Constitutional History

llie followiug is the order in which the original thirteen States adopted the constitution of the United States, According to a provisión in the Constitution it becamc binding upon the States ratifying it when adopted by nine States. New Haiiipshire was the important aintb State : 1. Delawaro, December 7, 1787. 2. Peunsylvania, December 12, 1787. 'ó. New Jersey, December 18, 1787. 4. Georgia, January 2, 1788. 5. Connucticut, January 9, 1788. 6. Mnssachusetts, Pebruary 7, 1788. 7. Maryland, April 28, 1788. 8. South Carolina, May 23, 1788. 9. New Haiiipshire, June 21, 1788. 10. Virginia, June 25, 1788. 11. New York, July 26, 1788. 18. North Carolina," Nov. 21. 1789. 13. llhode Wand, May 29, 1790. Tho Convention of Delaware met, adopted the Coostitution unaniraously, and adjourued in a singlo day. The Convention of Pennsylvania adopted the Constitution by a vote of 46 yeas to 23 nays. The Convention of New Jersey adopted the Constitution unauiuiously. The Convention of Massachusetts was composed of about 350 raember, and when it met was opposed to adopting the Constitution. The mijority for its ratification was only nineteen votes. Wben the Couvention of New York met, tho opponetits of the Coustitution were abo-jt two-thirds of the whole body. Alexander Hamüton's logic and eloquence sceiircd a mnjority for it. Norih Carolina remained out of the Uuiou moro than eiflit moothsafter the new goveinnieul went iuto operatioo. The Cctnveution met and adoptod "resolutions that a bilí of rights and certain amendments ought to be laid bcforc Uongtesa and tlie Convention thatmight be ullutl for amending the Constitutiin prfivious to its ratification by the Staie of North Carolica' aud Ihe Conven icn was then dissolved. Ilhodo Island remainod out of the Uuion for upward of thirteen months. The General Assembly, iustead of calliug a Convention to eonsider the Coqsti'.utiou, referred that iui-trument to a direct vote of the poople at their town meetings. Ouly '''2 vottd fur the adoption ol the Constitution, aod 2,708 voted against it. Subsequenüy tbc Legislalure called a ConvLütion, tho Governor giving tho cas'iüg vote for so doing iu the smaller uraneh of tho Li'gislature. The Couvention adopted the Constituüon by a majority of ooljr two votes, the yeaa'be: and the uays 32. The (overnmeut lias official informatiüi) that u (hst olatis European power possessiug only a few sea porta has offered to Dominion) Govennnent 27,000,000 for the Bay of Samaua in case tho treaty now peuding between the United States and lliat govcrnnient is not ratiñ'jd by the Senate.