Pennsylvania (1776)--electorate
Every freemen of the full age of twenty-one Years, having resided in this state
for the space of one whole Year next before the day of election for
representatives, and paid public taxes during that time, shall enjoy the right of
an elector: Provided always, that sons of freeholders of the age of twenty-one
years shall be intitled to vote although they have not paid taxes.
SECT. 7. The house of representatives of the freemen of this commonwealth
shall consist of persons most noted for wisdom and virtue, to be chosen by the
freemen of every city and county of this commonwealth respectively…
SECT. 8. No person shall be capable of being elected a member to serve in the
house of representatives of the freemen of this commonwealth more than
four years in seven.
SECT. 9. The members of the house of representatives shall be chosen annually
by ballot, by the freemen of the commonwealth.
NEW HAMPSHIRE (1776)
WE DO Resolve, that this Congress assume the name, power and
authority of a house of Representatives or Assembly for the Colony
of New-Hampshire And that said House then proceed to choose
twelve persons, being. reputable freeholders and inhabitants
within this colony . . . to be a distinct and separate branch of the
Legislature by the name of a COUNCIL for this colony . . . That such
Council appoint their President, and in his absence that the senior
counsellor preside; that a Secretary be appointed by both
branches, who may be a counssellor, or otherwise, as they shall
choose:
That no act or resolve shall be valid and put into execution unless
agreed to, and passed by both branches of the legislature;
That all public officers for the said colony, and each county, for the
current year, be appointed by the Council and Assembly.
Massachusetts (1780)—legislative power
Article I. The department of legislation shall be formed by two
branches, a senate and house of representatives; each of which shall
have a negative on the other . . .
Art. II. The senate shall be the first branch of the legislature . . . Every
male inhabitant of twenty-one year of age and upwards, having a
freehold estate of the value of sixty pounds, shall have a right to give in
his vote for the senators for the district of which he is an inhabitant.
-------------Every male person being twenty-one years of age, and resident in any
particular town in this commonwealth, for the space of one year next
preceding, having a freehold estate within the same town, of the
annual income of three pounds, or any estate of the value of sixty
pounds, shall have a right to vote in the choice of a representative or
representatives for the said town.
Delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislatures of
each State shall direct . . . with a power reserved to each State to recall its
delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year.
No State shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor more than
seven members; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more
than three years in any term of six years.
In determining questions in the united States, in Congress assembled, each
State shall have one vote.
---------------------The united States in congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant
letters of marque or reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or
alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the
sums and expenses necessary for the defense and welfare of the United
States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the
united States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels
of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be
raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine
States assent to the same: nor shall a question on any other point, except for
adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the votes of the majority
of the united States in congress assembled.
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Art. 5. There shall be formed in the said territory, not less than three nor
more than five States . . . And, whenever any of the said States shall
have sixty thousand free inhabitants therein, such State shall be
admitted, by its delegates, into the Congress of the United States, on
an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever, and
shall be at liberty to form a permanent constitution and State
government: Provided, the constitution and government so to be
formed, shall be republican, and in conformity to the principles
contained in these articles; and, so far as it can be consistent with the
general interest of the confederacy, such admission shall be allowed at
an earlier period, and when there may be a less number of free
inhabitants in the State than sixty thousand.
Art. 6. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the
said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted.
Article I, Section 8
The Congress shall have power . . . to make all laws which
shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution
the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this
Constitution in the government of the United States, or in
any department or officer thereof…
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide
for the common defense and general welfare of the
United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be
uniform throughout the United States . . .
Article I, Section 8
Congress shall have power . . . to declare war,
grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make
rules concerning captures on land and water;
•To raise and support armies, but no appropriation
of money to that use shall be for a longer term
than two years;
•To provide and maintain a navy;
•To make rules for the government and regulation
of the land and naval forces;
•To provide for calling forth the militia to execute
the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and
repel invasions.
Faced with a motion to commit the report
on negotiations with the southern Indians
and questions that he and his Secretary of
War had brought to the Senate, the
President started up in a Violent fret. This
defeats every purpose of my coming
here, were the first words that he said. he
then went on that he had brought his
Secretary at War with him to give every
necessary information, that the Secretary
knew all about the Business--and yet he
was delayed and could not go on with the
Matter--… a pause for some time ensued.
We Waited for him to withdraw, he did so
with a discontented Air.
Wm. Maclay (PA)
Sedition Act (1798)
If any person shall write, print, utter or publish, or shall cause or procure
to be written, printed, uttered or published, or shall knowingly and
willingly assist or aid in writing, printing, uttering or publishing any false,
scandalous and malicious writing or writings against the government of
the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or
the President of the United States, with intent to defame the said
government, or either house of the said Congress, or the said President, or
to bring them, or either of them, into contempt or disrepute; or to excite
against them, or either or any of them, the hatred of the good people of
the United States, or to stir up sedition within the United States, or to excite
any unlawful combinations therein, for opposing or resisting any law of the
United States, or any act of the President of the United States, done in
pursuance of any such law, or of the powers in him vested by the
constitution of the United States, or to resist, oppose, or defeat any such
law or act, or to aid, encourage or abet any hostile designs of any foreign
nation against United States, their people or government, then such
person, being thereof convicted before any court of the United States
having jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding two
thousand dollars, and by imprisonment not exceeding two years.
If the Government of the United States be the agent of the State Governments,
then they may control it, provided, they can agree in the manner of controlling it;
if it be the agent of the people, then the people alone can control it, restrain it,
modify or reform it. It is observable enough that the doctrine for which the
honorable gentleman (HAYNE) contends, leads him to the necessity of
maintaining, not only that this Government is the creature of the States, but that
it is the creature of each of the States severally, so that each may assert the power
for itself, of determining whether it acts within the limits of its authority. It is the
servant of four and twenty masters of different wills and different purposes, and
yet bound to obey all. This absurdity (for it seems no less) arises from a
misconception as to the origin of this Government and its true character. It is, Sir,
the people’s Constitution, the people’s Government, made for the people, made
by the people, and answerable to the people.
nor those other words of delusion and folly, Liberty first and Union afterward; but
everywhere, spread all over in characters of living light, blazing on all its ample
folds, as they float over the sea and over the land, and in every wind under the
whole heavens, that other sentiment, dear to every true American heart:
Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!
--Daniel Webster (1830)