script of the said journal, except such parts as are above excepted, to lay before the legislatures of the several states. ARTICLE X. The committee of the states, or any nine of them, shall be authorized 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 requi site. ARTICLE 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 no other colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine states. ARTICLE XII. All bills of credit emitted, moneys 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 deemèd and considered as a charge against the United States, for payment and satisfaction whereof the said United States and the publick faith are hereby solemnly pledged. ARTICLE 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. Which articles were by Congress proposed to the legislatures of all the United States, to be considered; and if approved of by them, they were advised to authorize their delegates to ratify the same in the Congress of the United States. And whereas it hath pleased the great Governour of the world to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union: KNOW YE, That we the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained. And we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by the said confederation are submitted to them; and that the articles thereof shall be inviolably observed by the states we respectively represent; and that the union shall be perpetual. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, of our day of in the year this eight, and in the year of the Independence of the United States of America. SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1778. The engrossed copy of the articles of confederation, with the ratification agreed to, was laid before Congress; and the same upon examination being found in correct Ordered, That another copy be made, and laid before Congress on before the 4th of July next; and that the delegates of the respective states lodge with the Secretary their powers for ratifying the same. POWERS OF THE STATES TO THEIR DELEGATES TO RATIFY THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. In the House of Representatives, March 4, 1778. The house took into consideration the thirteen articles of confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen United States of America, as agreed to by the honourable Congress of said states, and came to the following resolutions thereon, namely, Resolved, That we do agree to the said articles of confederation, perpetual union, &c. &c. and do, for ourselves and constituents, engage that the same shall be inviolably observed by this state. And the delegates of this state for the time being, at the Congress aforesaid, are hereby empowered and instructed to ratify the same in behalf of this state. Sent up for concurrence. JOHN DUDLEY, Speaker pro tem. In Council, the same day, read and concurred. E. THOMPSON, Secretary. Copy attest. MESHECH WEARE, President. MASSACHUSETTS. Council Chamber, Boston, March 10, 1778. The general court of the state of Massachusetts Bay, having attentively considered the articles of confederation and perpetual union between the United States of America, recommended to our attention by the honourable the Congress, do approve of them in general as well calculated to secure the freedom, sovereignty and independence of the United States. Perhaps no plan could have been proposed better adapted to the circumstances of all: We, therefore, the council and house of representatives of this state in general court assembled, do, in the name and behalf of the good people of this state, instruct you their delegates to subscribe said articles of confederation and perpetual union, as they were recommended by Congress, unless the following alterations, or such as may be proposed by the other states can be received and adopted without endangering the union proposed. In the name and behalf of the general assembly. To the Delegates of the State of Massachusetts Bay in Congress. |