appointed, and deposited the same in the ballot-boxes, Mr. Corbin, Mr. Matthews, Mr. David Stuart, Mr. George Nicholas, Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Wills, Mr. Thomas

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