political an entire & perpetual dissolution of the ties which had con them Λ nected with G. B., ["The Congress" stricken out] proceeded Λ 1776 on the memorable 4th of July, to declare the 13 Colonies, ["free &" stricken out] independent States ["in Congress" stricken out] each colony had been appointed Λ ["heretofore" stricken out] During the discussions of this solemn Act, a Committee consisting of a Member from ["Colony," stricken out] to prepare & digest a form of Confederation, for the future management of the common interests, which had hitherto been left to the discretion of Congress, guided by the exigences of the contest, and by the known intentions or occasional instructions of the Colonial Legislatures. A plan entitled being on that day not Λ It appears that as early as the 21st of July 1775, "Articles of Confederation & perpetual Union of the Colonies" had been sketched by Doc' Franklin, The plan ["tho not copied" stricken out] submitted by him to Congress; and tho' copied into their Journals remaining on their files in his handwriting. But notwithstanding the term "perpetual" observed in the title, the articles provided expressly for the event of a return of the Colonies to ["th" stricken out] a connection. with G. Britain. This sketch became a basis for the plan reported by the ["&" stricken out] now also Com on the 12 of July, remaining on the files of Congress, in the handwriting of M Dickinson. The plan, tho' dated after the Declaration of Independence, was probably drawn up before that event; since the ["States," stricken out] name of Colonies, ["is" stricken out] and not States is used throughout the draught. The plan reported, was debated and amended from time till the 17th of November 1777, when it was agreed to by Congress, and proposed to the Legislatures of the States, with an explanatory and recommendatory letter. to time duly authorized The ratifications of these ["took" stricken out] at successive but Λ dates; ["and" stricken out] were not compleated till March ["till then" stricken out] prerequisite 1, 1781. when Maryland who had made it a preliminary that vacant lands acquired the ["lands gained from" stricken out] from the British Crown should be a Common fund, yielded to the ["apprehen persuasion that a sion that" stricken out] final & formal establishment of the federal Union & Gov! would make a favorable impression not other only on foreign nations, but on G. B. herself. experienced The great difficulty in so framing the fed! ["* see Jefferson's manuscript debates on system as to obtain the unanimity required for the rules of voting and its due sanction, may be inferred from the long interval, and recurring discussions, between the of taxing" stricken out] ["see History of the confederation annexed to the Secret commencement and completion of the work; Journal" stricken out] during ["+ Idem S. 2d. * * Id." stricken out] from the changes made in its progress; from the language of Cong when proposing it to the States, wch dwelt on the impracticability of devising a system acceptable to all of them; from the reluctant assent given by some; and the various alterations ["of it" stricken out] proposed by others; and by a tardiness in others again which produced a special address to them from Cong enforcing the duty of sacrificing local considerations and ["particular" stricken out] opinions to the public safety, and the necessary harmony; nor was the assent of some of the States finally yielded without strong protests against particular articles, and a reliance on future amendments removing their objections. favorite Λ It is to be recollected, no doubt, that these delays might be occasioned in some degree, by an occupation of the public Councils both general & local, with the deliberations and measures, essential to a Revolutionary struggle; But there been must have a balance for these causes, in the obvious motives A which might be inflexible efficient to hasten the establishment of a regular and ["obligatory" stricken out] Gov; and in the tendency of the crisis to repress opinions and pretensions, that would not be abandoned in another state of things. repugnance The principal difficulties which embarrassed the progress, and retarded the completion of the plan of Confederation, may be traced to 1. the natural reluctance of the parties to a relinquishment of power: 2 a natural jealousy of its abuse. *["see Hist. of Confed in other hands than their own: 3 the rule of in Secret Journal of Congs. + Id." stricken out] suffrage among parties unequal in size, but equal in sovereignty. 4. The ratio of contributions in money and in troops, among parties, whose inequality in size did not correspond with that of their wealth, or of their military or free population. 5. The selection and definition of the powers, at once necessary to federal head. and safe to the several members. the Λ the formation of To these sources of difficulty, incident to all such confed added A Λ eracies, were two others one of a temporary, the other of a permanent nature. The first was the Case of the Crown lands, so called because they had been held by the British to individuals ["were" stricken out] when, the equal exertion dethroned Crown, and being ungranted [" prior at the dates at the" stricken out] its authority ceased, were considered by the States within whose charters or asserted limits they lay, as devolving on them; whilst ["the" stricken out] it was contended by the others, that being wrested from the [" Crown by" stricken out] authority by ["common" stricken out] of all, they resulted of right and in equity to the benefit of all. The lands being of ["great" stricken out] extent and of growing value, was the occasion of much discussion & heartburning; &["was" stricken out] proved the most obstinate of ["vacant territory" stricken out] vast were ratification Stable & to the impediments to ["the" stricken out] an earlier consummation of the plan of federal Govt. The State of Maryland the last that acceded to it held out as already noticed till March 1. 1781. and then yielded only the hope that by giving a authoritative character to the Confederation, a successful termination of the contest might be accelerated. The ["controversy" stricken out] was happily compromised by successive surrenders of portions of the ["la" stricken out] territory by the States having exclusive claims to it, and acceptances of them by Congress. dispute The other source of dissatisfaction was the peculiar situation of some of the States, which having no convenient ports for foreign commerce, were subject to be taxed by their neighbors, thro whose ports, ["they were" stricken out] their commerce was carryed on. New Jersey, placed between Phila. & N. York, was likened to a Cask tapped at boths ends: and N. Carolina to a patient bleeding at both Arms. The Articles of Confederation provided no relief for the complaint: ["and" stricken out] which produced a strong protest on the part of N. Jersey; and never ceased to be a ["topic" stricken out] source of dissatisfaction & discord, until ["1" stricken out] the new Constitution, superseded the old between Virga, & S. Carolina A remedy 1787 Monday May 14th was the day fixed for the meeting of the deputies in Convention for revising the federal ["Constitu system of Government. Λ tion." stricken out] On that day a small number only had assembled Seven States were not convened till, [The words from, "viz, From Massachusetts", to," Geor gia, William Few," inclusive, are writ ten on a slip of paper pasted on the origi nal sheet, and cover diately preceding in small type.] Friday 25 of May, when the following members appeared to wit: see Note A. viz, From Massachusetts Rufus King. N. York Robert Yates, Alex! Hamilton. N. Jersey, David Brearley, William Churchill Houston, William Patterson. Pennsylvania, Robert Morris, Thomas Fitzsimmons, James Wilson, Gouverneur Delaware, George Read, Richard Basset, Jacob Broom ["e" stricken out]. Virginia. George Washington, Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, George Morris. ing the words imme-Mason, George Wythe, James McClurg. N. Carolina, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson. S. Carolina, John Rutlidge, Charles Cotesworth Pinkney, Charles Pinkney, Pierce Butler. Georgia, William Few. Λ Λ Mr Robert Morris informed the members assembled that by the instruction & in behalf, of the deputation of Pen he proposed ["the" stricken out] George Washington Esq ["should" stricken out] late Commander in chief ["should" stricken out] for president of the Convention. Mr Jn Rutlidge seconded the motion; expressing his confidence that the choice would be unanimous, and observing that the presence of Gen! Washington forbade any observations on the occasion which might otherwise [“have" stricken out] be [“en” stricken out] proper. Washington A ["The" stricken out] General was accordingly unanimously elected by ballot, and conducted to the chair by M R. Morris and M Rutlidge; from which ["he thanked in" in a he thanked stricken out] very emphatic ["al" stricken out] manner the Convention for the honor they had conferred on him, reminded scene them of the novelty of the scene of business in which he was better qualifications, to act, lamented his want of ["the requisites for it,” stricken |