Can any man who acknowledges the being of a God be Justly deprived or abridged of any Civil Right as a Citizen on account of his Religious sentiments or peculiar mode of Religious Worship, and that no authority Can or aught to be vested in or assumed by any power what ever that shall in any Case interfere or in any manner Controul the Right of Conscience in the free Exercise of Religious Worship It is well known among all the Citizens of the 13 united States that the Jews have been true and faithfull whigs, and during the late Contest with England they have been foremost in aiding and assisting the States with their lifes and fortunes, they have supported the Cause, have bravely faught and bleed for liberty which they Can not Enjoy Therefore if the honourable Convention shall in ther Wisdom think fit and alter the said oath and leave out the words to viz—and I do acknowledge the scripture of the new testement to be given by devine inspiration then the Israeletes will think them self happy to live under a goverment where all Relegious societys are on an Eaquel footing-I solecet this favour for my self my Childreen and posterity and for the benefit of all the Isrealetes through the 13 united States of america My prayers is unto the Lord. May the people of this States Rise up as a great and young lion, May they prevail against their Enemies, May the degrees of honour of his Excellencey the president of the Convention George Washington, be Extollet and Raise up. May Every one speak of his glorious Exploits. May God prolong his days among us in this land of Liberty- May he lead the armies against his Enemys as he has done hereuntofore- May God Extend peace unto the united States-May they get up to the highest Prosperetys-May God Extend peace to them and their Seed after them so long as the Sun and moon Endureth-and may the almighty God of our father Abraham Isaac and Jacob endue this Noble Assembly with wisdom Judgement and unamity in their Councells, and may they have the Satisfaction to see that their present toil and labour for the wellfair of the united States may be approved of, Through all the world and perticular by the united States of america is the ardent prayer of Sires Your Most devoted obed Servant JONAS PHILLIPS Philadelphia 24th Ellul 5547 or Sept 7th 1787 [ADDRESS.] To His Excellency the president and the Honourable Mem bers of the Convention assembled Present [INDORSEMENT.] N° 8. Letter from Jonas Phillips a Jew, dated Sept. 7, 1787. to the President & Members of the Convention Sir Philadelphia 1st May 1787 I have just received an express from Baltimore informing me that my brother lays dangerously ill, in consequence of which I set out immediately for that place. I wish to communicate this circumstance to your Excellency that it may be mentioned to the convention should my absence without leave be taken any notice of With the greatest respect I have the honor to be Sir His Excellency the President of Convention [ADDRESS.] His Excellency Geo. Washington Esq President of Convention [INDORSEMENT.] N° 9. Letter from Mr McHenry to the President JAMES MCHENRY May 1. 1787. W E the People of the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare and establish the following Constitution for the Government of Ourselves and our Posterity. ARTICLE I. The stile of this Government shall be, "The United States of America." II. The Government shall consist of supreme legislative, executive and judicial powers. III. The legislative power shall be vested in a Congress, to consist of two separate and distinct bodies of men, a House of Representatives, and a *The Legislature shall meet at least once in every Senate; ["each of which shall, in all cases, have a negative on the other. *The_Legislature_shall year and that meeting shall be on the first Monday in December unless a different day shall be appointed The Legislature shall meet on the first Monday in December in every year." stricken out.] by Law. IV. every Sect. 1. The Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen year, by the people of the several States comprehended within second this Union. The qualifications of the electors shall be the same, from time to time, as those of the electors in the several States, of the most numerous branch of their own legislatures. seven of Sect. 2. Every Member of the House of Representatives shall be of the an Inhabitant Sect. 3. The House of Representatives shall, at its first formation, and until the number of citizens and inhabitants shall be taken in the manner herein after described, consist of sixty-five Members, of whom three shall be chosen in New-Hampshire, eight in Massachusetts, one in Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, five in Connecticut, six in New-York, four in New-Jersey, eight in Pennsylvania, one in Delaware, six in Maryland, ten in |