Article 7

Document 9

Samuel

Again, I find in the last acts of the Constitution, that it is an open professed resolution, to break a solemn covenant, made by the several States, in the confederation of the United States of America. Which having named the States, in the 3d, article, says "the said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship, with each other, for their common defence, &c."--Then going on to describe this firm league, till it comes to the last Art. it concludes, "And the articles of this Confederation, shall be inviolably observed by every State; and the Union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to, in Congress of the United States, and be after-wards confirmed by the Legislatures of every State." But this new Constitution, does not appear to be agreed to by Congress, neither is it a Confederation of the States; but professedly of the people, as in the very first words of it; and concludes, that the ratification of the conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution, between the States so ratifying the same." This is expressly repugnant to the Confederation, the sacred national covenant we are under; and to set up a schism in the nation. This is not proposed to be done by the same contracting parties. For that was a covenant of union between the States. This is to be by the people of the States, to throw off all their allegiance to the federal Constitution of the nation, and the covenant Constitutions of the several States; And if the conventions in nine States will adopt it, then to seperate, and set up this in violation of all covenant obligations, of the most solemn important kind and consequence.

The Founders' Constitution
Volume 4, Article 7, Document 9
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a7s9.html
The University of Chicago Press

Storing, Herbert J., ed. The Complete Anti-Federalist. 7 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981.

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