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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 --FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1784.
The Committee of the States assembled: Present, nine states as yesterday.
Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, a delegate from the State of Virginia, laid before the Committee of the States, copies of two acts of the general assembly of that State; one entitled, "An act authorizing the delegates representing this State in Congress, to subscribe and ratify an alteration of the eighth of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, between the thirteen states of America."2 And the other, "An act to invest the United States in Congress assembled, with additional powers for a limited time."3 Also resolutions of the said general assembly, which are as follows:
[Note 2: 2 A copy of this act is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 75, folio 395.]
[Note 3: 3 A copy of this act is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 75, folio 401.]
"Virginia, in the House of Delegates, Wednesday, the 19th of May, 1784.
"Resolved, That the alteration of the eighth of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, proposed by the United States in Congress assembled, on the 18th of April, 1783, ought to be acceded to by this State.
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"Whereas considerable time may elapse before the common debts of the Confederacy can be apportioned by the rule proposed to be substituted in place of the eighth Article of the Confederation, in case such rule shall be established, or by the rule prescribed in the said article, in case the change shall be disagreed to, and before the accounts subsisting between the United States and the individual states can be finally liquidated.
"Resolved, That for the intermediate preservation of justice, and the national character, all requisitions which may, from time to time, be made by the United States in Congress assembled, for the purpose of discharging the national debts, incurred during the war, or defraying the ordinary civil expences of the foederal government, including a provision for the support of the present marine and military establishments, directed by Congress, and which may be apportioned on the states, either by the rule which has heretofore prevailed, or by such other temporary rule as may be judged most equitable, ought to be complied with.
"Resolved, That the delegates representing this State in Congress, ought to be instructed to urge in Congress all measures necessary for accelerating a fair and final settlement of the accounts subsisting between the United States and individual states; and that whenever such settlement shall have been compleated, a payment of the balance appearing therefrom to be due ought to be enforced, if necessary, by such distress on the property of the defaulting states, or of their citizens, as by the United States in Congress assembled, may be deemed adequate and most eligible.
"Resolved, That in case such final settlement be obstructed by a failure of the proposition for changing the eighth Article of Confederation, and the refusal or unreasonable delay in the states to furnish the materials requisite for carrying the said Article into effect, the United States, in Congress
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assembled, will be justified in proceeding to estimate the relative ability of the several states, according to the best lights of which they can avail themselves, to apportion the public debts by the standard which may thence result, to close the accounts between the United States and individual states, and to enforce in manner aforesaid, the payment of all arrears which may be found due.
Teste,
John Beckley, C. H. D.
June 8, 1784, agreed to by the Senate,
William Drew, C. S."1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of these resolutions is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 75, folio 397.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of July 11 from John Pierce, Paymaster General. It was referred to Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase and Mr. [Jacob] Read. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 62, folio 45.]
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