The articles, published by Congress, of a treaty of amity and commerce, and of a treaty of alliance between the crown of France and these United States, duly entered into and executed at Paris, on the 6th day of February last, by a minister properly authorised by his Most Christian Majesty on the one part, and the commissioners of Congress on the other part. : Also the Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the United States of America, as proposed by Congress to the legislatures of the different states.

The articles, published by Congress, of a treaty of amity and commerce, and of a treaty of alliance between the crown of France and these United States, duly entered into and executed at Paris, on the 6th day of February last, by a minister properly authorised by his Most Christian Majesty on the one part, and the commissioners of Congress on the other part. : Also the Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the United States of America, as proposed by Congress to the legislatures of the different states.

Table of contents

Title page

In CONGRESS, MAY 6, 1778.

ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION and PERPETUAL UNION between the STATES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

List of the MEMBERS of the Honorable the CONGRESS of the UNITED AMERICAN STATES.

Members of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Members of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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THE ARTICLES, Published by CONGRESS, OF A TREATY of AMITY and COMMERCE, AND OF A TREATY of ALLIANCE Between the CROWN of FRANCE And these UNITED STATES, Duly entered into and executed at Paris, on the 6th day of February last, by a Minister properly authorised by his Most Christian Majesty on the one part, and the Commissioners of Congress on the other part. ALSO THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION and PERPETUAL UNION Between the United States of America, as proposed by Congress to the Legislatures of the different States.

LANCASTER: Printed by JOHN DUNLAP.

In CONGRESS, MAY 6, 1778.

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WHEREAS Congress have received, from their Commissioners at the Court of France, copies of a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, and of a Treaty of Alliance, between the Crown of France and these United States, duly entered into and executed at Paris, on the 6th day of February last, by a Minister properly authorised by his Most Christian Majesty on the one part, and the said Commissioners on the other part: AND WHEREAS the said Treaties have been maturely considered and unanimously ratified and confirmed by Congress. In which said Treaty of Amity and Commerce are the Articles following, to wit.

ARTICLE VI. The Most Christian King shall endeavour, by all the means in his power, to protect and defend all vessels and the effects belonging to the subjects, people or inhabitants of the said United States, or any of them, being in his ports, havens, roads, or on the seas near to his countries, islands, cities or towns; and to recover and restore to the right owners, their agents or attorneys, all such vessels and effects which shall be taken within his jurisdiction; and the ships of war of His Most Christian Majesty, or any convoy sailing under his authority, shall, upon all occasions, take under their protection, all vessels belonging to the subjects, people [Page] or inhabitants of the said United States, or any of them, and holding the same course, or going the same way, and shall defend such vessels, as long as they hold the same course, or go the same way, against all attacks, force and violence, in the same manner as they ought to protest and defend the vessels belonging to the subjects of the Most Christian King.

ARTICLE VII. In like manner the said United States, and their ships of war, sailing under their authority, shall protect and defend, conformably to the tenor of the preceding article, all the vessels and effects belonging to the subjects of the Most Christian King, and use all their endeavours to recover, and cause to be restored, the said vessels and effects that shall have been taken within the jurisdiction of the said United States, or any of them.

ARTICLE XIV. The merchant ships of either of the parties, which shall be making into a port belonging to the enemy of the other ally, and concerning whose voyage and the species of goods on board her, there shall be just grounds of suspicion, shall be obliged to exhibit, as well upon the high-seas as in the ports and havens, not only her passports, but likewise certificates, expressly shewing that her goods are not of the number of those which have been prohibited as contraband.

ARTICLE XV. If, by the exhibiting of the abovesaid certificates, the other party discover there are any of those sorts of goods which are prohibited and declared contraband, and consigned for a port under the obedience of his enemy, it shall not be [Page] lawful to break up the hatches of such ship, or to open any chest, coffers, packs, casks, or any other vessels found therein, or to remove the smallest parcels of her goods, whether such ship belongs to the subjects of France, or the inhabitants of the said United States; unless the lading be brought on shore in the presence of the officers of the Court of Admiralty, and an inventory thereof made, but there shall be no allowance to sell, exchange, or alienate the same in any manner, until after that due and lawful process shall have been had against such prohibited goods, and the Court of Admiralty shall, by a sentence pronounced, have confiscated the same; saving always, as well the ship itself, as any other goods found therein, which by this Treaty are to be esteemed free; neither may they be detained on pretence of their being as it were infected by the prohibited goods, much less shall they be confiscated as lawful prize; but if not the whole cargo, but only part thereof, shall consist of prohibited or contraband goods, and the commander of the ship shall be ready and willing to deliver them to the captor, who has discovered them, in such case, the captor, having received those goods, shall forthwith discharge the ship, and not hinder her by any means freely to prosecute the voyage on which she was bound; but in case the contraband merchandize cannot be all received on board the vessel of the captor, then the captor may, notwithstanding the offer of delivering him the contraband goods, carry the vessel into the nearest port, agreeable to what is above directed.

[Page]ARTICLE XVI. On the contrary it is agreed, That whatever shall be found to be laden by the subjects and inhabitants of either party, on any ship belonging to the enemies of the other, or to their subjects, the whole, although it be not of the sort of prohibited goods may be confiscated, in the same manner as if it belonged to the enemy, except such goods and merchandize as were put on board such ship before the declaration of war, or were after such declaration, if so be it were done without knowledge of such declaration; so that the goods of the subjects and people of either party, whether they be of the nature of such as are prohibited or otherwise, which as is aforesaid were put on board any ship belonging to an enemy before the war, or after the declaration of the same, without the knowledge of it, shall no ways be liable to confiscation, but shall well and truly be restored without delay to the proprietors demanding the same; but so as that, if the said merchandize be contraband, it shall not be any ways lawful to carry them afterwards to any port belonging to the enemy; the two contracting parties agreeing, that the term of two months being past after the declaration of war, their respective subjects, from whatever part of the world they come, shall not plead the ignorance mentioned in this article.

ARTICLE XVII. And that more effectual care may be taken for the security of the subjects and inhabitants of both parties, that they suffer no injury by the men of war or privateers of the other party, all the commanders of the ships of his Most Christian [Page] Majesty and of the said United States, and all their subjects and inhabitants, shall be forbid doing any injury or damage to the other side; and if they act to the contrary, they shall be punished, and shall moreover be bound to make satisfaction for all matter of damage, and the interest thereof, by reparation, under the pain and obligation of their persons and goods.

ARTICLE XX. If any ship belonging to either of the parties, their people or subjects, shall within the coasts or dominions of the other stick upon the sands or be wrecked, or suffer any other damage, all friendly assistance and relief shall be given to the persons ship wrecked, or such as shall be in danger thereof, and letters of safe conduct shall likewise be given to them for their free and quiet passage from thence, and the return of every one to his own country.

ARTICLE XXI. In case the subjects and inhabitants of either party, with their shipping, whether public and of war, or private and of merchants, be forced through stress of weather, pursuit of pirates or enemies, or any other urgent necessity for seeking of shelter and harbour, to retreat and enter into any of the rivers, bays, roads or ports belonging to the other party, they shall be received and treated with all humanity and kindness, and enjoy all friendly protection and help; and they shall be permitted to refresh and provide themselves at reasonable rates with victuals, and all things needful for the sustenance of their persons, or reparation of their ships, and [Page] conveniency of their voyage; and they shall no ways be detained or hindred from returning out of the said ports or roads, but may remove and depart when and whither they please, without any let or hindrance.

ARTICLE XXV. It shall be lawful for all and singular the subjects of the Most Christian King, and the citizens, people and inhabitants of the said United States, to sail with their ships with all manner of liberty and security, no distinction being made who are the proprietors of the merchandize laden thereon, from any port, to the places of those who now are or hereafter shall be at enmity with the Most Christian King or the United States. It shall likewise be lawful for the subjects and inhabitants aforesaid, to sail with the ships and merchandizes aforementioned, and to trade with the same liberty and security from the places, ports and havens of those who are the enemies of both or either party, without any opposition or disturbance whatsoever, not only directly from the places of the enemy aforementioned to neutral places, but also from one place belonging to an enemy to another place belonging to an enemy, whether they be under the jurisdiction of the same Prince or under several: And it is hereby stipulated that free ships shall also give a freedom to goods, and that every thing shall be deemed to be free and exempt, which shall be found on board the ships belonging to the subjects of either of the confederates, although the whole laden, or any part thereof, should appertain to the enemies of either, [Page] contraband goods being always excepted: It is also agreed in like manner, that the same liberty be extended to persons who are on board a free ship, with this effect, that, although they be enemies to both or either party, they are not to be taken out of that free ship, unless they are soldiers, and in the actual service of the enemies.

ARTICLE XXVI. The liberty of navigation and commerce shall extend to all kinds of merchandizes, excepting those only which are distinguished by the name of contraband, and under this name of contraband or prohibited goods shall be comprehended arms, great guns, bombs with their fuses, and other things belonging to them, cannon ball, gun powder, match, pikes, swords, lances, spears, halberts, mortars, petards, grenadoes, salt petre, muskets, musket ball, bucklers, helmets, breast plates, coats of mail, and the like kinds of arms, proper for arming soldiers, musket rests, belts, horses with their furniture, and all other warlike instruments whatever. These merchandizes which follow shall not be reckoned among contraband or prohibited goods, that is to say, all sorts of cloths, and all other manufactures woven of any wool, flax, silk, cotton, or any other materials whatever; all kinds of wearing apparel, together with the species whereof they are used to be made, gold and silver, as well coined as uncoined, tin, iron, latten, copper, brass, coals, as also wheat and barley, and any other kind of corn and pulse, tobacco, and likewise all manner of spices, salted and smoaked flesh, salted fish, cheese and butter, [Page] beer, oils, wines, sugars, and all sorts of salts, and in general all provisions which serve for the nourishment of mankind and the sustenance of life; furthermore, all kinds of cotton, hemp, flax, tar, pitch, ropes, cables, sails, sail cloths, anchors, and any parts of anchors, also ships masts, planks, boards and beams, of what trees soever, and all other things proper either for building or repairing ships, and all other goods whatsoever, which have not been worked into the form of any instrument or thing prepared for war by land or by sea, shall not be reputed contraband, much less such as have been already wrought and made up for any other use; all which shall be wholly reckoned among free goods, as likewise all other merchandizes and things, which are not comprehended and particularly mentioned in the foregoing enumeration of contraband goods, so that they may be transported and carried in the freest manner by the subjects of both confederates, even to places belonging to an enemy, such towns or places being only excepted▪ as are at that time besieged, blocked up, or invested.

ARTICLE XXVII. To the end that all manner of dissentions and quarrels may be avoided and prevented, on one side and the other, it is agreed, that in case either of the parties hereto should be engaged in war, the ships and vessels belonging to the subjects or people of the other ally must be furnished with sea letters or passports, expressing the name, property and bulk of the ship, as also the name and place of habitation of the master or commander of [Page] the said ship, that it may appear thereby that the ship really and truly belongs to the subjects of one of the parties; which passport shall be made out and granted according to the form annexed to this treaty. They shall likewise be recalled every year, that is, if the ship happens to return home within the space of a year; it is likewise agreed, that such ships being laden, are to be provided not only with passports as above-mentioned, but also with certificates, containing the several particulars of the cargo, the place whence the ship sailed, and whither she is bound, that so it may be known whether any forbidden or contraband goods be on board of the same; which certificates shall be made out by the officers of the place whence the ship set sail, in the accustomed forms; and if any one shall think it fit or adviseable to express in the said certificates the person to whom the goods on board belong, he may freely do so.

ARTICLE XXIX. If the ships of the said subjects, people or inhabitants of either of the parties shall be met with, either sailing along the coasts, or on the high seas, by any ships of war of the other, or by any privateers, the said ships of war, or privateers, for the avoiding of any disorder, shall remain out of cannon shot, and may send their boats on board the merchant ship which they shall so meet with, and may enter her to the number of two or three men only, to whom the master or commander of such ship or vessel shall exhibit his passport concerning the property of the ship, made out according to the form [Page] inserted in this present treaty; and the ship, when she shall have shewed such passport, shall be free and at liberty to pursue her voyage, so as it shall not be lawful to molest or search her in any manner, or to give her chace, or force her to quit her intended course.

Form of the passports and letters, which are to be given to the ships and barques, according to the 27th Article of this Treaty.

To ALL who shall see these Presents, Greeting.

IT is hereby made known, that leave and permission has been given to [...] master and commander of the ship called [...] of the town of [...] burthen [...] tons or thereabout, lying at present in the port and haven of [...] and bound for [...] and laden with [...] after that his ship has been visited, and before sailing, he shall make oath before the officers who have the jurisdiction of maritime affairs, that the said ship belongs to one or more of the subjects of [...] the act whereof shall be put at the end of these presents, as likewise that he will keep, and cause to be kept by his crew on board, the marine ordinances and regulations, and enter in the proper office a list, signed and witnessed, containing the names and sir-names, the places of birth and abode of the crew of his ship, and of all who shall embark on board her, whom he shall not take on board without the knowledge and permission of the officers of the marine; and in every port or haven where he shall enter with his ship, he shall shew this present leave to the Officers and Judges of the Marine, and shall give a faithful account to them of what passed [Page] and was done during his voyage; and he shall carry the colours, arms and ensigns of the King, or United States, during his voyage. In witness whereof, we have signed these presents, and put the seal of our arms thereunto, and caused the same to be countersigned by [...] at [...] the [...] day of [...] Anno Domini [...]

NOW THEREFORE, to the end that the said treaty maybe well and faithfully performed and kept on the part and behalf of these United States, RESOLVED, That all Captains, Commanders, and other Officers and Seamen, belonging to any of the vessels of war of these United States, or any of them, or of any private armed vessels commissioned by Congress and all other the subjects of these United States, do govern themselves strictly in all things according to the above recited articles, and that they do afford the same aid and protection to the persons, commerce and property of the subjects of his Most Christian Majesty, as is due to the persons, commerce and property of the inhabitants of these United States. AND FURTHER IT IS RECOMMENDED to all the inhabitants of these States, to consider the subjects of his most Christian Majesty as their brethren and allies, and that they behave towards them with the friendship and attention due to the subjects of a GREAT PRINCE, who, with the highest magnanimity and wisdom, hath treated with these United States on terms of perfect equality and mutual advantage, thereby rendering himself THE PROTECTOR OF THE RIGHTS OF MANKIND.

Extract from the Minutes, CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION and PERPETUAL UNION between the STATES of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

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ARTICLE I. THE stile of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America."

ART. 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.

ART. 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 whatever.

ART. IV. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people or the different states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds, and 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 [Page] shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other state, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject so 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 be given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of every other state.

ART. 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 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.

[Page]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 State, 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.

ART. 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 any kind whatever from any King, Prince or foreign state; nor shall the United [Page] 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 [Page] 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, 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.

ART. 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.

ART. 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 [Page] 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.

ART. IX. The United States to 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 [Page] 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 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

[Page]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 the 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 and 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 respectiv, 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 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 [Page] 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 safely 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 margue 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.

[Page]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 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.

ART. X. The Committee of the states, or any nine of them, shall be authorised 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.

ART. 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 [...] other colony shall be admitted into the same, [Page] unless such admission be agreed to by nine states.

ART. XI. 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.

ART. 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 hereafter 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.

THESE Articles shall be proposed to the Legislatures of all the United States, to be considered, and if approved of by them, they are advised to authorise their delegates, to ratify the same in the Congress of the United States; which being done, the same shall become conclusive.

By Order of the CONGRESS, HENRY LAURENS, PRESIDENT.

List of the MEMBERS of the Honorable the CONGRESS of the UNITED AMERICAN STATES.

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The Honorable HENRY LAURENS, Esquire, President.

Chaplains.

Rev. Mr. GEORGE DUFFIELD,

Rev. Mr. WILLIAM WHITE,

New Hampshire.

Nathaniel Folsom,

George Frost, Esquires

Massachusetts Bay.

John Hancock,

Samuel Adams,

John Adams,

Robert Treat Paine,

Elbridge Gerry,

Francis Dans,

James Lovel, Esquires.

Rhode Island.

Stephen Hopkins,

Henry Merchant,

William Ellery, Esquires.

Connecticut.

Roger Sherman,

E [...]phalet Dyer,

Oliver Welcott,

Titus Ho [...]mer,

Samuel Huntington,

Oliver Ellisworth,

Andrew Adams, Esquires.

New-York.

Philip Livingston,

James Duane,

Francis Lewis,

Governuere Morris,

William Duer, Esquires.

New Jersey.

[Page]Reverend Doctor, John Witherspoon,

Abraham Clark,

Jonathan Elmore,

Nathaniel Scudder,

Elias Boudinot, Esquires.

Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Franklin,

Robert Morris,

Daniel Roberdeau,

Jonathan Bayard Smith,

William Clingan,

Joseph Reed, Esquires.

Delaware.

George Read,

Nicholas Vandyke, Esqrs.

Maryland.

Samuel Chase,

George Plater,

Charles Carrol,

Thomas Stone,

John Henry, jun,

James Forbes, Esquires.

Virginia.

Francis Lightfoot Lee,

John Harvie,

Thomas Adams,

Richard Henry Lee,

John Bannister, Esquires.

North-Carolina.

Thomas Burke,

Cornelius Harnet,

John Penn, Esquires.

South-Carolina.

Henry Laurens,

Arthur Middleton,

Thomas Heyward,

Charles Pinckney,

Paul Trapier, Esquires.

Georgia.

Nathan Brownson,

Edward Langworthy,

Joseph Wood,

Lyman Hall,

George Walton, Esquires.

CHARLES THOMSON, Esquire, Secretary.

Members of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

[Page]

His Excellency THOMAS WHARTON, Junior, Esquire, President.

The Honorable GEORGE BRYAN, Esquire, Vice President.

MEMBERS of the Council.

Joseph Hart,

John Mackey,

John Bailey,

Jacob Orndt,

Jacob Morgan,

James Edgar,

Jonathan Hoge,

Thomas Urie,

John Hambright,

Thomas Scott, Esquires.

Timothy Matlack, Esquire, Secretary.

Members of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

JAMES M'CLENE, Esquire, Speaker.

Philadelphia County.

John Bayard,

William Co [...]ts,

Frederick Antis,

Robert Knox,

John Thompson,

Robert Lollar, Esqrs.

Bucks County.

Joseph Kirkbride,

Gilliam Carnel,

John Folwell,

John Keller,

Arthur Wats,

Matthew Greer, Esqrs.

Chester County.

Joseph Gardner,

Samuel Cunningham,

Stephen Cochran,

John Fulton,

John Culbertson,

Lewis Gronow, Esqrs

Lancaster County.

[Page]William Brown,

Alexander Lowrey,

James Anderson,

Philip Ma [...]steller,

John M'Mullan,

Lodw. Lauman, Esqrs

York County.

David Dunwoody,

James Dixon,

Matthew Dill,

John Agnew,

Michael Hahn,

John Orr, Esqrs.

Cumberland County.

William Duffield,

James Brown,

John Harris,

William Clark,

Robert Whitchill, Esqrs.

Berks County.

James Read,

Benjamin Spycker,

Daniel Hunter,

Adam Whitman,

Sebastian Levan,

Bal [...]zer Geh [...], Esqrs.

Northampton County.

Peter Burkholder,

Simon Dresbach,

Peter Rhoads,

William M Farren,

John Van Campen,

John Ralston, Esqrs.

Bedford County.

Herman Husband,

William M Coombe,

John Stevens,

Charles Cisna,

John Burd,

John Stewart, Esqrs.

Northumberland County.

Samuel D [...]l,

James Murray,

Simon Himrod,

Robert Fruit,

Robert Fleming,

William Irwin, Esqrs.

Westmoreland County.

Thomas Galbraith,

John Carmichael,

David Semple,

Christopher Hays,

John Shields,

James Smith, Esqrs.

JOHN MORRIS, jun. Esq Clerk.

Information about this book

Title statement

The articles, published by Congress, of a treaty of amity and commerce, and of a treaty of alliance between the crown of France and these United States, duly entered into and executed at Paris, on the 6th day of February last, by a minister properly authorised by his Most Christian Majesty on the one part, and the commissioners of Congress on the other part. : Also the Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the United States of America, as proposed by Congress to the legislatures of the different states.

United States. Continental Congress.

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2009-04.

ID [DLPS]

N12775

ID [TCP]

N12775

ID [STC]

Evans 16145

ID [NOTIS]

APY9079

ID [IMAGE-SET]

16145

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99036631

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 16145.

Notes

(Evans-TCP ; no. N12775)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 16145)

Images scanned from Readex microprint and microform: (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 16145)

Source

— The articles, published by Congress, of a treaty of amity and commerce, and of a treaty of alliance between the crown of France and these United States, duly entered into and executed at Paris, on the 6th day of February last, by a minister properly authorised by his Most Christian Majesty on the one part, and the commissioners of Congress on the other part. : Also the Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the United States of America, as proposed by Congress to the legislatures of the different states., United States. Continental Congress., France. Treaties, etc. United States, 1778 Feb. 6., United States. Articles of Confederation..

Extent

12, [18] p. ; (12mo)

Printed by John Dunlap.,. Lancaster [Pa.]: :: [1778]. (Resolution of the Continental Congress listing selected articles from the treaties and calling for strict adherence to them.) (Signed on p. 12: Charles Thomson, secretary.)

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