15. Acts of the several States for the appointment of Deputies to meet in Convention, for the purpose of forming a Constitution of Government, viz:

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.

General Assembly, begun and held at the public buildings in the city of Richmond, on Monday, the 16th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1786.

AN ACT for appointing Deputies from this Commonwealth to a Convention proposed to be held in the city of Philadelphia, in May next, for the purpose of revising the Federal Constitution.

Whereas the commissioners who assembled at Annapolis, on the 14th day of September last, for the purpose of devising and reporting the means of enabling Congress to provide effectually for the commercial interests of the United States, have represented the necessity of extending the revision of the Federal system to all its defects, and have recommended that deputies for that purpose be appointed by the several legis latures, to meet in convention, in the city of Philadelphia, on the second day of May next, a provision which was preferable to a discussion of the subject in Congress, where it might be too much interrupted by the ordinary business before them, and where it would, besides, be deprived of the valuable counsels of sundry individuals who are disqualified by the Constitution, or laws of particular States, or restrained by peculiar circumstances, from a seat in that assembly: And whereas the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, taking into view the actual situation of the Confederacy, as well as reflecting on the alarming representations made, from time to time, by the United States in Congress, particularly in their act of the 15th day of February last, can no longer doubt that the crisis is arrived at which the good people of America are to decide the solemn question, whether they will, by wise and magnanimous efforts, reap the just fruits of that independence which they have so gloriously acquired, and of that Union which they have cemented with so much of their common blood, or whether, by giving way to unmanly jealousies and prejudices, or to partial and transitory interests, they will renounce the auspicious blessings prepared for them by the Revolution, and furnish to its enemies an eventual triumph over those by whose virtue and valor it has been accomplished: And whereas the same noble and extended policy, and the same fraternal and affectionate sentiments which originally determined the citizens of this Commonwealth to unite with their brethren of the other States in establishing a Federal Government, cannot but be felt with equal force now as motives to lay aside every inferior

consideration, and to concur in such farther concessions and provisions as may be necessary to secure the great objects for which that Government was instituted, and to render the United States as happy in peace as they have been glorious in war:

Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, That seven commissioners be appointed by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly, who, or any three of them, are hereby authorized, as deputies from this Commonwealth, to meet such deputies as may be appointed and authorized by other States, to assemble in convention at Philadelphia, as above recommended, and to join with them in devising and discussing all such alterations and farther provisions as may be necessary to render the Federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of the Union, and, in reporting such an act for that purpose to the United States in Congress, as, when agreed to by them, and duly confirmed by the several States, will effectually provide for the same.

And be it further enacted, That, in case of the death of any of the said deputies, or of their declining their appointments, the executive are hereby authorized to supply such vacancies; and the Governor is requested to transmit forthwith a copy of this act to the United States in Congress, and to the executives of each of the States in the Union. (Signed) JOHN JONES,

Speaker of the Senate.

JOSEPH PRENTISS,

Speaker of the House of Delegates.

A true copy from the enrollment.

JOHN BECKLEY, Clerk H. D.

IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

MONDAY, THE 4th of December, 1786.

The House, according to the order of the day, proceeded, by joint ballot with the Senate, to the appointment of seven deputies from this Commonwealth to a convention proposed to be held in the city of Philadelphia in May next, for the purpose of revising the Federal Constitution; and, the members having prepared tickets with the names of the persons to be appointed, and deposited the same in the ballot-boxes, Mr. Corbin, Mr. Matthews, Mr. David Stewart, Mr. George Nicholas, Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Wills, Mr. Thomas Smith, Mr. Goodall, and Mr. Turberville, were nominated a committee to meet a committee from the Senate, in the conference chamber, and jointly with them to examine the ballot-boxes and report to the House on whom the majority of the

votes should fall. The committee then withdrew, and after some time returned into the House, and reported that the committee had, according to order, met a committee from the Senate in the conference chamber, and jointly with them examined the ballot-boxes, and found a majority of votes in favor of George Washington, Patrick Henry, Edmund Ran. dolph, John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, and George Wythe, esqrs. Extract from the journal.

Attest: JOHN BECKLEY, Clerk H. D.

JOHN BECKLEY,

Clerk House Delegates.

IN THE HOUSE OF SENATORS.

MONDAY, THE 4TH OF DECEMBER, 1786.

The Senate, according to the order of the day, proceeded, by joint ballot with the House of Delegates, to the appointment of seven deputies from this Commonwealth to a convention proposed to be held in the city of Philadelphia in May next, for the purpose of revising the Federal Constitution; and, the members having prepared tickets with the names of the persons to be appointed, and deposited the same in the ballotboxes, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Nelson, and Mr. Lee, were nominated a committee to meet a committee from the House of Delegates, in the conference chamber, and jointly with them to examine the ballot-boxes, and report to the House on whom the majority of votes should fall. The committee then withdrew, and after some time returned into the House, and reported that the committee had, according to order, met a committee from the House of Delegates, in the conference chamber, and jointly with them examined the ballot-boxes, and found a majority of votes in favor of George Washington, Patrick Henry, Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, and George Wythe, esqrs. Extract from the journal.

Attest: H. BROOK, Clerk.

[L. S.]

JOHN BECKLEY, Clerk H. D.

VIRGINIA, to wit:

I do hereby certify and make known, to all whom it may concern, that John Beckley, esq., is clerk of the House of Delegates for this Commonwealth, and the proper officer for attesting the proceedings of the General Assembly of the said Commonwealth, and that full faith and credit ought to be given to all things attested by the said John Beckley, esq., by virtue of his office aforesaid.

Given under my hand, as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and under the seal thereof, at Richmond, this fourth day of May, 1787. EDM. RANDOLPH.

I do hereby certify, that Patrick Henry, esq., one of the seven com. missioners appointed by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, authorized as a deputy therefrom, to meet such deputies as might be appointed and authorized by other States, to assemble in Philadelphia, and to join with them in devising and discussing all such alterations and further provisions as might be necessary to render the Federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of the Union, and in reporting such an act for that purpose to the United States in Congress, as, when agreed to by them, and duly confirmed by the several States, might effectually provide for the same, did decline his appointment aforesaid; and thereupon, in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly of the said Commonwealth, entitled "An act for appointing deputies from this Commonwealth to a convention proposed to be held in the city of Philadelphia in May next, for the purpose of revising the Federal Constitution," I do hereby, with the advice of the Council of State, supply the said vacancy by nominating James McClurg, esq., a deputy for the purposes aforesaid.

Given under my hand, as Governor of the said Commonwealth, and under the seal thereof, this second day of May, in the year of our Lord 1787.

EDM. RANDOLPH.

THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

To the honorable David Brearley, William Churchill Houston, William Paterson, and John Neilson, esqrs., greeting:

The Council and Assembly, reposing especial trust and confidence in your integrity, prudence, and ability, have, at a joint meeting, appointed you, the said David Brearley, William Churchill Houston, William Paterson, and John Neilson, esqrs., or any three of you, commissioners, to meet such commissioners as have been or may be appointed by the other States of the Union, at the city of Philadelphia, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the second Monday in May next, for the purpose of taking into consideration the state of the Union, as to trade and other important objects, and of devising such other provisions as shall appear to be necessary to render the Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies thereof.

In testimony whereof, the great seal of the State is hereunto affixed. Witness William Livingston, esq., Governor, captain general and commander-in-chief in and over the State of New Jersey, and territories thereunto belonging, chancellor and ordinary in the same, at Trenton, the 23d day of November, in the year of our Lord 1786, and of our sovereignty and independence the eleventh.

WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.

By his excellency's command.

BOWES REED, Secretary.

THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

To his excellency William Livingston, and the honorable Abraham [L. S.] Clark, esqrs., greeting:

The Council and Assembly, reposing especial trust and confidence in your integrity, prudence, and ability, have, at a joint meeting, appointed you, the said William Livingston and Abraham Clark, esqrs., in con junction with the honorable David Brearley, William Churchill Houston, and William Paterson, esqrs., or any three of you, commissioners, to meet such commissioners as have been appointed by the other States in the Union, at the city of Philadelphia, in the Commonwealth of Pennsyl vania, on the second Monday of this present month, for the purpose of taking into consideration the state of the Union, as to trade and other important objects, and of devising such other provisions as shall appear to be necessary, to render the Constitution of the Federal Government adequate to the exigencies thereof.

In testimony whereof, the great seal of the State is hereunto affixed. Witness William Livingston, esq., Governor, captain general and commander-in-chief in and over the State of New Jersey, and territories thereunto belonging, chancellor and ordinary in the same, at Burlington, the 8th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1787, and of our sovereignty and independence the eleventh.

By his excellency's command.

WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.

BOWES REED, Secretary.

STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

To the honorable Jonathan Dayton, esq.

The Council and Assembly, reposing especial trust and confidence in your integrity, prudence, and ability, have, at a joint meeting, appointed you, the said Jonathan Dayton, esq., in conjunction with his excellency