New York
“We . . . make this application to Congress, that a convention be immediately called, of deputies from the several States, with full power to take into their consideration the defects of this Constitution that have been suggested by the State Conventions, and report such amendments thereto as they shall find best suited to promote our common interests, and secure to ourselves and our latest posterity, the great and unalienable rights of mankind.” – New York Resolution (1789)
Representative Application
For each of the 40 States, one representative application has been highlighted. An explanation is provided as to why this application should be aggregated toward the total calling for a convention for proposing amendments. Additional applications from the State, if any, are also included.
New York Resolution (1789) was the second ever call for a convention for proposing amendments. It passed on the unanimous recommendation of the Convention that ratified the US Constitution in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1788. The recommendation letter was written by John Jay, first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court with help from Alexander Hamilton. The resolution states that the Convention would have “full power to take into their consideration the defects of this Constitution that have been suggested by the State Conventions… .” This can be read as plenary or it can be read as broad, but not unlimited. However, all 9 states that proposed amendments called for any of proposals related to fiscal responsibility including that 2/3 of each house of Congress would be required to borrow money. The New York resolution (together with a similar one from Virginia) was a major factor leading to the passage of the Bill of Rights. However, while the Bill of Rights addressed many of the demands of the States, it did not address fiscal responsibility at all, leaving the need specified in the resolution unaddressed and still in effect.
Resolution (1789)
State of New York
In Assembly February 5th 1789
Resolved, if the Honerable the Senate concur therein that an Application be made to the Congress of the United States of America, in the Name and behalf of the Legislature of this State, in the words following, to wit.
The People of the State of New York having ratified the Constitution agreed to on the seventeenth Day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, by the Convention then assembled at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, as explained by the said Ratification in the fullest Confidence of obtaining a Revision of the said Constitution, by a general Convention; and in confidence that certain powers in and by the said Constitution granted would not be exercised, until a Convention should have been called and convened for proposing Amendments to the said Constitution. In compliance therefore, with the unanimous sense of the Convention of this State, who all united in opinion, that such a Revision was necessary to recommend the said Constitution to the approbation and support of a numerous Body of their constituents; and a Majority of the Members of which conceived several Articles of the Constitution so exceptionable that nothing but such confidence and an invincible Reluctance to Separate from our Sister States could have prevailed upon a sufficient number to assent to it, without stipulating for previous Amendments: And from a conviction that the apprehensions and Discontents which those articles occasion cannot be removed or alloyed, unless an Act to revise the said Constitution, be among the first that shall be passed by the new Congress: We the Legislature of the State of New York, do in behalf of our Constituents in the most earnest and Solumn manner make this Application to the Congress, that a Convention of Deputies from the several States, be called as early as possible, with full powers to take the said Constitution into their Consideration and to propose such Amendments thereto, as they shall find best calculated to promote our common Interests and secure to ourselves and our latest Posterity, the great and unalienable Right of Mankind.
By order of the Assembly
John Lansing, House Speaker
In Senate
February 7th 1789
By Order of the Senate
Pierre Van Costlandt, President.