Nor have we been was diction over, one expence of our ou own Wood & treasure, arting in attentions to our Fortish brethren, we hav warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend a juris. [there our stated] we have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration & settlement here [no. of which could warrant so change a pretension: that these were effecter at the unassisted by the wealth or the strength of Great Britain: that in constheting indeed our several forms of government, we had adspried one commer laging a foundation for perpetual leaqua & a mity with them but that submission to their urliament was no part of our constitution, nor ever in idea if history may be credited: and five appealed to their native justice & magnanimity as well as to the ties four common kindred to disavow these usurpations which were likely to incorrupt our correspondence & common they too have been deaf to the voice of justice & & when occasions have been given them, by the regular. connection & course of consanguinity. their laws, of removing from their councils the disturber four harmony, they have by their free election re-established them in power, at this are permitting their chief magic hate to send over not only voldiers ofour common destroy us. very time too they blood, but Scotch & foreign mercenaries to invade gold thesey at have given the last stal to agonising affection, and manly spirit bids us to or nounce for ever these unfeeling brethren. we must endeavor to forget our former love for them, and to hold them as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in in peace friends we might have been a free to great people together; but a coman recation of grandeur & of freedom it seems is belove their signity, be it is since. they nout trol it Ball others who to will have it: the rose to the happiness, is open A to glory apart from them, aeroportityhats, and ac acquiesce in the necessity which monounces our way Sextury Rodox [tomat separation We therefore the representatives of the United States of America o of America in General Conappealing to the routing pedge of work for the rectirad on the name of by authority of the good people of these states Freject and renounce all allegiance toubjection to the kings of Great Britain may hereafter claim by, through, or under them; dissolve & track off all political connection which may sisted lechween us if the people or parliament of Great Britain; and finally we to asoort and declare these colonies to be free and independant states, ance that as free & indeprendant viales they stabs herefter have power to levy war conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commence & to do all thes acts and things which independant states m may of right do. And for the support of this declaration) we mutually pledge to each other Interes &our sacred honour. Articles of Confederation To all to whom these Presents shall come, we the undersigned Delegates of the States affixed to our Names send greeting. Whereas the Delegates of the United States of America in Congress assembled did on the fifteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy seven, and in the Second Year of the Independence of America agree to certain articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia in the Words following, viz. "Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the states of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia. Article I. The Stile of this confederacy shall be "The United States of America." Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled. Article III. The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatseever. NOTE. The original is indorsed: Act of Confederation of The United States of America. 5 Article IV. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the people of the different states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds and fugitives from Justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states; and the people of each state shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other state, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same duties, impositions and restrictions as the inhabitants thereof respectively, provided that such restriction shall not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property imported into any state, to any other state of which the Owner is an inhabitant; provided also that no impcsition, duties or restriction shall be laid by any state, on the property of the united states, or either of them. If any Person guilty of, or charged with treason, felony, or other high misdemeanor in any state, shall flee from Justice, and be found in any of the united states, he shall upon demand of the Governor or executive power, of the state from which he fled, be delivered up and removed to the state having jurisdiction of his offence. Full faith and credit shall be given in each of these states to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of every other state. Article V. For the more convenient management of the general interests of the united states, delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislature of each state shall direct, to meet in Congress on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power reserved to each state, to recal its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead, for the remainder of the Year. No state shall be represented in Congress by less than two, nor by more than seven Members; and no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years; nor shall any person, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the united states, for which he, or another for his benefit receives any salary, fees or emolument of any kind. Each state shall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the states, and while they act as members of the committee of the states. In determining questions in the united states, in Congress assembled, each state shall have one vote. |