THE CONSTITUTION RATIFIED BY: Delaware, December 7, 1787, unanimously. New York, July 26, 1788, vote 30 to 28. Saturday, September 13, 1788. gress assembled, resolved in the affirmative. The United States in Con WHEREAS, the convention 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 accompanying the same, be transmitted to the several legislatures, in order to be submitted to a convention 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 (New York) the place, for commencing the proceedings under the said Constitution." The Constitution of the United States is kept in a steel safe, protected by a combination lock, in custody of the Bureau of Rolls and Library, State Department, Washington, D.C. It is in the same case as the Declaration of Independence (page 73). There is but one copy, the final engrossment, with the signatures duly attached. It consists of four large sheets of parchment, each twenty-two by twenty-eight inches, with the words written out in the old-fashioned chirography, as shown in the extract copy (page 90). "We the people" is engrossed in very large black letters, so that they stand out in bold relief. On the last sheet are the signatures. The ink (1903) has faded a little, but not sufficient to detract from legibility or appearance. The autographs are especially clear. When the Constitution was framed, the language of the instrument was considered with great care. Each paragraph, after having been discussed in committee and in full convention, and its purport clearly determined, was submitted to the revision of a committee on style, and not adopted until it received the sanction of that committee. Hence it is, that there is hardly a passage in the whole Constitution the meaning of which can be doubted; the disputes about the Constitution being, almost without exception, not as to what it provides, but as to the effects of its provisions. The delegates in convention met at the "State House," now Independence Hall, Philadelphia. Among the Convention rules were seven States to constitute a quorum ; each State to have one vote; Convention to sit with closed doors, everything to be kept secret; nothing given the public except the completed work. The injunction of secrecy never removed. Gouverneur Morris framed the Constitution. Its execution due to James Madison, to whom was given the title of "Father of the Constitution." Rhode Island was the only State not represented in the Convention, nor did she ratify until measures were instituted toward treating her as a foreign power. Washington signed first, after which followed signatures in order of States, beginning with the East. New York bears one representative signature, "Hamilton." The oldest "signer," Franklin, aged 81 years. Among the delegates, the following were signers of the Declaration of Independence: Gerry, Sherman, Clark, Franklin, Lewis Morris, Clymer, Wilson, Read, Walton, Wythe. The Constitution carried the sobriquet of "The Good Ship Constitution," and "The New Roof." By the Constitution the name of the government created as "United States of America." (See "Declaration of Independence,” p. 62.) The Congress of the Confederation expired for want of a quorum. The word "God" does not appear in the Constitution, nor any reference to creed. In the winter of 1874 there was a religious movement toward having the word inserted, on which the House Committee of Judiciary reported adversely, on the broad ground that this question was carefully considered by the framers of the instrument; that it was rightly decided upon with great unanimity, that our republic was to be the home of the oppressed of all nations, whether Christian or Pagan, and that in view of the mischief of a union of Church and State seen in other nations it was thought inexpedient to put anything into the Constitution or form of government which might be construed into the recognition or support of any religion, creed, or doctrine. The "elastic clause of the Constitution" is Article I., Section 8, Clause 18. "To make all laws," etc. It was the interpretation of this clause that divided the people into the two first great political parties. (See Political Parties, “Strict Constructionists.'') Derivatives of Congressional Terms. Senate, used for the "Upper House" in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Virginia. House of Representatives, used for the "Lower House" in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Title of President, used in Constitutions of Delaware, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina instead of Governor. Form of Presidential Oath, Constitution of Pennsylvania. Presidential power of filling vacancies by commission, to expire at the end of the next session of the Senate, constitution of North Carolina. President may adjourn the two houses when cannot agree on a time of adjournment, constitutions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. President's message, constitution of New York. Veto, constitution of Massachusetts (1780). Impeachment, constitutions of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia. Rotation in the Senate, one-third every two years, constitution of Delaware. Money bill provision in House of Representatives, almost word for word of constitutions of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The names of the thirteen States omitted, because the Constitution was to go into effect on its acceptance by nine of them, and the States by which it would be ratified could not be foreknown. A tabulated statement of delegates, drawn from a list of John Quincy Adams's, is published in the "Journal of the Federal Convention." It covers sixty-five names, while seventy-three, it is claimed, was the correct number of delegates. The "Journals of the Maryland Legislature" add to the Maryland delegation: Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Thomas Stone, Thomas Sim Lee, Gabriel Duvall, Robert Harison Harrison. On authority of the "Madison Correspondence," there are added to the Virginia delegation Richard Henry Lee and Thomas Nelson. The "Acts of South Carolina" add Henry Laurens. None of the above named persons accepted their appointments or acted under them. The reason for "not being present" or "not signing" of those named in the following tabulated list, so far as known, is as follows: Strong. Absent by leave on September 17th. Wythe. Under leave of absence owing to sickness of his wife. Patrick Henry. Declined to serve, as he was "filled with apprehension lest the new Constitution should destroy State sovereignty and concentrate a fearful power in the hands of the chief magistrate." Martin. Withdrew. Davis. Illness of family called him home. Pierce. Attending a session of the Continental Congress, of which he was a member. Lansing. Left the Convention, as he leaned too much toward State consideration to be a good member. Yates. Left, convinced of the impracticability of establishing a general government pervading every part of the United States that would extend essential benefit to all. Members that refused to sign the Constitution. NAME Gerry, Elbridge 2 Mason, Geo.3 REPRE- BIRTHPLACE DATE ОСССРА- DIED Mass.... Marblehead.. Mass. July 17, 1744 43 Merchant.. Nov. 23, 1814 Randolph, Edmund J. Virginia... Williamsburg .Va. Aug. 10,1758 34 Lawyer.... Sept. 18, 1813 Members who declined to serve, or did not attend. Caswell, Richard.. N. Carolina Cecil Co......Md. Aug. 3, 1729 58 Lawyer.. N. Jersey England Raritan Ldg..N.J. Mar. 11, 1745 42 Merchant.. Mar. 3, 1833 Pendleton, Nathaniel.Georgia ... New Kent Co., Va. .1746 41 Army. N. Hamp.. Newington ..N.H. Sept. 22, 1787 50 Lawyer.. Georgia... Frederick Co.. Va. Houstoun, Wm. Jones, Willie. Neilson, John Oct. 20, 1821 3 Sure they would set up a monarchy, some parts being dangerous. 4 Objected to powers conferred on President and Senate and deficient boundaries between State and national authority. James McClurg, substitute for Patrick Henry. 6 Hugh Williamson, substitute for Willie Jones. Baldwin, Abraham.... Georgia... N. Guilford..Conn. Nov. 6, 1754 33 Lawyer... Bedford, Gunning, Jr. Delaware.. Philadelphia... Pa. Blair, John.. Brearley, David Fitzsimons, Thos Daniel, of St. Thomas. Madison, James, Jr. Morris, Gouverneur. Morris, Robt.. .. Lawyer... 1747 40 Lawyer.. Oct. 17, 1752 35 Lawyer.. ..Del. Mar. 4, 1807 Virginia Williamsburg..Va. ....1782 55 Lawyer... Aug. 31, 1800 1744 13 Politician.. Mar. 21, 1800 N. Jersey.. Trenton......N.J. June 11, 174 42 Lawyer... S. Carolina) ... Ireland July 11, 1744 43 Army Feb. 15, 1822 Maryland.. Pr. George Co. Md. ..1756 31 Farmer 1829 Philadelphia... Pa. Jan. 24, 1739 48 Merchant Jan. 23, 1813 Oct. 9, 1824 Feb. 14, 1808 Baltimore Co.. Md. June 8, 1748 39 Lawyer....July 16, 1828 Georgia Conn...... Stratford....Conn. Oct. 7, 1727 50 Lawyer.... Members not present on the last day of the Convention. Davie, Wm. Richardson N. Carolina Egremont.... Eng. June 20, 1756 31 Lawyer.... Nov. 8, 1820 .N.J. Virginia... Hampton.... Va. 1740 47 Teacher... Aug. 12, 1788 ...1740 47 Politician.. Nov....1807 .1747 40 Teacher.... July, 9, 1823 1759 28 Army .1740 47 Army 1745 42 Lawyer.. .1726 61 Lawyer.. Mercer, Jno. Francis.. Maryland.. Stafford Co.... Va. May 17, N. Hampton.Mass. Jan. 9, Aug. 30, 1821 Members withdrew, because felt Convention guilty of exceeding its New York. Albany N.Y. Jan. 30, 1754 38 Lawyer....Dec. 12, 1829 ... 1 Age at time Constitution was signed. |