ed act of the legislature of New York, submitted to their consideration; that this act is expressly calculated to accelerate the federal alliance by removing as far as depends on that state, the impediment arising from the western country, and for that purpose to yield up a portion of territorial claim for the general benefit: Whereupon,

Resolved, That copies of the several papers referred to the committee be transmitted, with a copy of the report, to the legislatures of the several states; and that it be earnestly recommended to these states who have claims to the western country, to pass such laws, and give their delegates in Congress such powers, as may effectually remove the only obstacle to a final ratification of the articles of confederation: And that the legislature of Maryland be earnestly requested to authorize their delegates in Congress to subscribe the said articles.

DECEMBER 29, 1780.

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to collect, and cause to be published, two hundred correct copies of the declaration of independence, the articles of confederation and perpetual union, the alliances between these United States and his most christian majesty, with the constitutions or forms of government of the several states, to be bound together in boards.

The members-Mr. Bee, Mr. Witherspoon, and Mr. Wolcott.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1781.

The delegates of Maryland laid before Congress a certified copy of an act of the legislature of that state, which was read as follows:

An act to empower the delegates of this state in

Congress to subscribe and ratify the articles of confederation.

Whereas it hath been said that the common enemy is encouraged, by this state not acceding to the confederation, to hope that the union of the sister states may be dissolved; and therefore prosecute the war in expectation of an event so disgraceful to America : And our friends and illustrious ally are impressed with an idea, that the common cause would be promoted by our formally acceding to the confederation: This general assembly, conscious that this state hath from the commencement of the war strenuously exerted herself in the common cause, and fully satisfied that if no formal confederation was to take place it is the fixed determination of this state to continue her exertions to the utmost, agreeable to the faith pledged in the union -from an earnest desire to conciliate the affection of the sister states, to convince all the world of our unalterable resolution to support the independence of the United States, and the alliance with his most christian majesty; and to destroy for ever any apprehension of our friends, or hope in our enemies, of this state being again united to Great Britain:

Be it enacted by the general assembly of Maryland, That the delegates of this state in Congress, or

any two or three of them, shall be, and are hereby empowered and required, on behalf of this state, to subscribe the articles of confederation and perpetual union, 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, signed in the general Congress of the said states by the honourable Henry Laurens, esquire, their then president, and laid before the legislature of this state to be ratified, if approved: and that the said articles of confederation and perpetual union, so as aforesaid subscribed, shall thenceforth be ratified and become conclusive as to this state, and obligatory thereon.

And it is hereby declared, that by acceding to the said confederation, this state doth not relinquish, or intend to relinquish, any right or interest she hath with the other united or confederated states to the back country; but claims the same as fully as was done by the legislature of this state in their declaration which stands entered on the journals of Congress this state relying on the justice of the several states hereafter, as to the said claim made by this

state.

And it is further declared, That no article in the said confederation can or ought to bind this or any other state, to guaranty any exclusive claim of any particular state to the soil of the said back lands, or

any such claim of jurisdiction over the said lands, or the inhabitants thereof.

By the House of Delegates, January 30, 1781.

Read and assented to.

By order.

F. GREEN, Clerk.

By the Senate, February 2, 1781.

Read and assented to.

By order.

JAS. MACCUBBIN, Clerk.

THOMAS LEE. [L.S.]

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1781.

The delegates of Maryland having taken their seats in Congress with powers to sign the articles of confederation

Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned for completing the confederation; and that a committee of three be appointed to consider and report a mode for announcing the same to the publick.

The members-Mr. Walton, Mr. Madison, Mr. Matthews.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1781.

On the report of the committee appointed to report the mode of announcing the final ratification of the articles of confederation,

Resolved, That on Thursday next, at twelve o'clock, the final ratification of the confederation of the United States of America be announced to the publick ;

and that the board of war and board of admiralty take order according.

That this important event be communicated to the executives of the several states.

That the several ministers of these states in Europe be informed of the complete and final ratification of the said confederation; and they be ordered to notify the same to the respective courts at which they reside.

That it also be notified to the honourable the minis. ter plenipotentiary of France.

That information of the completion of the said confederation be transmitted to the commander in chief; and that he be directed to announce the same to the army under his command.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1781.

According to the order of the day, the honourable John Hanson and Daniel Carroll, two of the delegates for the state of Maryland, in pursuance of the act of the legislature of that state, entitled "An act to em

66

power the delegates of this state in Congress to sub"scribe and ratify the articles of confederation," which was read in Congress on the 12th of February last, and a copy thereof entered on the minutes, did, in behalf of the said state of Maryland, sign and ratify the said articles; by which act, the confederation of the United States of America was completed, each and every of the thirteen United States from New Hampshire to Georgia, both included, having adopted