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nguished from the various "national" plans presented. In defending them, he had said, after calling for the reading of the credentials of delegates: "Can we, on this ground, form a national Government? I fancy not. Our commissions give a complexion to the business; and can we suppose that, when we exceed the bounds of our duty, the people will approve our proceedings? "We are met here as the deputies of _thirteen independent, sovereign States, for federal purposes. Can we consolidate their sovereignty and form one nation_, and annihilate the sovereignties of our States, who have sent us here for other purposes?" Again, on a subsequent day, after stating that he was not there to pursue his own sentiments of government, but of those who had sent him, he had asked: "Can we, _as representatives of independent States_, annihilate the essential powers of independency? Are not the votes of this Convention taken on every question under the idea of independency?" The fact that this State, which, through her representatives, had taken so conspicuous a part in the maintenance of the principle of State sovereignty, ratified the Constitution with such readiness and unanimity, is conclusive proof that, in her opinion, that principle was not compromised thereby. The conclusion of her ordinance of ratification is in these words: "Now be it known that we, the delegates of _the State of New Jersey_, chosen by the people thereof for the purpose aforesaid, having maturely deliberated on and considered the aforesaid proposed Constitution, do hereby, for and on behalf of the _people of the said State of New Jersey_, agree to, ratify, and confirm the same, and every part thereof. "Done in convention, by the unanimous consent of the members present, this 18th day of December, A. D. 1787." Georgia next, and also unanimously, on January 2, 1788, declared, through "_the delegates of the State of Georgia_, in convention met, pursuant to the provisions of the [act of the] Legislature aforesaid ... in virtue of the powers and authority given us [them] by _the people of the said State_, for that purpose," that they did "fully and entirely assent to, ratify, and adopt the said Constitution." Connecticut (on the 9th of January) declares her assent with equal distinctness of assertion as to the source of the authority: "In the name of _the people of
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