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The
Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption
of the Federal Constitution (Elliot's Debates)
Vol.
I
Seven
states ratifying the Constitution proposed no amendments.
Four of the six states proposing amendments requested
provisions dealing with religion. New York's proposed
amendment is set forth below. Virginia, North Carolina,
and New Hampshire also proposed amendments.
RJ&L
Religious Institutions Group
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Pg.
327
STATE
OF NEW YORK.
We,
the delegates of the people of the state of New York, duly
elected and met in Convention, having maturely considered
the Constitution for the United States of America, agreed
to on the 17th day of September, in the year 1787, by the
Convention then assembled at Philadelphia, in the commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, (a copy whereof precedes these presents,)
and having also seriously and deliberately considered the
present situation of the United States,--Do declare and
make known,--
That
all power is originally vested in, and consequently derived
from, the people, and that government is instituted by them
for their common interest, protection, and security.
That
the enjoyment of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
are essential rights, which every government ought to respect
and preserve.
That
the powers of government may be reassumed by the people
whensoever it shall become necessary to their happiness;
that every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not
by the said Constitution clearly delegated to the Congress
of the United States, or the departments of the government
thereof, remains to the people of the several states, or
to their respective state governments, to whom they may
have granted the same; and that those clauses in the said
Constitution, which declare that Congress shall not have
or exercise certain powers, do not imply that Congress is
entitled to any powers not given by the said Constitution;
but such clauses are to be construed either as exceptions
to certain specified powers, or as inserted merely for greater
caution.
Pg.
328
That
the people have an equal, natural, and unalienable right
freely and peaceably to exercise their religion, according
to the dictates of conscience; and that no religious sect
or society ought to be favored or established by law in
preference to others.
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That
the people have a right peaceably to assemble together to
consult for their common good, or to instruct their representatives,
and that every person has a right to petition or apply to
the legislature for redress of grievances.
That
the freedom of the press ought not to be violated or restrained.
Pg.
329
Done
in Convention, at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Duchess,
in the state of New York, the 26th day of July, in the year
of our Lord 1788.
By
order of the Convention. GEO. CLINTON, President.
Attested.
John M'Kesson, A. B. Banker, Secretaries.
And
the Convention do, in the name and behalf of the people
of the state of New York, enjoin it upon their representatives
in Congress to exert all their influence, and use all reasonable
means, to obtain a ratification of the following amendments
to the said Constitution, in the manner prescribed therein;
and in all laws to be passed by the Congress, in the mean
time, to conform to the spirit of the said amendments, as
far as the Constitution will admit.
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