That the United States in Congress assembled shall have the sole and exclusive right and power to ascertain and fix the western boundary of such states as claim to the South Sea; and to dispose of all land beyond the boundary so ascertained for the benefit of the United States. Question put, Passed in the negative. It was then moved, That the United States in Congress assembled ahal have the sole and exclusive right and power to ascertain and fix the western boundary of such states as claim to the Mississippi, or South Sea, and lay out the land beyond the boundary so ascertained into separate and independent states, from time to time, as the numbers and circumstances of the people thereof may require./ New Hampshire, Mr. Folsom, No. >No. So it passed in the negative. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1777. Congress resumed the consideration of the articles of confederation as reported by the committee of the whole. In debating the sixth article it was moved, That instead of "No state shall lay any imposts or "duties which may interfere with any stipulations in treaties hereafter entered into by the United States "assembled with any king, prince or state," it should run thus-"No state shall lay any imposts or duties upon goods, wares or merchandise imported or ex"ported by any foreign nation with whom the United "States assembled shall enter into any commercial "treaty, other than what shall be laid upon the in"habitants of such state; provided that any state may "totally prohibit the exportation or importation of "any particular species of goods, wares or merchan"dise; and provided also, that if any foreign nation "shall not allow the same privileges, exemptions or "advantages to the people and vessels of any state "trading in their ports, as to their own people and "vessels, the said state may disallow the like privi leges, exemptions and advantages to those foreign"ers." After some debate thereon, the consideration thereof was postponed to the afternoon. FOUR O'CLOCK, P.. M. Congress resumed the consideration of the amend ment moved this morning; and the question being put, the states were equally divided. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1777. Congress resumed the consideration of the articles of confederation. A motion was made to strike out the word "hereaf "ter," and to add to the paragraph under debate on Tuesday these words, "in pursuance of any treaties "already proposed by Congress to the courts of "France or Spain :" And on the question put, Resolved in the affirmative. On the paragraph restraining the several states from granting commissions to vessels of war, or letters of marque and reprisal, it was moved to add "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." On the question put, Resolved in the affirmative. On the article respecting the powers of Congress, a motion was made to add to the first paragraph "pro"vided that no member of Congress shall be appointed a judge of any of the said courts.” Question put, Resolved in the affirmative. en+ Another amendment was moved after the word " "tering into treaties and alliances," to insert "pro "vided that no treaty of commerce shall be made 86 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 commodi"ties whatsoever." After debate, the farther consideration thereof was postponed to the afternoon. FOUR O'CLOCK, P. M. Congress resumed the consideration of the paragraph in the confederation under debate this morning; which being divided, and the question being put on the first part as far as the disjunctive "or"— |