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rounded by the same imminent dangers, contending for the same illustrious prize, and deeply interested in being for ever bound and connected together by ties the most intimate and indissoluble. And finally, let them be adjusted with the temper and magnanimity of wise and patriotick legislators, who, while they are concerned for the prosperity of their own more immediate circle, are capable of rising superiour to local attachments when they may be incompatible with the safety, happiness and glory of the general confederacy.

We have reason to regret the time which has elapsed in preparing this plan for consideration. With additional solicitude we look forward to that which must be necessarily spent before it can be ratified. Every motive loudly calls upon us to hasten its conclusion.

More than any other consideration, it will confound our foreign enemies, defeat the flagitious practices of the disaffected, strengthen and confirm our friends, support our publick credit, restore the value of our money, enable us to maintain our fleets and armies, and add weight and respect to our councils at home, and to our treaties abroad.

In short, this salutary measure can no longer be deferred. It seems essential to our very existence as a free people; and without it we may soon be constrained to bid adieu to independence, to liberty, and safety -blessings which, from the justice of our cause and the favour of our Almighty Creator visibly manifested in our protection, we have reason to expect, if, in an humble dependence on his divine providence, we strenuously exert the means which are placed in our power.

To conclude, if the legislature of any state shall not be assembled, Congress recommend to the executive authority to convene it without delay; and to each respective legislature, it is recommended to invest its delegates with competent powers ultimately, in the name and behalf of the state, to subscribe articles of confederation and perpetual union of the United States, and to attend Congress for that purpose, on or before the day

On motion to fill up the blanks with "first," and "May next"

New Hampshire, Mr. Folsom,

Ay. >Ar.

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So it passed in the negative.

Resolved, That the first blank be filled with "tenth,"

and the second with "March next."

It was then moved after "next," to add "if prac"ticable"

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Ordered, That thirteen copies be made out, signed by the President, and forwarded to the several states, with copies of the confederation.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1777.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to procure a translation to be made of the articles of confederation into the French language; and to report an address to the inhabitants of Canada, &c. &c.

The members chosen-Mr. Duer, Mr. Lovell, and Mr. F. L. Lee.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1777.

The committee, appointed to procure a translation of the articles of confederation; to prepare an address to the inhabitants of Canada, &c., brought in a partial report, which was read

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed to Monday next.

MONDAY, MAY 18, 1778.

A letter of April 26, from governour Caswell, of North Carolina, was read, informing that the two

houses of assembly of that state have unanimously acceded to the confederation.

MONDAY, JUNE 22, 1778.

Congress proceeded to consider the objections of the states to the articles of confederation: Whereupon the delegates of Maryland read to Congress instructions that they had just received from their constients, and moved,

That the objections from the state of Maryland to the confederation be immediately taken up and considered by Congress, that delegates from Maryland may transmit to that state, with all possible despatch, the determination of Congress on those objections.

Question put,

Resolved in the affirmative.

A motion was then made in behalf of Maryland: In Article iv. strike out the word "paupers," and after the words "or either of them," insert "that "one state shall not be burdened with the maintenance "of the poor who may remove into it from any of the "others in the union."

Question put,

Passed in the negative, one state only answering Ay. Another amendment was moved in behalf of Maryland:

Article VIII. After the words "granted to or sur"surveyed for," insert "or which shall hereafter be "granted to or surveyed for any person.'

Question put,

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