Done in convention this 9th day of January, A. D. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our 1788. hands. MATTHEW GRISWOLD, President. Jeremiah Wadsworth, Jesse Root, Isaac Lee, Selah Hart, Zebulon Peck, jun. Elisha Pitkin, Erastus Wolcott, John Watson, John Treadwell, William Judd, Joseph Mosely, Wait Goodrich, John Curtiss, Asa Barns, Amasa Learned, Isaac Huntington, Daniel Foot, Joseph Woodbridge, Stephen Billings, Wheeler Coit, Samson Howe, William Danielson, William Williams, James Bradford, Joshua Dunlap, Daniel Learned, Moses Campbell, Benjamin Dow, Oliver Wolcott, Jedediah Strong, Moses Hawley, Charles Burrall, Nathan Hale, Daniel Miles, Asaph Hall, Isaac Burnham, John Wilder, Mark Prindle, Jedediah Hubbel, Samuel Orton, Asher Miller, Samuel H. Parsons, Ebenezer White, Hezekiah Goodrich, Dyer Throop, Jabez Chapman, Cornelius Higgins, Hezekiah Brainard, Theophilus Morgan, Hezekiah Lane, William Hart, Samuel Shipman, Jeremiah West, Samuel Chapman, Ichabod Warner, Samuel Carver, Jeremiah Ripley, Ephraim Root, Caleb Holt, John Phelps, Isaac Foot, Seth Crocker. Abijah Sessions, State of Connecticut, ss. Hartford, January ninth, Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and eightyeight. The foregoing ratification was agreed to, and signed as above, by one hundred and twenty-eight, and dissented to by forty delegates in convention, which is a majority of eighty-eight. Certified by Teste. MATTHEW GRISWOLD, President. JEDEDIAH STRONG, Sec'ry. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In Convention of the Delegates of the People of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 1788. February, 6, THE Convention having impartially discussed, and fully 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 the said commonwealth, passed the twenty-fifth day of October 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 domestick 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 commonwealth of Massachusetts, assent to and ratify the said constitution for the United States of America. And as it is the opinion of this convention, 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 commonwealth, 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. 1. That it be explicitly declared that all powers not expressly delegated by the aforesaid constitution, are reserved to the several states to be by them exercised. II. That there shall be one representative to every thirty thousand persons, according to the census mentioned in the constitution, until the whole number of the representatives amounts to two hundred. III. 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, agreeably to the constitution. IV. That Congress do not lay direct taxes but when the moneys arising from the impost and excise are insufficient for the publick 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 legislatures of the states shall think best; and in such case if any state shall neglect or refuse to pay its proportion pursuant to such requisition, then Congress may assess and levy such state's proportion, together with interest thereon at the rate of six per cent per annum, from the time of payment, prescribed in such requisition. v. That Congress erect no company of merchants with exclusive advantages of commerce. VI. 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. VII. The supreme judicial federal court shall have no jurisdiction of causes between citizens of different states, unless the matter in dispute, whether it concerns the realty or personalty, be of the value of three thousand dollars at the least-nor shall the federal judicial powers extend to any actions between citizens of different states, where the matter in dispute, whether it concerns the realty or personalty, is not of the value of fifteen hundred dollars at the least. |