BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. An Act to ratify on the part of this State certain Amendments to the Constitution of the United States. WHEREAS the Congress of the United States, begun and held at the city of New York, on Wednesday the fourth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine, resolved, two-thirds of both houses concurring, That sundry articles be proposed to the legislatures of the several states as amendments to the constitution of the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said constitution. And whereas the president of the United States did, in pursuance of a resolve of the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, transmit to the governour of this state the amendments proposed by Congress, which were by him laid before the legislature for their consideration. Wherefore, 1. Be it enacted by the council and general assembly of this state, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the following articles proposed by Congress, in addition to, and amendment of the constitution of the United States, to wit: [Here follow, verbatim, the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth articles of the said amendments, proposed by Congress to the legislatures of the several states.] Be, and the same are hereby ratified and adopted by the state of New Jersey. House of Assembly, Nov. 19, 1789, This bill having been three times read in this house, Resolved, That the same do pass. By order of the House. JOHN BEATTY, Speaker. Council Chamber, Nov, 20, 1789... This bill having been three times read in council, By order of the House.. WILLIAM LIVINGSTON, President. 68 BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. "In the House of Delegates, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1791. "Resolved, That the first article of the amendments proposed by Congress to the constitution of the "United States, be ratified by this commonwealth. CHARLES HAY, C. H. D. (Teste.) "November 3, 1791. "Agreed to by the Senate. "H. BROOKE, C. S." "General Assembly begun and held at the capitol, in "the city of Richmond, on Monday the 17th day "of October, in the year of our Lord 1791. "Monday, December 5, 1791. "Resolved, That the second, third, fourth, fifth, "sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and "twelfth articles of the amendments proposed by Con 66 gress to the constitution of the United States, be "ratified by this commonwealth. "Dec. 15, 1791. JOHN PRIDE, S. S." Agreed to by the Senate. T. MATTHEWS, S.H.D.” "Examined." No returns were made by the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia and Kentucky. The amendments thus proposed became a part of the constitution the first and second of them excepted; which were not ratified by a sufficient number of the state legislatures. At the first session of the third Congress the following amendment was proposed to the state legislatures. UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. RESOLVED by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both houses concurring, That the following article be proposed to the legislatures of the several states, as an amendment to the constitution of the United States; which, when ratified by three-fourths of the said legislatures, shall be valid as part of the said constitution, namely, The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JOHN ADAMS, Vice President of the United Attest, J. BECKLEY, Clk. of the House Representatives. FROM the journals of the house of representatives, at the second session of the third Congress, it appears that returns from the state legislatures, ratifying this amendment, were received as follows: From New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Georgia and Delaware. At the first session of the fourth Congress, further returns ratifying the same amendment, were received from Rhode Island and North Carolina. At the second session of the fourth Congress, on the 2d of March, 1797, the following resolution was adopted: UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. RESOLVED by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the president be requested to adopt some speedy and effectual means of obtaining information from the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Carolina, whether they have ratified the amendment proposed by Congress to the constitution concerning the suability of states; if they have, to obtain the proper evidences thereof. JONATHAN DAYTON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. WILLIAM BINGHAM, President pro tem pore of the Senate. Approved, March 2, 1797. GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States. Ar the second session of the fifth Congress, the following messages from the president of the United States, were transmitted to both houses. MESSAGE. Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, In compliance with the desire of the two houses of Congress, expressed in their resolution of the second day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninetyseven, that some speedy and effectual means: might be adopted of obtaining information from the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina, whether they have ratified the amendment proposed by Congress to the constitution, concerning the suability of states, and if they have, to obtain the proper evidences; measures have been taken, and information and evidences obtained, the particulars of which will appear in the report, from the secretary of state, made by my direction on the twenty-eighth day of this month, and now presented to the two houses for their consideration. JOHN ADAMS. United States, December 30, 1797. FROM this report of the secretary of state it appeared that the states of Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia had ratified the amendment that New Jersey and Pennsylvania had not ratified it-South Carolina had not definitively acted upon it. No answers had been received from Kentucky and Ten nessee. |