XXVI. That Congress shall not introduce foreign troops into the United States, without the consent of two-thirds of the members present of both houses. SAM. JOHNSTON, President.

By Order.

J. HUNT, Secretary.

THE above are the proceedings of the conventions of the twelve states, which had been represented in the general convention. The ratification of New Hampshire, being the ninth in order, was received by Congress on the 2d of July, 1788The following is an extract from their journal of that day.

UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1778.

THE state of New Hampshire having ratified the constitution transmitted to them by the act of the 28th of September last, and transmitted to Congress their ratification, and the same being read, the president reminded Congress that this was the ninth ratification transmitted and 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 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.

On the question to agree to this order, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Yates :

New Hampshire, Mr. Gilman,

Mr. Wingate,

ay

ay say

On the 14th of July, 1788, the committee reported an act for putting the constitution into operation, which was debated until the 13th of September of the same year, when the following resolution was adopted.

WHEREAS the convention assembled in Philadelphia, pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 21st of February, 1787, did, on the 17th of September, in the same year, report to the United States in Congress assembled, a constitution for the people of

the United States; whereupon Congress, on the 28th of the same September, did resolve unanimously, "That the said report, with the resolutions and letter

66

accompanying the same, be transmitted to the seve"ral legislatures, in order to be submitted to a con"vention 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 constitution so reported by the convention, and by Congress transmitted to the several legislatures, has been ratified in the manner therein declared to be sufficient for the establishment of the same, and such ratifications, duly authenticated, have been received by Congress, and are filed in the office of the secretary; therefore,

Resolved, That the first Wednesday in January next, be the day for appointing electors in the several states, which, before the said day, shall have ratified the said constitution; that the first Wednesday in February next, be the day for the electors to assemble in their respective states, and vote for a president; and that the first Wednesday in March next, be the time, and the present seat of Congress the place for commencing proceedings under the said constitution.

THE elections in the several states were held conformably to the above resolution; on Wednesday, the 4th of March, 1789, proceedings commenced under the constitution; and on the 30th of April, of the same year, George Washington, elected by the unanimous suffrage of the electors, was inaugurated as president of the United States.

On the 11th of January, 1790, the following ratification of the constitution by the state of North Carolina, was communicated by president Washington to both houses of Congress.

: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.

IN CONVENTION.

WHEREAS the general convention which met in Philadelphia, in pursuance of a recommendation of Congress, did recommend to the citizens of the United States, a constitution or form of government in the following words, namely,

"We the people," &c.

[Here follows the constitution of the United States. verbatim.]

Resolved, That this convention, in behalf of the freemen, citizens and inhabitants of the state of North Carolina, do adopt and ratify the said constitution and form of government.

Done in convention this twenty-first day of November, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. (Signed) SAMUEL JOHNSTON,

J. HUNT,

President of the Convention.

JAMES TAYLOR, Secretaries.

On the 16th of June, 1790, the following ratification by the state of Rhode Island was communicated to Congress.

RHODE ISLAND.

[The Constitution of the United States of America precedes the following Ratification.]

Ratification of the Constitution by the Convention of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

WE, the delegates of the people of the state of Rhode

Island and Providence Plantations, duly elected and met in convention, having maturely considered the constitution for the United States of America, agreed to on the seventeenth day of September, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, by the convention then assembled at Philadelphia, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, (a copy whereof precedes these presents ;) and having also seriously and deliberately considered the present situation of this state, do declare and make known,

1. That there are certain natural rights, of which men, when they form a social compact, cannot deprive or divest their posterity, among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.

11. That all power is naturally vested in, and consequently derived from the people; that magistrates, therefore, are their trustees and agents, and at all times amenable to them.

III. That the powers of government may be re-assumed by the people, whensoever it shall become necessary to their happiness. That the rights of the states respectively to nominate and appoint all state officers, and every other power, jurisdiction and right, which is not by the said constitution clearly delegated to the Congress of the United States, or to the departments of government thereof, remain to the people of the several states or their respective state governments, to whom they may have granted the same; and that those clauses in the said constitution which declare that Congress shall not have or exercise certain