Oath of public officers. test. law of the land; and the judges in every State shall The Senators and Representatives before mention- by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution : No religious but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. MONDAY, September 17th, 1787. Present-The State of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Resolved, That the preceding Constitution be laid before the United States in Congress assembled, and that it is the opinion of this Convention, that it should afterwards be submitted to a Convention of Delegates, chosen in each State by the people thereof, under the recommendation of its Legislature, for their assent and ratification; and that each Convention assenting to, and ratifying the same, should give notice thereof to the United States in Congress assembled. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention, that, as soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled should fix a day on which electors should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a day on which electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the time and place for commencing proceedings under this Constitution. That after such publication, the electors should be appointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the electors should meet on the day fixed for the election of the President, and should transmit their votes certi 1 SIR: We have now the honour to submit to the consideration of the United States in Congress assembled, that Constitution which has appeared to us the most advisable. The friends of our country have long seen and desired that the power of making war, peace, and treaties; that of levying money, and regulating commerce, and the correspondent executive and judicial authorities, should be fully and effectually vested in the general government of the Union; but the impropriety of delegating such extensive trust to one body of men is evident-hence results the necessity of a different organization. It is obviously impracticable in the federal government of these States, to secure all rights of independent sovereignty to each, and yet provide for the interest and safety of all. Individuals entering into society must give up a share liberty to preserve the rest. The magnitude of the sacrif must depend as well on situation and circumstance, as on object to be obtained. It is at all times difficult to dra with precision the line between those rights which must surrendered, and those which may be reserved; and, on t present occasion, this difficulty was increased by a differen among the several States as to their situation, extent, habi and particular interests. In all our deliberations on this subject, we kept steadily our view that which appears to us the greatest interest every true American, the consolidation of our Union, which is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety-perha our national existence. This important consideration, ser ously and deeply impressed on our minds, led each State the convention to be less rigid on points of inferior magnitud than might have been otherwise expected; and thus, the cor stitution which we now present, is the result of a spirit c amity, and of that mutual deference and concession, whic the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensa ble. That it will meet the full and entire approbation of every State, is not perhaps to be expected; but each will doubtless consider, that had her interest alone been consulted the consequences might have been particularly disagreeable or injurious to others; that it is liable to as few exceptions as could reasonably have been expected, we hope and believe; that it may promote the lasting welfare of that country so dear to us all, and secure her freedom and happiness, is our most ardent wish. With great respect, we have the honour to be, sir, your Excellency's most obedient and humble servants. By the unanimous order of the Convention: |