the safety of their persons and families, and their mutual and general welfare."

Each colony was to retain its own laws, customs, rights, privileges and peculiar jurisdiction; delegates to be chosen from each colony annually, to meet in congress; and their sessions were to be held in each colony by rotation; congress to have the power of determining on war and peace; sending and receiving ambassadors, and entering into alliances (the reconciliation with Great Britain;) settling disputes and differences between colony and colony about limits or any other cause; and the planting of new colonies, when proper. To have power "to make such general ordinances as, though necessary to the general welfare, particular assemblies cannot be competent to use; those that may relate to general commerce, or general currency; the establishment of posts; and the regulation of the common forces : And the appointment of all general officers, civil and military, appertaining to the general confederacy."

The charges of war, and all other general expenses incurred for the common welfare, to be defrayed out of a common treasury, to be supplied by each colony, in proportion to its number of male polls between sixteen and sixty years of age; the taxes for paying such proportion to be laid and levied by each colony.

The number of delegates from each colony was to be regulated, from time to time, by the number of such polls returned, one delegate to be allowed for every five thousand polls, and the number to be taken triennially. One half of the members, "inclusive of proxies," to be necessary for a quorum, and each delegate to have a vote in all cases, and if absent, might appoint any other delegate from the same colony, his proxy, to vote for him.

An executive council was to be appointed by congress out of their own body, to consist of twelve persons; of whom in the first appointment,-one third, viz. "four shall be for one year, four for two years, and four for three years; and as the said terms expire, the vacancies shall be filled by appointments for three years; whereby one third of the members will be changed annually."

"This council, (two thirds to be a quorum in the recess of congress,) are to execute what shall have been enjoined by that body;

to manage the general continental business, and interests; to receive applications from foreign countries; to prepare matters for the consideration of congress; to fill up, pro tempore, continental offices that fall vacant; and to draw on the general treasurer for such moneys as may be necessary for general services, and appropriated by the congress to such services."

No colony to engage in offensive war with any nation of Indians without the consent of congress. A perpetual alliance, offensive and defensive, was to be entered into with the six nations of Indians; their limits to be ascertained and their lands secured to them, not encroached upon, nor any purchases made of them by any colony. The boundaries and lands of all the other Indians to be ascertained and secured in the same manner; and persons to be appointed to reside among them, and prevent injustice in the trade with them, and to relieve at the general expense, "by occasional and small supplies," their personal wants and distresses. And all purchases from them to be by congress, for the general advantage and benefit of the United States. Congress was empowered from time to time, to propose amendments, which, if approved by a majority of the colony assemblies, to be binding.

The other British colonies upon the continent of North America, were permitted to join the confederacy. These articles, if approved by the several provincial conventions or assemblies, were "to continue firm till the terms of reconciliation proposed in the petition of the last congress to the king are agreed to; till the acts since made, restraining the American commerce and fisheries are repealed; till reparation is made for the injury done to Boston, by shutting up its port; for the burning of Charlestown; and for the expense of this unjust war, and till all the British troops are withdrawn from America. On the arrival of these events, the colonies will return to their former connexion and friendship with Britain, but on failure thereof, this confederation to be perpetual."

The subject of a compact between the colonies, remained in this situation, until June, 1776. A majority of congress having

then come to the resolution of declaring America independent, the necessity of such a compact, as well for mutual security and succor, as for obtaining foreign aid, was obvious.

On the 11th of June 1776, therefore, the day following that, in which the resolution in favor of independence passed in committee of the whole, congress determined to appoint a committee to prepare and digest the form of a confederation; and the next day, the following gentlemen were selected for this important object. Mr. Bartlet, from New Hampshire; Samuel Adams, from Massachusetts; Mr. Hopkins, from Rhode Island; Mr. Sherman, from Connecticut; R. Livingston, from New York; Mr. Dickinson, from Pennsylvania; Mr. McKean, from Delaware; Mr. Stone, from Maryland; Mr. Nelson, from Virginia; Mr. Hewes, from North Carolina; E. Rutledge, from South Carolina; and Mr. Gwinnett, from Georgia.

This committee, on the 12th of July following, reported a plan of confederacy, consisting of twenty articles. Eighty copies only were ordered to be printed, and the members, as well as the secretary and printer, were under an injunction not to disclose the contents of it, or furnish copies to any person. On the 22d of the same month, it was discussed in committee of the whole, and was under consideration, until the 20th of August, when an amended draft was reported to the house.

The difficulty in agreeing upon the details of the system, as well as the gloomy aspect of American affairs at this period, prevented congress from resuming this subject, until April 1777; when they resolved, that two days in each week should be employed, " until it shall be wholly discussed." The amended draft was considered and debated accordingly, until the 26th of June, when it was again postponed to the 2d of October, and was not finally adopted by congress, until the 15th of November,

1777.

The outlines of the system were, that the thirteen states formed a confederacy, under the style and name of "the United States of America;" by which they entered, "into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their defense, 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 whatever."

Each state was to retain its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, not expressly delegated to the United States in congress assembled.. Delegates were to be annually appointed by each state, not less than three, nor more than seven, to meet in congress, on the first Monday of November, every year; and each state had a right to recall their delegates within the year, and to appoint others, in their stead. No person to be capable of being a delegate, for more than three years, in any term of six years, or of holding any office of emolument under the United States-each state to maintain its own delegates, and in determining questions, to have one vote.

No state was to enter into a treaty, agreement, or alliance with any foreign nation; nor were any two or more states, to enter into any confederation or alliance whatever, between themselves, without the consent of congress.

The states were likewise prohibited from laying imposts, which should interfere with any stipulations in treaties entered into by congress with any nation, prince, or state, in pursuance of any treaties already proposed to France and Spain. Nor could they keep vessels of war, in time of peace, except such number only as congress should deem necessary, for the defense of the state, or its trade; nor keep up any body of forces, except such number, as, in the judgment of congress, were requisite, to garrison their forts; nor engage in any war, except actually invaded by enemies, or in such imminent danger of invasion, as not to admit of the delay of consulting congress.

All the charges of war and other expenses, to be incurred for the common defense, or general welfare, were to be defrayed out of a common treasury, to be supplied by the several states, in proportion to the value of all lands within each state granted to, or surveyed for any person, as such lands, buildings, and improvements thereon, should be estimated, according to such mode as

congress might from time to time, direct and appoint; the taxes for paying such proportion to be laid and levied by the legislatures of the several states, within the time agreed upon by congress.

The general legislature had the sole and exclusive power of peace and war, except in case of invasion, or imminent danger of invasion of any state-of sending and receiving ambassadors -entering into treaties and alliances, with a proviso, that no treaty of commerce should abridge the legislative power of the respective states, of imposing such imposts and duties on foreigners, as their people were subject to, or of prohibiting exportation or importation of any species of goods or commodities whatever -of deciding captures made on land or water-of granting letters of marque and reprisal, in time of peace-appointing courts for trial of piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and for the trial of appeals, in all cases of captures. Congress were, also, invested with the power of finally determining all disputes and differences then subsisting, or which should arise, between two or more states, concerning boundary, jurisdiction, or any other cause whatever, and the manner of exercising this power, was particularly pointed out, in the articles-no state, however, was to be deprived of territory, for the benefit of the United States. They had, likewise, the sole right of regulating the alloy and value of coin struck by themselves, or by the states; of fixing the standard of weights and measures, of regulating the trade, and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members of any of the states, establishing and regulating post-offices, appointing all officers of the land forces, in the service of the United States, excepting regimental officers; appointing all naval officers, and making rules for the government of the land and naval forces.

They were authorized to appoint a committee, to sit, in the recess of congress, to be denominated a committee of the states, to consist of one delegate from each state-to appoint other committees and civil officers-to appoint a president of congress; but no person was to serve in that office, more than one year, in any term of three years-to ascertain the necessary sums of money to