JOURNALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1774-1789 EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL Volume XXV. 1783 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1922 An act of the general assembly of Connecticut, authorising the delegates of that State, to agree to an alteration in the 8th of the Articles of Confederation as recommended by the act of the 18 of April last, was laid before Congress and read, as follows: (L. S.) At a general Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford in the said State, on the second Thursday of May, Anno Domini, 1783. Whereas the United States in Congress assembled, on the 18th day of April, 1783, among other things resolved, that a more convenient and certain rule of ascertaining the proportions to be supplied by the states respectively, to the common treasury, the following alteration in the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between these states be, and the same is hereby agreed to in Congress: and the several states are advised to authorise their respective delegates to subscribe and ratify the same, as a part of the said instrument of union, in the words following, viz. So much of the 8th of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen States of America, as is contained in the words following, to wit: "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 lands 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," is hereby revoked and made void, and in place thereof it is declared and concluded, the same having been agreed to in a Congress of the United States, "that all charges of war, and other expences that have been or shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, except so far as shall be otherwise provided for, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and three fifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians not paying taxes in each State, which number shall be triennially taken and transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, in such mode as they shall direct and appoint." It is resolved, and enacted by this assembly, that the delegates of this State, in the Congress of the United States, or any two or more of them, be, and they are hereby fully authorised and empowered, on behalf of this State, to subscribe and ratify the afore-recited alteration in the 8th of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the United States of America, as a part of the said instrument of union.1 The delegates for the State of Pensylvania, laid before Congress sundry resolutions of the general assembly of that State, which were read and ordered to be entered on the Journal as follows: "State of Pensylvania, in General Assembly, Friday, August 29, 1783, A. M. The report of the committee appointed to consider of the most eligible means for the accommodation of Congress, should that honorable body determine to reside within this State, read August 27 instant, was read the second time; whereupon, Resolved unanimously, That until Congress shall determine upon the place of their permanent residence, it would be highly agreeable to this house, if that honorable body should deem it expedient to return to and continue in the city of Philadelphia; in which case they offer to Congress the different apartments in the state-house and adjacent buildings which they formerly occupied for the purpose of transacting the national business therein. Resolved unanimously, That this house will take effectual measures to enable the executive of the State to afford speedy and adequate support and protection to the honor and dignity of the United States in Congress, and the persons of those composing the supreme council of the nation assembled in this city. 1 This act is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 75, folio 77. Resolved unanimously, That as this house is sincerely disposed to render the permanent residence of Congress in this State commodious and agreeable to that honorable body, the delegates of this State be instructed to request that Congress will be pleased to define what jurisdiction they deem necessary to be vested in them, in the place wherein they shall permanently reside."1 The Committee [Mr. Stephen Higginson, Mr. Ralph Izard, Mr. Benjamin Huntington] to whom was committed the letters from Mr Laurens and Mr Carmichael &c. &c. submit the following resolutions. That Commissions be forthwith prepared and forwarded to John Adams, Benj. Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens Esqrs. authorising them or any two or more of them to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with the Court of Great Britain upon terms of the most perfect reciprocity, and so as to render the trade of these United States with Britain and her Dominions beneficial and respectable; the commercial regulations in said treaty to be made as near as possible in conformity to the liberal principles, contained in the articles proposed by the Ministers of the United States to Mr Hartley on the 29th day of April last; the treaty to continue for the term of fifteen years and to be subject to the revision of Congress previous to its being ratified; and that they have liberty to extend the duration of such commercial regulations as may have been formed with Britain to a period sufficiently distant for revising and ratifying the said treaty, or to agree upon new regulations for that purpose, as they shall judge most expedient. That the said Commissioners or any one or more of them be authorised to negotiate with the Emperor of Morocco and such other States on the Coast of Barbary as may be necessary, for procuring passports for the vessels of the U. States, and to apply if they think it expedient to such of the Powers in Europe as are in amity with the United States for their assistance in such negotiations. The Committee are of opinion that treaties of Amity and Commerce should be formed with the Court of Portugal, the Emperor of Germany, the King of Naples and Sicily and with the Grand Duke of Tuscany as soon as circumstances will permit. They are also of opinion that Mr William McCormick should be informed that Congress can give him no decisive answer upon the subject of his memorial, and that if he is desirous of establishing himself in his business in any part of America the United States he 1 These resolutions are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, II, folio 451. The letter of transmittal, dated August 30, is on folio 457. 4 |