ion of tests was prohibited by the constitution.

Sec.7. The 7th and last article declares: "The ratification of the
conventions of nine states shall be sufficient for the establishment of
this constitution between the states so ratifying the same." The
immediate ratification of the constitution by all the states was hardly
to be expected; a unanimous ratification, therefore, was not required.
But a union of less than nine states was deemed inexpedient. The framers
concluded their labors on the 17th of September, 1787; and in July,
1788, the ratification of New Hampshire, the ninth state, was received
by congress.

Sec.8. The dates of the ratifications of the several states are as follows:
Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey,
December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9,
1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South
Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788; Virginia, June 26,
1788; New York, July 26, 1788; North Carolina, November 21, 1789; Rhode
Island, May 29, 1790. The two last named states did not accede to the
constitution until after proceedings under it had commenced. The
ratification of North Carolina was received by congress in January,
1790; that of Rhode Island in June following.

Sec.9. The first Wednesday of January, 1789, was appointed by congress for
choosing electors of president in the several states, and the first
Wednesday of February for the electors to meet in their respective
states to elect the president. Gen. Washington was unanimously elected,
and on the 30th of April was inaugurated president. Proceedings under
the constitution, however, had commenced on the 4th of March preceding.

Chapter XLVI.

Amendments to the Constitution.

Sec.1. It is remarkable that, during a period of seventy years, the
constitution has received so few alterations. Although twelve articles
of amendment, so called, have been adopted, only two, (the 11th and
12th,) have in any manner or degree changed any of its original
provisions. Most of them, it will be seen, are merely declaratory and
restrictive. As the principles which they declare were so generally
acknowledged, and as the general government was a government of limited
powers, having such only as were expressly authorized by the
constitution, the framers deemed these declarations and restrictions
unnecessary. But as several of the state conventions had