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To: 4ConservativeJustices
Three states - New York, Virginia and Rhode Island & Providence Plantations - explicitly reserved the right to resume the powers of self-government at their pleasure in their ratifications.

They reserved that right only if a Bill of Rights were not amended to the Constitution. The BOR was passed by the 1st Congress, and radified by the states, including those three.

582 posted on 01/20/2004 12:40:45 PM PST by Ditto ( No trees were killed in sending this message, but billions of electrons were inconvenienced.)
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To: Ditto
They reserved that right only if a Bill of Rights were not amended to the Constitution.

No. New York said, 'That the powers of government may be reassumed by the people whensoever it shall become necessary to their happiness ... Under these impressions, and declaring that the rights aforesaid cannot be abridged or violated".

"[I]n confidence that the amendments which shall have been proposed to the said Constitution will receive an early and mature consideration." They trusted that the proposed amendments (following their ratification) would be addressed, they did not state that "the rights aforesaid could be abridged or violated" upon ratification of a Bill of Rights or were superseded.

Virginia declared and made "known that the powers granted under the Constitution, being derived from the people of the United States may be resumed by them whensoever the same shall be perverted to their injury or oppression", that "whatsoever imperfections may exist in the Constitution, ought rather to be examined in the mode prescribed therein, than to bring the Union into danger by a delay, with a hope of obtaining amendments previous to the ratification". Again, nothing contingent upon ratification of a Bill of Rights

Rhose Island wrote, "That the powers of government may be reassumed by the people whensoever it shall become necessary to their happiness", "Under these impressions, and declaring that the rights aforesaid cannot be abridged or violated, and that the explanations aforesaid are consistent with the said Constitution, and in confidence that the amendments hereafter mentioned will receive an early and mature consideration, and, conformably to the fifth article of said Constitution, speedily become a part thereof." Ditto.

590 posted on 01/20/2004 1:06:33 PM PST by 4CJ (||) Dialing 911 doesn't stop a crime - a .45 does. (||)
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