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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1779
A letter, of 17, from Thomson Mason, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 441.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of Intelligence.
A letter, of 19, from the honble Mr. Gérard, minister plenipotentiary of France, was read, enclosing a note from D. J. de Mirailles, respecting three Spanish ships taken by privateers and carried into Massachusetts bay:
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [James] Lovell.
A letter, of this day, from T. Paine, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 55, folio 63.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
The delegates of Virginia laid before Congress certain powers and instructions to them given by the general assembly of their State, which were read, and are as follows:
In General Assembly,Saturday the 19th of December, 1778.
Resolved, nemine contradicente, That our delegates in Congress be instructed to propose to Congress that they recommend to each of the states named as parties in the articles of confederation, heretofore laid before and ratified by this assembly, that they authorize their delegates in Congress to ratify the said articles, together with the delegates of so many other of the said states as shall be willing, so that the same shall be forever binding on the states so ratifying, notwithstanding that a part of those named shall decline to ratify the same, allowing, nevertheless, to the said states so declining, either a given or indefinite time, as to Congress shall seem best, for acceding to the said confederation, and making themselves thereby members of the union.
Resolved, nemine contradicente, That our said delegates now in office, or hereafter to be appointed, be authorized and required, and are
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hereby authorized and required, to ratify the said articles of confederation on the part of this commonwealth, with so many of the other states named in them as parties, as shall on their part ratify the same.
Test:B. Harrison, Sp. H. D.
A. Cary, S. S.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of these powers, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, Miscellaneous. Thomson states that the "original was taken back by the delegates, because it contained other and further instructions which they did not think proper at that time to lay before Congress." The original paper of the delegates is in the same volume.]
In pursuance of the above powers and instructions, the said delegates moved in the words following:
"Whereas it is of the greatest importance to the safety, honor and interest of the United States, that the confederation be closed as soon as may be, and rendered forever binding on the states acceding thereto:
"Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to each of the states named as parties to the confederation, that they authorize their delegates in Congress to ratify the same on or before theday ofnext, in conjunction with the delegates of so many other of the said states as shall be willing; to the end, that the same may be thenceforward forever binding on the states so ratifying, notwithstanding that a part of those named shall decline to ratify the same."2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Richard Henry Lee, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 27.]
Ordered, That the consideration of the said motion be postponed to Tuesday next.
The delegates of Virginia then delivered in a paper signed by them in the words following:
"In consequence of the foregoing instructions and powers to us given, we do hereby declare, that we are ready and willing to ratify the confederation with any one or more states named therein, so that the same shall be forever binding upon the State of Virginia.
Signed,Meriwether Smith,Cyrus Griffin.
Richard Henry Lee,William Fleming."
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Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee of thirteen on foreign affairs:
After debate, it was agreed by the House, that the question shall be stated,
Shall Mr. R. Izard be recalled?
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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