The reader will find some of the accession documents used to ratify the Constitution of the United States by the original thirteen states. “Accession” simply means the official document passed by a state TO JOIN the union under the Constitution. “Secession” would mean the exact opposite in leaving. These states covered themselves and all others in the same compact with reserve clauses to allow the leaving of the union if they thought their citizens wished to do so at a later date. If the documents with the reserve clauses were good enough to join the union with reservations of power, they were good enough to enable leaving the same way. Notice the fierce defense of the notion of states’ rights as embodied in the 9th and 10th Amendments and the rest of the Bill of Rights. The source for all is the Avalon Project of Yale University.
The Avalon Project: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Virginia; June 26, 1788.
The Avalon Project at the Yale Law School
Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Virginia; June 26, 1788. (Summary and Signature Page)
“Virginia to wit We the Delegates of the People of Virginia duly elected in pursuance of a recommendation from the General Assembly and now met in Convention having fully and freely investigated and discussed the proceedings of the Federal Convention and being prepared as well as the most mature deliberation hath enabled us to decide thereon DO IN THE NAME AND IN BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA DECLARE AND MAKE 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 AND THAT EVERY POWER NOT GRANTED THEREBY REMAINS WITH THEM AND AT THEIR WILL: that therefore no right of any denomination can be cancelled abridged restrained or modified by the Congress by the Senate or House of Representatives acting in any Capacity by the President or any Department or Officer of the United States except in those instances in which power is given by the Constitution for those purposes: & that among other essential rights the liberty of Conscience and of the Press cannot be cancelled abridged restrained or modified by any authority of the United States.
With these impressions with a solemn appeal to the Searcher of hearts for the purity of our intentions and under the conviction 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, We the said Delegates in the name and in behalf of the People of Virginia do by these presents assent to and ratify the Constitution recommended on the seventeenth day of September one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven by the Federal Convention for the Government of the United States hereby announcing to all those whom it may concern that the said Constitution is binding upon the said People according to an authentic Copy hereto annexed in the Words following; . Done in Convention this twenty-sixth day of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight.
By Order of the Convention
EDMD PENDLETON President [SEAL.]”
The Avalon Project: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Rhode Island; May 29, 1790.The Avalon Project at the Yale Law School Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Rhode Island; May 29, 1790. (1) (Document Exerpt)
“We the Delegates of the People of the State of Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations, duly elected and met in Convention, having maturely considered the Constitution for the United States of America, agreed to on the seventeenth day of September, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, 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 this State, do declare and make known In That there are certain natural rights, of which men when they form a social compact, cannot deprive or divest their posterity, among which are the enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the means of acquiring, possessing and protecting Property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
2d That all power is naturally vested in, and consequently derived from the People; that magistrates therefore are their trustees and agents, and at all times amenable to them.
3d THAT THE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT MAY BE REASSUMED BY THE PEOPLE, WHENSOEVER IT SHALL BECOME NECESSARY TO THEIR HAPPINESS:- THAT THE RIGHTS OF THE STATES RESPECTIVELY, TO NOMINATE AND APPOINT ALL STATE OFFICERS, AND EVERY OTHER POWER, JURISDICTION AND RIGHT, WHICH IS NOT BY THE SAID CONSTITUTION CLEARLY DELEGATED TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OR TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF GOVERNMENT THEREOF, REMAIN TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SEVERAL STATES, OR 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 AS EXCEPTIONS TO CERTAIN SPECIFIED POWERS, OR AS INSERTED MERELY FOR GREATER CAUTION.”
The Avalon Project : Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York; July 26, 1788 The Avalon Project at the Yale Law School
Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York; July 26, 1788. (1) (Summary Excerpt)
“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 seventeenth day of September, in the year One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty seven, by the Convention then assembled at Philadelphia in the Common-wealth 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.”