...up the articles of confederation until she was assured that the western lands should become common property 'subject to be parcelled out by congress...into free, convenient, and independent governments.' This was a perilous cutting away from the almost universal notion of supreme state sovereignty, the...

...enemy by the blood and treasure of the thirteen states, should be considered as a common property, ... to be parcelled out by Congress into free, convenient and independent governments. . . . Thus convinced, \ve ... do instruct you not to agree to the confederation, unless an article...

...blood and treasure of all, ought in reason, justice, and policy, to be considered as common stock, to be parcelled out by congress into free, convenient, and independent governments, as the wisdom of that body shall hereafter direct; bnt if these (the only lands as this convention...

...and treasure of the thirteen states, should be considered as common property, subject to be parceled out by Congress into free, convenient, and independent...the wisdom of that assembly shall hereafter direct." * Fortunately for the future of the country, from this high ground she never withdrew. In January,...

...and claimed by the British crown should be considered as the common property of the thirteen states " to be parcelled out by Congress into free, convenient and independent governments in such manner and in such time as the wisdom of that assembly shall hereafter direct." m Nevertheless, Virginia, in 1779,...

...into her dominion. that the Articles of Confederation give Congress power to "parcel the territory out into free, convenient, and independent governments...at such times as the wisdom of that assembly shall direct." The justice of this contention was recognized by the States with claims to western lands....

...assurance that the northwestern territory should become the common property of the United States, — " subject to be parcelled out by Congress into free, convenient, and independent governments." The question, thus boldly brought into the foreground, was earnestly discussed in Congress and in the...

...therefore, "to be a common estate, to be granted out on terms beneficial to the United States," and should "be parcelled out by Congress into free, convenient, and independent governments . . ." In conformity with this doctrine, the six landless states, led by Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, insisted...

...treasure of the thirteen States, should be considered as a common property, subject to be parceled oat by Congress into free, convenient, and independent...the wisdom of that assembly shall hereafter direct. * * * Virginia proceeded to open a land office for the sale of her Western lands, which produced such...

...unsettled country lying beyond the Alleghanies. Maryland insisted that this territory become " common stock to be parcelled out by Congress into free, convenient, and independent governments," and that the funds derived from the sale of the lands be used for the common good. The settlement of...