Documents Illustrative of the Formation of the Union of the American States

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS, DATED JULY 2, 1788, SUBMITTING RATIFICATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION TO A COMMITTEE. 1

Selected, Arranged, and Indexed by Charles C. Tansill

Wednesday July 2, 1788 2

Congress assembled present Newhampshire Massachusetts Rhodeisland Connecticut New York New Jersey Pensylvania Virginia North Carolina South Carolina & Georgia & from Maryland
Mr Contee

*         *        *        *        *        *        *

The State of Newhampshire having ratified the constitution transmitted to them by the Act of the 28 of Septr last & transmitted to Congress their ratification & the same being read, the president reminded Congress that this was the ninth ratification transmitted & laid before them.

Whereupon

On Motion of Mr Clarke seconded by Mr Edwards

Ordered That the ratifications of the constitution of the United States transmitted to Congress be referred to a comee to examine the same and report an Act to Congress for putting the said constitution into operation in pursuance of the resolutions of the late federal Convention.

On the question to agree to this Order the yeas & nays being required by Mr Yates

State Delegate Delegate Vote State Vote
Newhampshire Mr Gilman
Mr Wingate
ay
ay
ay
Massachusetts Mr Dane
Mr Otis
ay
ay
ay
Rhodeisland Mr Arnold
Mr Hazard
excused
Connecticut Mr Edwards
Mr Huntington
ay
ay
ay
New York Mr L’Hommedieu
Mr Yates
ay
no
divided
New Jersey Mr Clarke
Mr Elmer
Mr Dayton
ay
ay
ay
ay
Pensylvania Mr Bingham
Mr Reid
ay
ay
ay
Maryland Mr Contee ay not counted
Virginia Mr Griffin
Mr Carrington
Mr Brown
ay
ay
ay
ay
South Carolina Mr Huger
Mr Parker
Mr Tucker
ay
ay
ay
ay
Georgia Mr Few
Mr Baldwin
ay
ay
ay

 

  • Reprinted from Documentary History of the Constitution, Vol. II (1894), pp. 161-162.Return to text
  • From the “Rought” Journal of Congress (No. I, Vol. 39.)Return to text

 

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Contents

General Overview

In 1787 and 1788, following the Constitutional Convention, a great debate took place throughout America over the Constitution that had been proposed.

In-Doors Debate

View Gordon Lloyd’s in-depth studies of of the Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York state ratifying conventions.

The Federal Pillars

View the Massachusetts Centinel’sdrawings of the federal pillars rising during the ratification debate.

View Feature

State-by-State Ratification Table

View the six stages of the ratification of the Constitution with links to many other features on this site.

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Interactive Ratification Map

View the Federalist-Antifederalist breakdown of each state during the ratification debate.

View Interactive

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