North America Volume II Part 19

_On the part and behalf of the State of New York._ Jas. Duane, Wm. Duer, Fra. Lewis, Gouv. Morris.

_On the part and in behalf of the State of New Jersey._ Jno. Witherspoon, Nath. Scudder, Nov. 26, 1778.

_On the part and behalf of the State of Pennsylvania._ Robt. Morris, William Clingan, Daniel Roberdeau, Joseph Reed, Jona. Bayard Smith, 22d July, 1778.

_On the part and behalf of the State of Delaware._ Tho. M'Kean, Nicholas Van d.y.k.e.

Feb. 13, 1779, John d.i.c.kinson, May 5th, 1779,

_On the part and behalf of the State of Maryland._ John Hanson, Daniel Carroll, March 1,1781, March 1, 1781.

_On the part and behalf of the State of Virginia._ Richard Henry Lee, Jno. Harvie, John Banister, Francis Lightfoot Lee.

Thomas Adams,

_On the part and behalf of the State of North Carolina._ John Penn, Jno. Williams.

July 21,1778, Corns. Harnett,

_On the part and behalf of the State of South Carolina._ Henry Laurens, Richard Hutson, William Henry Drayton, Thos. Heywood, jun.

Jno. Mathews,

_On the part and behalf of the State of Georgia._ Jno. Walton, Edwd. Langworthy.

24th July, 1778, Edwd. Telfair,

NOTE.--From the circ.u.mstance of delegates from the same State having signed the Articles of confederation at different times, as appears by the dates, it is probable they affixed their names as they happened to be present in Congress, after they had been authorized by their const.i.tuents.

The above Articles of confederation continued in force until the 4th day of March, 1789, when the const.i.tution of the United States took effect.

APPENDIX C.

CONSt.i.tUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

PREAMBLE.

WE, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Const.i.tution for the United States of America.

ARTICLE I.

_Of the Legislature._

SECTION I.

1. All legislative powers herein granted, shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

SECTION II.

1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States; and the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislature.

2. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of _New Hamps.h.i.+re_ shall be ent.i.tled to choose three; _Ma.s.sachusetts_, eight; _Rhode Island_, and _Providence Plantations_, one; _Connecticut_, five; _New York_, six; _New Jersey_, four; _Pennsylvania_, eight; _Delaware_, one; _Maryland_, six; _Virginia_, ten; _North Carolina_, five; _South Carolina_, five; and _Georgia_, three.

4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill up such vacancies.

5. The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

SECTION III.

1. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years, and each senator shall have one vote.

2. Immediately after they shall be a.s.sembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided, as equally as may be, into three cla.s.ses. The seats of the senators of the first cla.s.s shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second cla.s.s at the expiration of the fourth, and of the third cla.s.s at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen, by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any State, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.

3. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.

4. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

5. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

7. Judgment in case of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honour, trust, or profit, under the United States; but the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law.

SECTION IV.

1. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the place of choosing senators.

2. The Congress shall a.s.semble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

SECTION V.

1. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall const.i.tute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide.

2. Each House may determine the rule of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

3. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either House, on any question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.

4. Neither House during the Session of Congress shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

SECTION VI.