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"lished, and made known to the whole world, with all "the solemnities of law; and that all the subjects of "this state and others inhabiting and residing therein "from time to time, and at all times thereafter, as "long as the said confederation shall subsist and en"dure, may be bound by and held to the due obser66 vance of the said articles of confederation as a law “of this state, if the same shall be duly ratified by all the said United States in Congress assembled:

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"Be it enacted and declared by the people of the "state of New York, represented in the senate and assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority "of the same, That the said several above recited ar"ticles of confederation, and all and singular the "clauses, matters and things in the same contained, be "and the same are hereby fully accepted, received, "and approved of, for and in behalf of the people of "this state.

"And to the end that the same may, with all due "form and solemnity be ratified and confirmed by this"state in Congress,

"Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, "That the delegates of this state in the said Congress "of the United States of America, or any two of the "said delegates, shall be, and hereby are fully autho"rized, empowered and required wholly, entirely and "absolutely, for and in behalf of the people of this "state, and in such manner under such formalities as "shall be determined in Congress, to ratify and con"firm all and every of the said above recited articles "of confederation, and all and singular the clauses, "matters and things in the same contained; and that

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"an exemplification of this act, tested by his excel"lency the governour or the lieutenant governour, or "president of the senate of the state for the time being, "administering the government, and authenticated "with the great seal of this state, shall be full and "conclusive evidence of this act. Provided always, "that nothing in this act, or the said above recited "articles of confederation contained, nor any act, "matter or thing to be done and transacted by the "delegates of this state in Congress in and concern"ing the premises, or any part thereof, shall bind or "oblige, or be deemed, construed or esteemed to bind

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or oblige the government, legislature, people, sub"jects, inhabitants or residents of this state, until the "said above recited articles have been duly ratified "and confirmed by or in behalf of all the said United "States in Congress assembled, any thing herein, or in "the said above recited articles of confederation con"tained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwith"standing."

At the bottom of which act, we find the following certificate, to wit:

"In senate, Thursday, January 29, 1778. This "bill having been read three times, Resolved, That the "bill do pass. By order of the senate. Pierre Van "Cortland, president. In assembly, Tuesday, Febru"ary 3, 1778. This bill having been read three times, "Resolved, That the bill do pass. By order of the "assembly. Walter Livingston, speaker."

And on the back of the said bill we find the following endorsement in writing, to wit:

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"In the council for revising all bills about to be passed into laws by the legislature of the state of "New York, on Friday, the 6th day of February, 1778, "Resolved, That it does not appear improper to this "council that the bill entitled An act of accession to "and approbation of certain proposed articles of con"federation and perpetual union between the United "States of America, and to authorize the delegates of "the state of New York to ratify the same on the ໄດ້ part and behalf of this state in the Congress of the "United States,' should become a law of this state. "George Clinton."

In testimony whereof we the said people of the state of New York, have caused the said act of our said senate and assembly to be exemplified by these presents; and our great seal of our said state to be hereunto appended. Witness, our trusty and well beloved George Clinton, esquire, our governour of our said state, general and commander in chief of all the militia, and admiral of our navy of the same, the sixteenth day of February, in the second year of of our independence and sovereignty, and in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventyeight.

GEORGE CLINTON.

By His Excellency's command.

RICHARD HATFIELD, Secretary.

PENNSYLVANIA.

The Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, to the Honourable Benjamin Franklin, Doctor of Laws, Robert Morris, Esq., Daniel Roberdeau, Esq., Jonathan B. Smith, Esq., James Smith, Esq., of Yorktown, William Clingan, Esq., Joseph Reed, Esq., Delegates for the said Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States of America, send Greeting.

KNOW YE, That we the said representatives, having taken into our most serious and weighty consideration and deliberation, the articles of confederation 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, lately transmitted to us by the honourable Henry Laurens, Esq. president of the said Congress, do by this present instrument, signed by our speaker, and sealed with the seal of the laws of this commonwealth, accede to, ratify, confirm and agree to the said articles; which said articles are as follow, to wit: [Here the articles are recited verbatim.]

And we the said representatives do hereby authorize, empower, require and enjoin you the said Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, Daniel Roberdeau, Jonathan B. Smith, James Smith, William Clingan and Joseph Reed, or any two of you, in the name of the said

commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to accede to, ratify, confirm and agree to the said articles of confederation. In testimony whereof, we have caused the seal of the laws of Pennsylvania to be hereunto affixed, in general assembly, at Lancaster, the fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight.

Seal appended.

JOHN BAYARD, Speaker.

VIRGINIA.

In General Assembly, Dec. 15, 1778.

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That a speedy ratication of the articles of confederation between the United States of America will confound the devices of their foreign, and frustrate the machinations of their domestick enemies, encourage their firm friends, and fix the wavering, contribute much to the support of their publick credit, and the restoration of the value of their paper money, produce unanimity in their councils at home, and add weight to their negotiations abroad; and, completing the independence of their country, establish the best foundation of its prosperity.

Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the articles of confederation and perpetual union proposed by Congress, the 7th day of November last, between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New

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