~usa/constitution

b07a49eb6c256df6c13f954a669d465a646de727 — Second Continental Congress 247 years ago 9bc0ba2
Prepare second report on the articles of confederation

--

ref: https://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=lljc&fileName=009/lljc009.db&recNum=154
note: date is approximate
1 files changed, 127 insertions(+), 129 deletions(-)

M README.md
M README.md => README.md +127 -129
@@ 18,15 18,7 @@ Between the States of

## Article I

The Name of this Confederacy shall be "The United States of America."

## 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 whatever.
The stile of this confederacy shall be "The United States of America."

## Article II



@@ 34,6 26,14 @@ 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 whatever.

## Article IV

The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourse among the


@@ 45,8 45,8 @@ 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
imposition, duties, or restriction shall be laid by any state on the property of
any other state of which the owner is an inhabitant; provided, also that no
imposition, 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


@@ 61,8 61,8 @@ 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
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 recall its delegates or
any of them, at any time within the year, and to send others in their stead for


@@ 90,100 90,97 @@ or breach of the peace.

No state without the consent of the United States in Congress assembled, shall
send any embassy to, or receive any embassy from, or enter into any conference,
agreement, alliance or treaty with any King, Prince or State; nor shall any
agreement, alliance or treaty with any king, prince or state; nor shall any
person holding any office of profit or trust under the United States or any of
them accept of any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from
any king, prince or foreign state; nor shall the United States in Congress
any king, prince, or foreign state; nor shall the United States in Congress
assembled assembled, or any of them grant any title of nobility.

No two or more States shall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance
whatever between them, without the Consent of the United States in Congress
Assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the same is to be
entered into, and how long it shall continue.
No two or more states shall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance
whatever between them without the consent of the United States in Congress
assembled, specifying accurately the purposes for which the same is to be
entered into and how long it shall continue.

No State shall lay any imposts or duties which may interfere with any
stipulations in treaties hereafter entered into by the United States in Congress
No state shall lay any imposts or duties, which may interfere with any
stipulations in treaties entered into by the United States in Congress
assembled with any king, prince or state, in pursuance of any treaties already
proposed by Congress to the courts of France and Spain.

No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace by any State, except such
No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace, by any state, except such
number only as shall be deemed necessary by the United States in Congress assembled for the
defence of such state or its trade, nor shall any body of forces be kept up by
any State in time of peace, except such number only as in the judgment of the
United States in Congress Assembled shall be deemed requisite to garrison the
forts necessary for the defence of such State, but every State shall always keep
up a well regulated and disciplined Militia, sufficiently armed and accoutered,
any state, in time of peace, except such number only as in the judgment of the
United States in Congress assembled shall be deemed requisite to garrison the
forts necessary for the defence of such state; but every state shall always keep
up a well regulated and disciplined militia sufficiently armed and accoutered,
and shall provide and constantly have ready for use in public stores a due
number of field pieces and tents and a proper quantity of ammunition and camp
equipage.
number of field pieces and tents and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition and
camp equipage.

No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the United States in
Congress assembled, unless such State be actually invaded by enemies, or shall
have received certain advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of
Indians to invade such State, and the danger is so imminent as not to admit of a
delay till the United States, in Congress assembled, can be consulted; nor shall
any State grant commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of
marque or reprisal, except it be after a declaration of war by the United
States, in Congress assembled, and then only against the Kingdom or State and
the subjects thereof, against which war has been so declared and under such
regulations as shall be established by the United States, in Congress assembled,
unless such State be infested by pirates, in which case vessels of war may be
fitted out for that occasion, and kept so long as the danger shall continue, or
until the United States, in Congress assembled, shall determine otherwise.

## Article VII

When land forces are raised in any State for the common defence, all officers of
or under the rank of Colonel, shall be appointed by the legislatures of each
State respectively, by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as
such State shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the State which
first made the appointment.
When land forces are raised in any state for the common defence, all officers of
or under the rank of colonel shall be appointed by the legislatures of each
state respectively, by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as
such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled up by the state,
which first made the appointment.

## Article VIII

All charges of war and all other expences that shall be incurred for the common
defence, or general welfare, and allowed by the United States Assembled, shall
defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall
be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several
States in proportion to the value of all lands within each state granted to or
states in proportion to the value of all lands within each state granted to or
surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon
shall be estimated according to such mode as the United States in Congress
assembled shall from time to time direct and appoint. The taxes for paying that proportion shall
be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the
several States, within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress
several states within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congress
assembled.

## Article IX

Every State shall abide by the determinations of the United States in Congress
Assembled, on all questions which by this Confederation are submitted to them.

## Article ~~XI~~ VI (cont'd)

No State shall engage in any war without the consent of the United States in
Congress Assembled, unless such State be actually invaded by enemies, or shall
have received certain advice of a resolution being formed by some nation of
Indians to invade such State, and the danger is so imminent, as not to admit of
a delay, till the United States, in Congress assembled, can be consulted; nor shall any State grant
commissions to any ships or vessels of war, nor letters of marque or reprisal,
except it be after a declaration of war by the United States Assembled, and then
only against the Kingdom or State and the subjects thereof, against which war
has been so declared and under such regulations as shall be established by the
United States, in Congress assembled, unless such State be infested by pirates,
in which case vessels of war may be fitted out for that occasion, and kept so
long as the danger shall continue, or until the United States, in Congress
assembled, shall determine otherwise.
Every state shall abide by the determinations of the United States in Congress
assembled, on all questions, which by this Confederation are submitted to them.

## Article X

The United States Assembled shall have the sole and exclusive right and power of

- Determining on peace and war, except in the cases mentioned in the sixth
  article
The United States in Congress assembled shall have the sole and exclusive right
and power

- Sending and receiving ambassadors
- Of determining on peace and war, except in the cases mentioned in the sixth
  article;

- Entering into treaties and alliances; provided that no treaty of commerce
- Of sending and receiving ambassadors; entering into treaties and alliances;
  provided that no treaty of commerce
  shall be made whereby the legislative power of the respective states shall be
  restrained from imposing such imposts and duties on foreigners as their own
  people are subjected to or from prohibiting the exportation or importation of
  any species of goods or commodities whatsoever
  any species of goods or commodities whatsoever;

- Establishing rules for deciding in all cases, what captures on land or water
- Of establishing rules for deciding in all cases, what captures on land or water
  shall be legal, and in what manner prizes taken by land or naval forces in the
  service of the United States shall be divided or appropriated
  service of the United States shall be divided or appropriated;

- Granting letters of marque and reprisal in times of peace

- Appointing Courts for the trial of piracies and felonies committed on the high
- Of granting letters of marque and reprisal in times of peace; appointing
  courts for the trial of piracies and felonies committed on the high
  seas, and establishing courts for receiving and determining finally appeals in
  all cases of captures, provided that no member of Congress shall be appointed
  a judge of any of the said courts
  a judge of any of the said courts.

The United States in Congress assembled shall also be the last resort on appeal
in all disputes and differences now subsisting, or that hereafter may arise


@@ 235,90 232,91 @@ The United States in Congress assembled, shall also have the sole and exclusive
right and power of

- Regulating the alloy and value of coin struck by their own authority or by
  that of the respective states
  that of the respective states;

- Fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the United States
- Fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the United States;

- Regulating the trade, and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members
  of any of the States, provided, that the legislative right of any state within
  its own limits be not infringed or violated
- Regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members of
  any of the states, provided, that the legislative right of any state within
  its own limits be not infringed or violated;

- Establishing and regulating post offices from one state to another throughout
  all the United States, and exacting such postage on the papers passing through
  the same, as may be requisite to defray the expences of said office
  the same as may be requisite to defray the expences of the said office;

- Appointing all officers of the land forces in the service of the United States
  excepting regimental officers
  excepting regimental officers;

- Appointing all the officers of the naval forces and commissioning all oficers
- Appointing all the officers of the naval forces and commissioning all officers
  whatever in the service of the United States

- Making rules for the government and regulation of the said land and naval
  forces and directing their operations
  forces and directing their operations.

The United States in Congress assembled shall have authority

The United States in Congress Assembled shall have authority to appoint a
committee to sit in the recess of Congress, to be denominated a *committee of
the states,* and to consist of one delegate from each state; and to appoint such
other committees and civil officers as may be necessary for managing the general
affairs of the United States under their direction;
- To appoint a committee to sit in the recess of Congress, to be denominated a
  *committee of the states,* and to consist of one delegate from each state; and
  to appoint such other committees and civil officers as may be necessary for
  managing the general affairs of the United States under their direction;

- To appoint one of their number to preside, provided that no person be allowed
  to serve in the office of president more than one year, in any term of three
  years
  years;

- To ascertain the necessary sums of money to be raised for the service of the
  United States and to appropriate and apply the same for defraying the public
  expences
  expences;

- To borrow money or emit bills on the credit of the United States, transmitting
  every half year to the respective states an account of the sums of money so
  borrowed or emitted

- To build and equip a navy

- To agree upon the number of land forces, and to make requisitions from each
  State, for its quota in proportion to the number of white inhabitants in such
  State, which requisitions shall be binding, and thereupon the legislature of
  each State shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men, and clothe, arm and
  equip them in a soldier-like manner at the expence of the United States, and the officers and men so clothed armed and
  equipped, shall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by
  borrowed or emitted;

- To build and equip a navy;

- To agree upon the number of land forces and to make requisitions from each
  state for its quota in proportion to the number of white inhabitants in such
  state, which requisitions shall be binding, and thereupon the legislature of
  each state shall appoint the regimental officers, raise the men and clothe,
  arm and equip them in a soldier like manner at the expence of the United
  States, and the officers and men so clothed armed and equipped shall march to
  the place appointed and within the time agreed on by the United States in
  Congress assembled.

  But if the United States in Congress assembled shall on consideration of
  circumstances judge proper that any state should not raise men, or should
  raise a smaller number than its quota; and that any other state should raise a
  greater number of men than the quota thereof, such extra number shall be
  raised, officered, clothed, armed and equipped in the same manner as the quota
  of such state, unless the legislature of such state shall judge that such
  extra number cannot be safely spared out of the same, in which case they shall
  raise, officer, clothe, arm and equip as many of such extra number as they
  judge can be safely spared. And the officers and men so clothed, armed and
  equipped shall march to the place appointed and within the time agreed on by
  the United States in Congress assembled.

  But if the United States in Congress Assembled shall on consideration of
  circumstances judge proper, that any State should not raise men, or
  should raise a smaller number than the quota;
  and that any other state should raise a greater number of
  men than the quota thereof, such extra number shall be raised,
  officered, clothed, armed and equipped in the same Manner as the quota of
  such state, unless the legislature of such state
  shall judge that such extra number cannot be safely spared out
  of the same, in which case they shall raise, officer, clothe, arm and equip as many of
  such extra number as they judge can be safely spared. And the officers and
  men so clothed, armed and equipped shall march to the place appointed, and within the
  time agreed on by the United States Assembled.

The United States in Congress Assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant
The United States in Congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant
letters of marque and reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or
alliances, nor coin money nor regulate the value thereof, nor
alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor
ascertain the sums and expences necessary for the defence and welfare
of the United States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the
credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of
vessels of war to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to
be raised, nor appoint a Commander in Chief of the army or navy, unless nine
States assent to the same: Nor shall a question on any other point, except for
of the United States or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the
credit of the United States nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of
vessels of war to be built or purchased or the number of land or sea forces to
be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy unless nine
states assent to the same; nor shall a question on any other point, except for
adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the votes of a majority of
the United States.
the United States in Congress assembled.

The Congress of the United States shall have power to adjourn to any time within
the year and to any place within the United States; so that no period &c. and
shall publish the Journal of their Proceedings
monthly, except such parts thereof relating to treaties, alliances, or military
operations, as in their judgment require secrecy, the yeas and nays of the
Delegates of each State on any question to be entered on the Journal, when it is
desired by any Delegate; and the Delegates of a State, or any of them, at his or
their request, to be furnished with a transcript of the said Journal, except
such parts as are above excepted, to lay before the legislatures of the several
States.
the year and to any place within the United States; so that no period of
adjournment be for a longer duration than the space of six months, and shall
publish the journal of their proceedings monthly, except such parts thereof
relating to treaties, alliances or military operations as in their judgment
require secrecy; the yeas and nays of the delegates of each state on any
question shall be entered on the journal, when it is desired by any delegate;
and the delegates of a state, or any of them, at his or their request shall be
furnished with a transcript of the said journal except such parts as are above
excepted, to lay before the legislatures of the several states.

## Article XI



@@ 339,10 337,10 @@ United States and the public faith are hereby solemnly pledged.

## Article XIII

Canada acceding to this Confederation, and entirely joining in the measures of
the United States, shall be admitted into and entitled to all the advantages of
this Union: But no other Colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such
admission be agreed to by nine States.
Canada according to this confederation and entirely joining in the measures of
the United States shall be admitted into and entitled to all the advantages of
this union: But no other colony shall be admitted into the same unless such
admission be agreed to by nine states.

And the articles of this confederation shall be inviolably observed by every
state; and the union shall be perpetual: nor shall any alteration at any time


@@ 350,7 348,7 @@ hereafter be made in any of them unless such alteration be agreed to in a
Congress of the United States and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of
every state.

These Articles shall be proposed to the legislatures of all the United States,
These articles shall be proposed to the legislatures of all the United States
to be considered, and if approved by them they are advised to authorize
their Delegates to ratify the same in the Congress of the United States which
their delegates to ratify the same in the Congress of the United States which
being done, the same shall become conclusive.