Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-07-08
rHE NEw coNsTITUTION.


conventions held in this country from
l775 down TO the present time. From
sources we deem reliable, we are IN
formed that there have been one hum
bred and seventy-three conventions
held for the purpose of framing, or re-
yising and amending, either the consti-
tuition of the United States, or OF the
several States that now compose the
Union. OF this number fifty-one have
proclaimed the result of their labors, OF
which twenty-five were prior to lSOO, as
follows Delaware, l776 and 1872;
Georgia. l777, 1889 and 1898; Ken
lucky. i792 and 1899; Maryland, 1776;
New Hampshire, l776; New jersey
1875. New York, 1777; North Carolina,
1776; Pennsylvania, l776 and lI9o;
South Carolina, 1776, 1878 and 1870;
Tennessee. 1896; Vermont, 1777, 1856
and 1896; and Virginia, l776; and OF
these. the conventions held prior e
1887, were under resolution OF Con-
cress. recommending the election o
delegates to conventions to form such
government as best suited the people,
and was for the common veal, and IN
which the recommendation of Congress
was followed, and the conventions, by
vote of the people, delegated unlimited
power to form such governments and TO
frame and enact such constitutions as in
the Judgment of the conventions might
he proper. Twenty -nine conventions
held subsequent to 1900, proclaimed the
result of their labors, as follows: Ala
hama. 1919, 1865 and 1867; Arkansas,
1896: Delaware, 1881; Florida, 1888 and
1858: Illinois. 1918; Indiana, 1916;
south Carolina. 1860 and 1865; Louis
lana. 1912; Missouri, 1920; Mississippi,
1865 and 1890; New York, 1901; Ohio,
1902: Virginia, 1864 and 1902; and the
nresent constitutions of Delaware and
South Carolina. OF the number
unclaimed prior to 1900, thlr-
teen were during the revolutionary
period. one was proclaimed by a
convention called for the purpose oil
ratifying or rejecting the same, and one
was only temporary in its character,
and the others proclaimed were by the
direct authority of the people as above
stated. During this period in each oil
three States. Georgia, South Carolina
and Vermont, three separate constitu,
tions were framed and proclaimed, and
during the same period in each OF three
other states. Delaware, Kentucky snd
Pennsylvania, two constitutions were
framed and proclaimed. OF the number
proclaimed since 1900, fifteen had then
inception and were framed and pro
claimed Immediately preceding thu
war between the States, during
the war and the reconstruction
period which followed, so that 0
The total number of constitutions pro
claimed. twenty-seven have been france
and proclaimed by revolutionary con
) ventions and during revolutionar,
periods. With the exception of thi
I number, only niue constitutions hay
r been proclaimed in the last one hun
! dred and two years, and only four, in
Guiding the constitution of Virginia O
1902. have been proclaimed in the las
sixty-four years. On the other hand
the result of the labors of one hundre
and twenty-five conventions have bee
, submitted to a vote of the people
namely: The Continental Congress
|, 1775 and 1881 the Federal Convention
1887 and the States of Alabama, lS6
and 1875: Arkansas, 1864, 1868 an
1874: California, 1S49 and 1879 Col
orado, 1864, 1865 and 1876; Connect
cut. 1918; Delaware, 1892 /; Florido
! 1888, 1868 and 1885; Georgia, 1888
1889. 1861, 1865, 1867, 1868 and 1877
! Idaho, 1889; Illinois, lS4S, 1862 an
1870 Indiana, 1851 Iowa, 1914, lS4
and 1857 Kansas, 1855, 1857
1858 and 1889; Kentucky, 1856
aud 1891 Louisiana, 1915, 1852
1864. 1868 and 1879 ; Maine, 1920
!. Maryland, 1851, 1864 and 1867; Mas
I sachusetts. 1880, 1889, 1920 and 1858
Michigan, 1885, 1850 and 1867; Min
nesota, 1857; Mississippi, 1917, 1873
; and 1868; Missouri, 1920, lS45, 1856
l and 1875; Montana, 1889; Nebraska
1866 and 1875; Nevada. 1860 and 1864
] New Hampshire, 1873, 1871, 1856
1871. 1850 and 1876; New jersey, 1874
I New York, 1921, 1916 and 1867; Nortl
: Carolina. 1885, 1865, 1868, 1876 an
G 1901: North Dakota, 1889; Ohio, 1856
4 and 1873; Oregon, 1857; Pennsylvania
a 1888 and 1873; Rhode Island, 1924
=. October, 1871; November, 1871, an
1872 South CarolinS 1868; Tennessee
e 1884. 1861, 1865 and 1870; Texas
=. 1S45. 1861, 1866, 1868 and 1876; Vii
r oinia. 1929, 1850, 1861 and 1876
5 Washington, 1899; West Virginia, 1856
and 1872; Wisconsin, 1916 and lS4S
- Wyoming. 1889: Vermont, 1875, 1885,
2 1920, 1927, 1884, 1S4l, 1S4S, 1888 an
4 1869.
. As by the act of the General Assembl
of 1901, so also by the acts of the Gen
4 eral Assemblies Of Virginia, and othe
1 States. thirty-seyen conventions hay
been required by the acts under whic
they were convened to submit their wor
to the vote of the people for rejection
ratification. as follows: Massachusetts
. 1880. 1920 and 1858; Pennsylvania
q 1890, 1887 and 1872 New York, 1921
1876 and 1867; Virginia, 1929 and 1856
Georgia. 1888 and 1917; North Carolina
b 1886 and 1875; New jersey 1874
: Michigan, 1850 and 1867; New Hamp
. shire. 1852 and 1876; Ohio, 1852 an
E 1878; Illinois, lS47, 1862 and 1863
Indiana, 1850; Maryland, 1850, 1856
o and 1867; Iowa, 1857; Missouri, 1861
Tennessee, 1870; West Virginia, 1872
! Alabama. 1875; Nebraska, 1875, Cali