CHAP. II. 2d Session. The Constitution-Admission of Kentucky. 1793. 2d Congress. the Circuit Courts in the district of Vermont and North Carolina, and for other purposes." In the House of Representatives, H. Journal, the bill received its first and second reading, and was committed p. 718. to a committee of the whole house. On the 25th, several amend- Id. p. 720. ments to the bill were made in committee on the 27th, which were agreed to by the house, and the bill, with the amendments, was then recommitted to Messrs. Livermore, Sedgwick, and B. Bourne. Mr. Livermore, on the 28th, reported several amend- Id. p. 723. ments, which were agreed to; and the bill was read a third time and passed, with the title so modified as to read—“An act to alter the times and places of holding the Circuit Courts in the Eastern district, and in North Carolina, and for other purposes." S. Journal, The Senate, on the same day, concurred in the amendments. .499. p. 4 1st Congress. The legislative proceedings concerning the admission of Kentucky and Vermont to be states of the Union, are subjoined to this chapter. 3d Session. Admission In the message of the President to the two houses, at the of Ken- opening of the third session of the first Congress, the following tucky. sentence occurs: "Since your last sessions, I have received communications, by On the 9th of December, the President transmitted to the 1790. "Sir: By order of convention, I now enclose to you a copy s. Journal, of the resolutions of convention, respecting the separation of the p.219, 220. district of Kentucky from the state of Virginia, and their address H. Journal, to the President and Congress of the United States. "I have the honour to be, &c. "GEORGE MEETER, p.411, 412. "President of the Convention. "The President of the United States." "District of Kentucky, to wit: Resolu tions and memorial "In Convention, July 28th, 1790. "Resolved-That it is expedient for, and the will of, the good of Kentuc- people of the district of Kentucky, that the same be erected into an ky. CHAP. II. The Constitution-Admission of Kentucky. 1st Congress. independent state, on the terms and conditions specified in an act 3d Session. of the Virginia assembly, passed the 18th day of December, 1789, Resolu-, entitled An act concerning the erection of the district of Kenmemorial tucky into an independent state." tions and of Kentuc ky. "Resolved-That we, the representatives of the people of Kentucky, duly elected in pursuance of an act of the legislature of Virginia, passed the 18th day of December, 1789, entitled 'An act concerning the erection of the district of Kentucky into an independent state,' and now met in convention, having, with full powers, maturely investigated the expediency of the proposed separation on the terms and conditions specified in the above recited act, do, by these presents, and in behalf of the people of Kentucky, accept the terms and conditions, and do declare that, on the 1st day of June, 1792, the said district of Kentucky shall become a state separate from, and independent of, the government of Virginia, and that the said articles become a solemn compact, binding on the said people." "To the President, and the Honourable the Congress of the United States of America: "The memorial of the representatives of the people of Kentucky, in convention assembled, pursuant to an act of the legislature of Virginia, passed the 18th of December, 1789, entitled 'An act concerning the erection of the district of Kentucky into an independent state,' humbly showeth,— "That the inhabitants of this country are warmly devoted to the American Union, and as firmly attached to the present happy establishment of the federal government, as any of the citizens of the United States. "That, migrating from thence, they have, with great hazard and difficulty, effected their present settlements. The hope of increasing numbers could alone have supported the early adventurers under these arduous exertions. They have the satisfaction to find that hope verified. At this day, the population and strength of this country render it fully able, in the opinion of your memorialists, to form and support an efficient domestic government. "The inconveniences resulting from its local situation, as a part of Virginia, at first but little felt, have, for some time, been objects of their most serious attention, which occasioned application to the legislature of Virginia for redress. "Here your memorialists would acknowledge, with peculiar pleasure, the benevolence of Virginia in permitting them to re 1790. CHAP. II. The Constitution-Admission of Kentucky. 1790. 1st Congress. move the evils arising from that source, by assuming upon themselves a state of independence. 3d Session. Resolutions and "This they have thought expedient to do, on the terms and memorial conditions stipulated in the above recited act, and fixed on the of Kentuc- first day of June, 1792, as the period when the said independence shall commence. ky. by Senate. "It now remains with the President and the Congress of the United States to sanction these proceedings, by an act of their honourable legislature, prior to the first day of November, 1791, for the purpose of receiving into the federal Union, the people of Kentucky, by the name of the State of Kentucky. "Should this determination of your memorialists meet the approbation of the general government, they have to call a convention to form a constitution, subsequently to the act of Congress, and prior to the day fixed for the independence of this country. "When your memorialists reflect on the present comprehen- "And your memorialists, as in duty bound, shall for ever pray. "Altest, THOMAS TODD, Clerk of the Convention." The papers were ordered by the House of Representatives to Referred to lie on the table. In the Senate, on the 14th of December, S. Journal, committee Messrs. Schuyler, Monroe, and Johnson, were appointed a com- p. 222. mittee to consider and report upon the subject. And on the 3d Id. p. 228, of January, 1791, Mr. Schuyler, from this committee, made the 229. following report: Report. "That it appears to the committee, that the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Virginia, did, (upon the application of the inhabitants residing in the district of Kentucky, part of the commonwealth of Virginia, to be separated therefrom, to the intent that the said district might become an independent state, and a member of the union of the United States of America,) by act of the legislature, passed on the eighteenth day of December, 1789, entitled, An act concerning the erection of the district of Kentucky into an independent state;' assent to the independence of the said district, on certain conditions stipulated and contained in the said act, a printed copy whereof is hereby submitted. "That it appears from the papers referred to the consideration 1791. CHAP. II. 3d Session. Report. The Constitution-Admission of Vermont. 1st Congress. of the committee, that a convention of deputies from the several counties in the said district was held in conformity to the said act, which, in the name and on behalf of the people whom they represented, declared it as the will of the said people to be erected into an independent state, on the terms and conditions specified in the said act of the commonwealth of Virginia. "That by the memorial of the said convention to Congress, bearing date the 28th of July, 1790, praying to be received into the federal Union, by the name of the state of Kentucky, it is declared that the people of the said district are as warmly devoted to the American Union, and as firmly attached to the present happy establishment of the federal government, as any of the citizens of the United States.' "That from such information as the committee have been able to procure, the inhabitants resident in the said district are sufficiently numerous for all the purposes of an independent state. "That from these facts, the committee have concluded that it would be proper for Congress to consent that the said district should become an independent state, and admitted as a member of the United States of America, and that a bill should be prepared for that purpose." 1791. This report was accepted, and the committee were ordered to s. Journal, prepare a bill accordingly. A bill was reported and received p.231, 232. its first and second reading on the 4th of January. The bill was Bill passed considered on the 5th, the 7th, and the 12th. It was then passed, by the Se- with the following title: "An act declaring the consent of Con nate, gress that a new state be formed within the jurisdiction of the And by the the 28th of January, the bill was considered in committee of the Id. p. 366. whole, reported without amendment, and passed. House. Admission Concerning the admission of the state of Vermont, the folof Ver- lowing documents appear on the Journals of Congress. mont. Message. On the 9th of February, 1791, the following message was transmitted by the President of the United States to the two houses: S. Journal, p. 241 246. "United States, February 9th, 1791. "Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives:"I have received from the governor of Vermont, authentic H. Journal, documents expressing the consent of the legislatures of New P-373. 412 CHAP. II. 3d Session. The Constitution-Admission of Vermont. 1st Congress. York, and of the territory of Vermont, that the said territory Act of New "The people of the state of New York, by the grace of God, York. "To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: 'Be "Know ye, that we, having inspected the records remaining 1791. |