Those with numbers before their names, signed the Con

stitution, .

39

Those in Italicks, never attended,

10

Members who attended, but did not sign the Constitution,

16

65

CREDENTIALS

OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

In the year of our Lord, 1787.

An Act for appointing Deputies from this State to the Convention, proposed to be holden in the City of Philadelphia, in May, 1787, for the purpose of revising the Federal Constitution.

WHEREAS in the formation of the federal compact, which frames the bond of union of the American states, it was not possible in the infant state of our republick to devise a system which, in the course of time and experience, would not manifest imperfections, that it would be necessary to reform.

And whereas the limited powers, which by the articles of confederation, are vested in the Congress of the United States, have been found far inadequate to the enlarged purposes which they were intended to produce. And whereas Congress hath, by repeated and most urgent representations, endeavoured to awaken this, and other states of the union, to a sense of the truly critical and alarming situation in which they may inevitably be involved, unless timely measures be taken

to enlarge the powers of Congress, that they may be thereby enabled to avert the dangers which threaten our existence as a free and independent people. And whereas this state hath been ever desirous to act upon the liberal system of the general good of the United States, without circumscribing its views to the narrow and selfish objects of partial convenience; and has been at all times ready to make every concession to the safety and happiness of the whole, which justice and sound policy could vindicate.

Be it therefore enacted, by the senate and house of representatives, in general court convened, that John Langdon, John Pickering, Nicholas Gilman, and Benjamin West, Esquires, be, and hereby are appointed commissioners; they, or any two of them, are hereby authorized and empowered, as deputies from this state, to meet at Philadelphia said convention, or any other place to which the convention may be adjourned, for the purposes aforesaid, there to confer with such deputies as are, or may be appointed by the other states for similar purposes, and with them to discuss and decide upon the most effectual means to remedy the defects of our federal union, and to procure, and secure the enlarged purposes which it was intended to effect, and to report such an act, to the United States in Congress, as when agreed to by them, and duly confirmed by the several states, will effectually provide for the same.

State of New Hampshire.

In the House of Representatives, June 27, 1787. The foregoing bill having been read a third time: Voted that it pass to be enacted.

Sent up for concurrence.

JOHN SPARHAWK, Speaker.