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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, MARCH 1, 1781
A representation from the delegates of the State of New Hampshire, and the State of Rhode Island, was laid before Congress, and read.1
[Note 1: 1 This representation, dated February 28, 1781, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, folio 187.]
In pursuance of the act of the legislature of the State of New York read in Congress the 7 March, 1780, entitled, "An act to facilitate the completion of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union among the United States of America," and which is in the words following:2
[Note 2: 2 From this point the entries are by a clerk in the Secretary's office whose handwriting has not been identified.]
"Whereas nothing under Divine Providence, can more effectually contribute to the tranquillity and safety of the United States of America, than a federal alliance, on such liberal principles as will give satisfaction to its respective members; and whereas the articles of confederation and perpetual union, recommended by the honorable Congress of the United States of America have not proved acceptable to all the states; it having been conceived, that a portion of the waste and uncultivated territory, within the limits or claims of certain states, ought to be appropriated as a common fund for the expences of the war; and the people of this State of New York being on all occasions disposed to manifest their regard for their sister states, and their earnest desire to promote the general interest and security; and more especially to accelerate the federal alliance, by removing, as far as it depends upon them, the before mentioned impediment to its final accomplishment:
Be it therefore enacted, by the people of the State of New-York, represented in senate and assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that it shall and may be lawful to and for the delegates of this State, in the honorable Congress of the United States of America, or the major part of such of them as shall be assembled in Congress; and they the said delegates, or the major part of
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them, so assembled, are hereby fully authorized and empowered, for and on behalf of this State, and by proper and authentic acts or instruments, to limit and restrict the boundaries of this State in the western parts thereof, by such line or lines, and in such manner and form as they shall judge to be expedient, either with respect to the jurisdiction, as well as the right or pre-emption of soil, or reserving the jurisdiction in part, or in the whole, over the lands which may be ceded or relinquished, with respect only to the right or pre-emption of the soil.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the territory which may be ceded or relinquished, by virtue of this act, either with respect to the jurisdiction as well as the right or redemption of soil, or the right or pre-emption of soil only, shall be and enure for the use and benefit of such of the United States, as shall become members of the federal alliance of the said States, and for no other use or purpose whatsoever.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all the lands to be ceded and relinquished, by virtue of this act, for the benefit of the United States, with respect to property; but which shall nevertheless remain under the jurisdiction of this State, shall be disposed of and appropriated in such manner only, as the Congress of the said States shall direct; and that a warrant under the authority of Congress, for surveying and laying out any part thereof, shall entitle the party in whose favor it shall issue to cause the same to be surveyed and laid out, and returned according to the directions of such warrant, and thereupon letters patent under the great seal of this State shall pass to the grantee for the estate specified in the said warrant, for which no other fee or reward shall be demanded or received, than such as shall be allowed by Congress.
Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the trust reposed, by virtue of this act, shall not be executed by the delegates of this State, unless at least three of the said delegates shall be present in Congress.
State of New York, ss.--I do hereby certify, that the aforegoing is a true copy of the original act, passed the 19th of February, 1780, and lodged in the secretary's office.
Robert Harpur,Dep. Sec'y of State.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of the Act is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 250.]
The delegates for the State of New-York executed in Congress the following act or declaration, to wit:
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To all people who shall see these presents, we, James Duane, William Floyd, and Alexander McDougall, the underwritten delegates for the State of New York in the honorable Congress of the United States of America, send greeting:
Whereas it is stipulated as one of the conditions of the cession of territory, made for the benefit of the United States by the legislature of the State of Virginia, that the United States should guarantee to that State the boundaries reserved by her legislature for her future jurisdiction; and it would be unjust that the State of New York, as a member of the federal union, should be compelled to guarantee the territories which shall be reserved by other states making such cessions, when her own boundaries, as they are to be limited and restricted by the act or instrument of cession now to be executed, shall not be guaranteed in the same manner: wherefore, the said delegates for the State of New York, being uninstructed on this subject by their constituents, think it their duty to declare, and they do by this present instrument declare, that the cession of territory and restriction of boundary of the said State of New York, now to be made by them in behalf of the people of the said State, shall not be absolute; but on the contrary, shall be subject to ratification or disavowal by the people of the said State, represented in senate and assembly, at their pleasure; unless the boundaries reserved for the future jurisdiction of the said State, by the instrument of cession now to be executed by us, shall be guaranteed by the United States, in the same manner and form as the territorial rights of the other states shall be guaranteed, which have made or may make cessions of part of their claims for the benefit of the United States; the people of the State of New York, on their part, submitting that any part of their limits, which are or may be claimed by any of the United States, shall be determined and adjusted in the mode prescribed for that purpose by the Articles of Confederation. In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, in the presence of Congress,this first day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, and of our independence the fifth.
James Duane, (L. S.)
Wm. Floyd, (L. S.)
Alexander McDougall, (L. S.)
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
Charles Thomson,
Charles Morse,
Ebenezer Smith.1
[Note 1: 1 Charles Thomson resumes the entries from this point.]
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The foregoing being executed, the delegates aforesaid, in virtue of the powers vested in them by the act of their legislature above recited, proceeded and executed in due form in behalf of their State, the following instrument, viz.
To all people who shall see these presents, we, James Duane, William Floyd and Alexander McDougall, the underwritten delegates for the State of New York in the honorable Congress of the United States of America, send greeting:
Whereas by an act of the legislature of the said State of New York, passed at a session held at Albany, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, entitled "An act to facilitate the completion of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union among the United States of America;" it is declared, that the people of the State of New York were on all occasions disposed to manifest their regard for their sister states, and their earnest desire to promote the general interest and security, and more especially to accelerate the federal alliance, by removing, as far as it depended upon them, the impediment to its final accomplishment, respecting the waste and uncultivated lands within the limits of certain states; and it is therefore thereby enacted by the people of the said State of New York, represented in senate and assembly, and by the authority of the same, that it should and might be lawful to and for the delegates of the said State in the honorable Congress, and they or the major part of them, so assembled, are thereby fully authorized and empowered, for and on behalf of that State, and by proper and authentic acts or instruments, to limit and restrict the boundaries of the said State in such manner and form as they shall judge to be expedient, either with respect to the jurisdiction, as well as the right or pre-emption of soil, or reserving the jurisdiction in part or in the whole, over the lands which may be ceded or relinquished with respect only to the right of pre-emption of the soil: and by the said act it is further enacted, that the territory which may be ceded or relinquished by virtue thereof, either with respect to the jurisdiction, as well as the right or pre-emption of soil, or the right or pre-emption of soil only, shall be and enure for the use and benefit of such of the United States, as shall become members of the federalalliance of the said states, and for no other use or purpose whatsoever: and by the said act it is provided and enacted that the trust reposed by virtue thereof, shall not be executed by the delegates of the said State, unless at least three of the said delegates shall be
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present in Congress: and whereas, by letters patent, under the great seal of the said State of New York, bearing date the 29th day of October last past, reciting that the Senate and Assembly had, on the 12th day of September then last past, nominated and appointed us, the said James Duane, William Floyd and Alexander McDougall, together with John Morin Scott and Ezra L'Hommedieu, delegates to represent the said State in the Congress of the United States of North America, therefore in pursuance of the said nomination and appointment, the people of the said State of New York, did thereby commission us, the said James Duane, William Floyd and Alexander McDougall, and the said John Morin Scott and Ezra L'Hommedieu, or any majority who should, from time to time, attend the said Congress; and if only one of the said delegates should at any time be present in the said Congress, he should in such case, be authorized to represent the said State in the said Congress, as by an authentic copy of the said act, and an exemplification of the said commission, remaining among the archives of Congress, fully appears.
Now therefore know ye, that we, the said James Duane, William Floyd and Alexander McDougall, by virtue of the power and authority, and in the execution of the trust reposed in us as aforesaid, have judged it expedient to limit and restrict, and we do by these presents, for and on behalf of the said State of New York, limit and restrict the boundaries of the said State in the western parts thereof, with respect to the jurisdiction, as well as the right or pre-emption of soil, by the lines and in the form following, that is to say: a line from the north-east corner of the State of Pennsylvania, along the north bounds thereof to its north-west corner continued due west until it shall be intersected by a meridian line, to be drawn from the forty-fifth degree of north latitude, through the most westerly bent or inclination of Lake Ontario; thence by the said meridian line to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude; and thence by the said forty-fifth degree of north latitude: but if on experiment, the above described meridian line shall not comprehend twenty miles due west from the most westerly bent or inclination of the river or strait of Niagara, then we do by these presents, in the name of the people, and for and on behalf of the State of New York, and by virtue of the authority aforesaid, limit and restrict the boundaries of the said State in the western parts thereof, with respect to jurisdiction, as well as the right or pre-emption of soil, by the lines and in the manner following, that is to say; a line from the north-east corner of the
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State of Pennsylvania, along the north bounds thereof, to its northwest corner, continued due west until it shall be intersected by a meridian line to be drawn from the forty-fifth degree of north latitude, through a point twenty miles due west from the most westerly bent or inclination of the river or strait of Niagara; thence by the said meridian line to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude, and thence by the said forty-fifth degree of north latitude: And we do by these presents, in the name of the people, and for and on behalf of the State of New York, and by virtue of the power and trust committed to us by the said act and commission, cede, transfer, and forever relinquish to, and for the only use and benefit of such of the states as are or shall become parties to the Articles of Confederation, all the right, title, interest, jurisdiction and claim, of the said State of New York, to all lands and territories to the northward and westward of the boundaries, to which the said State is in manner aforesaid limited and restricted, and to be granted, disposed of, and appropriated in such manner only, as the Congress of the said United or Confederated States shall order and direct.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names, and affixed our seals in Congress, the 1st day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, and of our independence the fifth.
SignedJas Duane, (L. S.)
Wm Floyd, (L. S.)
Alex: McDougall, (L. S.)
Sealed and delivered in presence of
Cha Thomson,
Cha Morse,
Ebenezer Smith.1
[Note 1: 1 This act of cession is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, Cessions of Western Lands.]
According to the order of the day, the honble John Hanson and Daniel Carroll, two of the delegates for the State of Maryland, in pursuance of the act of the legislature of that State, entitled "An act to empower the delegates of this State in Congress to subscribe and ratify the Articles of Confederation," which was read in Congress the 12 of February last, and a copy thereof entered on the minutes,
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did, in behalf of the said State of Maryland, sign and ratify the said articles, by which act the Confederation of the United States of America was completed, each and every of the Thirteen United States, from New Hampshire to Georgia, both included, having adopted and confirmed, and by their delegates in Congress, ratified the same, [which is in the words following:]1
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 9 (History of the Confederation) but not in the Journal.]
To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the under signed Delegates of the States affixed to our Names, send greeting.
Whereas the Delegates of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, did, on the 15th day of November, in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy seven, and in the Second Year of the Independence of America, agree to certain articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia in the words following, viz. "Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the states of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia.
Article I. The Stile of this confederacy shall be "The United States of America."
Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.
Article III. The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatsoever.
Article IV. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds and
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fugitives from justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states; and the people of each state shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other state, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same duties, impositions and restrictions as the inhabitants thereof respectively, provided that such restriction shall not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property imported into any state, to any other state, of which the Owner is an inhabitant; provided also that no imposition, duties or restriction shall be laid by any state, on the property of the united states, or either of them.
If any Person guilty of, or charged with treason, felony, or other high misdemeanor in any state, shall flee from Justice, and be found in any of the united states, he shall, upon demand of the Governor or executive power, of the state from which he fled, be delivered up and removed to the state having jurisdiction of his offence.
Full faith and credit shall he given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of every other state.
Article V. For the more convenient management of the general interests of the united states, delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature of each state shall direct, to meet in Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved to each state, to recal its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead, for the remainder of the Year.
No state shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more than seven Members; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years; nor shall any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the united states, for which he, or another for his benefit receives any salary, fees or emolument of any kind.
Each state shall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the states, and while they act as members of the committee of the states.
In determining questions in the united states in Congress assembled, each state shall have one vote.
Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be impeached or questioned in any Court, or place out of Congress, and the members of congress shall be protected in their persons from arrests and imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and attendance on congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.
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Article VI. No state, without the Consent of the united states in congress assembled, shall send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any King prince or state; nor shall any person holding any office of profit or trust under the united states, or any of them, accept of any present, emolument, office or title of ally kind whatever from any king, prince or foreign state; nor shall the united states in congress assembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility.
No two or more states shall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them, without the consent of the united states in congress assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the same is to be entered into, and how long it shall continue.
No state shall lay any imposts or duties, which may interfere with any stipulations in treaties, entered into by the united states in congress assembled, with any king, prince or state, in pursuance of any treaties already proposed by congress, to the courts of France and Spain.
No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace by any state, except such number only, as shall be deemed necessary by the united states in congress assembled, for the defence of such state, or its trade; nor shall any body of forces be kept up by any state, in time of peace, except such number only, as in the judgment of the united states, in congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts necessary for the defence of such state; but every state shall always keep up a well regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutred, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition and camp equipage.
No state shall engage in any war without the consent of the united states in congress assembled, unless such state be actually invaded by enemies, or shall have received certain advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of Indians to invade such state, and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a delay till the united states in congress assembled can be consulted: nor shall any state grant commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal, except it be after a declaration of war by the united states in congress assembled, and then only against the kingdom or state and the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared, and under such regulations as shall be established by the united states in congress assembled, unless such state be infested by pirates,
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in which case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so long as the danger shall continue, or until the united states in congress assembled, shall determine otherwise.
Article VII. When land-forces are raised by any state for the common defence, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively, by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which first made the appointment.
Article VIII. All charges of war, and all other expences that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the united states in congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the value of all land within each state, granted to or surveyed for any Person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon shall be estimated according to such mode as the united states in congress assembled, shall from time to time direct and appoint. The taxes for paying that proportion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several states within the time agreed upon by the united states in congress assembled.
Article IX. The united states in congress assembled, shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of determining on peace and war, except in the cases mentioned in the sixth article--of sending and receiving ambassadors--entering into treaties and alliances, provided that no treaty of commerce shall be made whereby the legislative power of the respective states shall be restrained from imposing such imposts and duties on foreigners, as their own people are subjected to, or from prohibiting the exportation or importation of any species of goods or commodities whatsoever--of establishing rules for deciding in all cases, what captures on land or water shall be legal, and in what manner prizes taken by land or naval forces in the service of the united states shall be divided or appropriated--of granting letters of marque and reprisal in times of peace--appointing courts for the trial of piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and establishing courts for receiving and determining finally appeals in all cases of captures, provided that no member of congress shall be appointed a judge of any of the said courts.
The united states in congress assembled shall also be the last resort on appeal in all disputes and differences now subsisting or that
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hereafter may arise between two or more states concerning boundary, jurisdiction or any other cause whatever; which authority shall always be exercised in the manner following. Whenever the legislative or executive authority or lawful agent of any state in controversy with another shall present a petition to congress stating the matter in question and praying for a hearing, notice thereof shall be given by order of congress to the legislative or executive authority of the other state in controversy, and a day assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, who shall then be directed to appoint by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a court for hearing and determining the matter in question: but if they cannot agree, congress shall name three persons out of each of the united states, and from the list of such persons each party shall alternately strike out one, the petitioners beginning, until the number shall be reduced to thirteen; and from that number not less than seven, nor more than nine names as congress shall direct, shall in the presence of congress be drawn out by lot, and the persons whose names shall be so drawn or any five of them, shall be commissioners or judges, to hear and finally determine the controversy, so always as a major part of the judges who shall hear the cause shall agree in the determination: and if either party shall neglect to attend at the day appointed, without showing reasons, which congress shall judge sufficient, or being present shall refuse to strike, the congress shall proceed to nominate three persons out of each state, and the secretary of congress shall strike in behalf of such party absent or refusing; and the judgment and sentence of the court to be appointed, in the manner before prescribed, shall be final and conclusive; and if any of the parties shall refuse to submit to the authority ofsuch court, or to appear or defend their claim or cause, the court shall nevertheless proceed to pronounce sentence, or judgment, which shall in like manner be final and decisive, the judgment or sentence and other proceedings being in either case transmitted to congress, and lodged among the acts of congress for the security of the parties concerned: provided that every commissioner, before he sits in judgment, shall take an oath to be administred by one of the judges of the supreme or superior court of the state, where the cause shall be tried, "well and truly to hear and determine the matter in question, according to the best of his judgment, without favour, affection or hope of reward:" provided also, that no state shall be deprived of territory for the benefit of the united states.
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All controversies concerning the private right of soil claimed under different grants of two or more states, whose jurisdictions as they may respect such lands, and the states which passed such grants are adjusted, the said grants or either of them being at the same time claimed to have originated antecedent to such settlement of jurisdiction, shall on the petition of either party to the congress of the united states, be finally determined as near as may be in the same manner as is before prescribed for deciding disputes respecting territorial jurisdiction between different states.
The united states in congress assembled shall also have the sole and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of coin struck by their own authority, or by that of the respective states--fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the united states--regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members of any of the states, provided that the legislative right of any state within its own limits be not infringed or violated--establishing or regulating post-offices from one state to another, throughout all the united states, and exacting such postage on the papers passing thro' the same as may be requisite to defray the expences of the said office--appointing all officers of the land forces, in the service of the united states, excepting regimental officers--appointing all the officers of the naval forces, and commissioning all officers whatever in the service of the united states--making rules for the government and regulation of the said land and naval forces, and directing their operations.
The united states in congress assembled shall have authority to appoint a committee, to sit in the recess of congress, to be denominated "A Committee of the States," and to consist of one delegate from each state; and to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general affairs of the united states under their direction--to appoint one of their number to preside, provided that no person be allowed to serve in the office of president more than one year in any term of three years; to ascertain the necessary sums of Money to be raised for the service of the united states, and to appropriate mid apply the same for defraying the public expences--to borrow money, or emit bills on the credit of the united states, transmitting every half year to the respective states an account of the sums of money so borrowed or emitted,--to build and equip a navy--to agree upon the number of land forces, and to make requisitions from each state for its quota, in proportion to
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the number of white inhabitants in such state; which requisition shall be binding, and thereupon the legislature of each state shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men and cloath, arm and equip them in a soldier like manner, at the expence of the united states; and the officers and men so cloathed, armed and equipped shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the united states in congress assembled: But if the united states in congress assembled shall, on consideration of circumstances judge proper that any state should not raise men, or should raise a smaller number than its quota, and that any other state should raise a greater number of men than the quota thereof, such extra number shall be raised, officered, cloathed, armed and equipped in the same manner as the quota of such state, unless the legislature of such state shall judge that such extra number cannot be safely spared out of the same, in which case they shall raise officer, cloath, arm and equip as many of such extra number as they judge can be sagely spared. And the officers and men so cloathed, armed and equipped, shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the united states in congress assembled.
The united states in congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expences necessary for the defence and welfare of the united states, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the united states, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine states assent to the same: nor shall a question on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the votes of a majority of the united states in congress assembled.
The congress of the united states shall have power to adjourn to any time within the year, and to any place within the united states, so that no period of adjournment be for a longer duration than the space of six Months, and shall publish the Journal of their proceedings monthly, except such parts thereof relating to treaties, alliances or military operations, as in their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the delegates of each state on any question shall be entered on the Journal, when it is desired by any delegate; and the delegates of a state, or any of them, at his or their request shall
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be furnished with a transcript of the said Journal, except such parts as are above excepted, to lay before the legislatures of the several states.
Article X. The committee of the states, or any nine of them, shall be authorized to execute, in the recess of congress, such of the powers of congress as the united states in congress assembled, by the consent of nine states, shall from time to time think expedient to vest them with; provided that no power be delegated to the said committee, for the exercise of which, by the articles of confederation, the voice of nine states in the congress of the united states assembled is requisite.
Article XI. Canada acceding to this confederation, and joining in the measures of the united states, shall be admitted into, and entitled to all the advantages of this union: but no other colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine states.
Article XII. All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed and debts contracted by, or under the authority of congress, before the assembling of the united states, in pursuance of the present confederation, shall be deemed and considered as a charge against the united states, for payment and satisfaction whereof the said united states, and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledged.
Article XIII. Every state shall abide by the determinations of the united states in congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. 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 hereinafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the united states, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every state.
And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union. Know Ye that we the undersigned delegates; by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained: And we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective
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constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the united states in congress assembled, on all questions, which by the said confederation are submitted to them. And that the articles thereof shall be inviolably observed by the states we respectively represent, and that the union shall be perpetual. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in Congress. Done at Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania the ninth day of July, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and Seventy-eight, and in the third year of the independence of America.
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[Note 1: 1 The proceedings of this day with respect to the signing of the Articles of Confederation, the Articles themselves and the signers are entered in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 9 (History of the Confederation), but not in the Journal itself. The Articles are printed here from the original roll in the Bureau of Rolls and Library, Department of State.]
Adjourned.
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