It appearing to this assembly to be essentially necessary for the preservation, safety, independence and sovereignty of the United States of America, that the articles of confederation and perpetual union be acceded to, ratified and confirmed: And whereas all of the said states, except Maryland, have agreed to and confirmed said articles of confederation; and Maryland hath not acceded to said articles as drawn up, for reasons heretofore published: And whereas the confederation of thirteen states may not be considered as obligatory on twelve states only:

Resolved, That the delegates of this state in Congress be directed and empowered, and full power and authority is hereby given and granted to the said delegates, in the name and behalf of this state, to enter into, ratify, and confirm said articles of confederation and perpetual union with the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, in the most full and ample manner: Always provided, that the state of Maryland be not thereby excluded from acceding to said confederation at any time hereafter.

A true copy of record.

Examined by

GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1780.

The committee, to whom was referred the act of the legislature of the state of New York, entitled "An act "to facilitate the completion of the articles of confede"ration and perpetual union among the United States "of America"-report,

That having met on the business, but not being able to agree to any resolution thereon, desire to be discharged which act is in the words following, viz.

An act to facilitate the completion of the articles of confederation and perpetual union among the United States of America.

Whereas nothing under divine Providence can more effectually contribute to the tranquillity and safety of the United States of America than a federal alliance, on such liberal principles as will give satisfaction to its respective members: And whereas the articles of confederation and perpetual union recommended by the honourable the Congress of the United States of America have not proved acceptable to all the states, it having been conceived that a portion of the waste and uncultivated territory, within the limits or claims of certain states, ought to be appropriated as a common fund for the expenses of the war: And the people of the state of New York, being on all occasions disposed to manifest their regard for their sister states, and their earnest desire to promote the general interest and security; and more especially to accelerate the federal alliance, by removing, as far as it depends upon them,

the beforementioned impediment to its final accomplishment:

Be it therefore enacted, by the people of the state of New York, represented in senate and assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the delegates of this state, in the honourable Congress of the United States of America, or the major part of such of them as shall be assembled in Congress, and they the said delegates or a major part of them, so assembled, are hereby fully authorized and empowered, for and on behalf of this state, and by proper and authentick acts or instruments to limit and restrict the boundaries of this state, in the western parts thereof, by such line or lines, and in such manner and form, as they shall judge to be expedient, either with respect to the jurisdiction as well as the right or pre-emption of soil, or reserving the jurisdiction in part, or in the whole, over the lands which may be ceded, or relinquished, with respect only to the right or pre-emption of the soil.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the territory which may be ceded or relinquished by virtue of this act, either with respect to the jurisdiction as well as the right or pre-emption of soil. or the right or pre-emption of soil only, shall be and enure for the use and benefit of such of the United States as shall become members of the federal alliance of the said states, and for no other use or purpose whatever.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all the lands to be ceded and relinquished by virtue of this act, for the benefit of the United States, with respect to property, but which shall nevertheless re

main under the jurisdiction of this state, shall be disposed of and appropriated in such manner only as the Congress of the said states shall direct; and that a warrant under the authority of Congress for surveying and laying out any part thereof, shall entitle the party in whose favour it shall issue to cause the same to be surveyed and laid out and returned, according to the directions of such warrant; and thereupon letters patent under the great seal of this state shall pass to the grantee for the estate specified in the said warrant; for which no other fee or reward shall be demanded or received than such as shall be allowed by Congress.

Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the trust reposed by virtue of this act, shall not be executed by the delegates of this state, unless at least three of the said delegates shall be present in Congress.

STATE OF NEW YORK, ss.

I do hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of the original act passed the 19th of February, 1780, and lodged in the secretary's office.

ROBERT HARPUR, D'y. Sec'y. State.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1780.

Congress took into consideration the report of the committee to whom were referred the instructions of the general assembly of Maryland to their delegates in Congress respecting the articles of confederation, and the declaration therein referred to; the act of the legislature of New York on the same subject; and the

remonstrance of the general assembly of Virginiawhich report was agreed to, and is in the words following:

That having duly considered the several matters to them submitted, they conceive it unnecessary to examine into the merits or policy of the instructions or declaration of the general assembly of Maryland, or of the remonstrances of the general assembly of Virginia, as they involve questions, a discussion of which was declined, on mature consideration, when the articles of confederation were debated; nor, in the opinion of the committee, can such questions be now revived with any prospect of conciliation: That it appears more advisable to press upon these states which can remove the embarrassments respecting the western country, a liberal surrender of a portion of their territorial claims, since they cannot be preserved entire without endangering the stability of the general confederacy; to remind them how indispensably necessary it is to establish the federal union on a fixed and permanent basis, and on principles acceptable to all its respective members; how essential to publick credit and confidence, to the support of our army, to the vigour of our councils, and success of our measures, to our tranquillity at home, our reputation abroad, to our very existence as a free, sovereign and independent people; that we are fully persuaded the wisdom of the respective legislatures will lead them to a full and impartial consideration of a subject so interesting to the United States, and so necessary to the happy establishment of the federal union; that they are confirmed in these expectations by a view of the beforemention