Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v1.djvu/295

1787.] or either of them, and admit the same into the Union; provided, that nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to affect the claim of the United States to vacant lands ceded to them by the late treaty of peace," which passed in the negative.

Yeas: New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, 3. Nays: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 6.

On the question to agree to the substitute offered to the 17th article, as amended, as follows,—

"New states may be admitted by the legislature into the Union; but no new state shall be hereafter formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any of the present states without the consent of the legislature of such state, as well as of the general legislature,"— it passed in the affirmative.

Yeas: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 8. Nays: New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, 3.

It was moved and seconded to add the following clause to the last amendment:— "nor shall any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts thereof, without the consent of the legislature of such states, as well as of the legislature of the United States;" which passed in the affirmative.

It was moved and seconded to add the following clause to the last amendment:—

Provided, nevertheless, that nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to affect the claim of the United States to vacant lands ceded to them by the late treaty of peace."

The last motion being withdrawn, it was moved and seconded to agree to the following proposition:—

Yeas: "Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to alter the claims of the United States, or of the individual states, to the western territory; but all such claims may be examined into and decided upon by the Supreme Court of the United States."

It was moved and seconded to postpone the last proposition, in order to take up the following:—

"The legislature shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution contained shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims either of the United States or of any particular state."

It was moved and seconded to add the following clause to the last proposition:— "But all such claims may be examined into and decided upon by the Supreme Court of the United States."