Page:Revised Statutes of the State of North Carolina - Volume 1.djvu/64

Rh against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.

The congress whenever twothirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments in this constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of twothirds of several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of threefourths of the several states, or by conventions in threefourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the congress; Provided, That no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the senate.

1. All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this constitution, as under the confederation.

2. This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, any thing in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

3. The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.

The ratifications of the conventions of nine states, shall be