In CONGRESS, MAY 6, 1778.
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
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
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.
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
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
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,
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,
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
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
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
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maſter and commander of the ſhip called
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of the town of
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burthen
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tons or thereabout, lying at preſent in the port and haven of
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and bound for
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and laden with
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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
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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
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
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at
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the
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day of
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Anno Domini
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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, Maſſachu
ſetts Bay, Rhode Iſland and Providence Plan
tations, Connecticut, New York, New Jerſey, Pennſylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virgi
nia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
and Georgia.
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
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.
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
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, 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
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
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
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
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.
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
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other colony ſhall be admitted into the ſame,
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.