The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-06-10 00:00:00, page 2

Delegates of f® many other of the laid States as shall be wil
ling, fo'that the fame shall be for-ever binding on the
Stams so ratifying, notwithstanding that a part of those
named shall deci ne to rati y the fame, allowing neverthe
less to the said States so declining either a given or indefi
nite time, as to Congress shall seem best, for acceding to
the Lid confederation, and making themfelyes thereby
Members of the Union.
Refold r,twine comradicente^ That our said Delegates
now in office, or hereafter to be appointed, be authorifed
and required, and are hereby authorifed and required, to
ratify the said articles of confederation on the part of this
Commonwealth, with so many of the other States named
in them as parties as shall on them part ratify the/ame.
Test. A. Cary, S. S. B. Harxifon, S. H. D." ,
In purfuawce of the above powers and inffruHions trie
said Delegates moved in toe words following :
" Whereas it is of the greatest importance to the fafety,
honor and interest of the United States that the confedera
tion be closed as soon as may be, and rendered for-ever
binding on the States acceding thereto : Refolded, That
it be earneßly recommended to each of toe States named
as parties to the confederation,that they authorife theirDe
,agates in Congress tb ratify the fame on or before the
day of next, in conjunction with the Delegates of so
many other of the said States as fltall be willing:, to the
end that the fame may be thenceforward for-ever binding
ten the States so ratifying, notwithstanding that a
part of those named shall decline to ratify the ^me.”
Ordered, That the consideration of the laid motion be
poftpohed to Tuesday next.
The Delegates of Virginia then delivered in apiper hgn
ed by them m the words following:
6 In confluence of the foregoing inftruftions an I pow
ers to us given, we do hereby declare, that we are ready
and willing to ratify the confederation with any one or
more States named therein, so that the fame shall be for
mer binding upon the State of Virginia.
Signed, Merewether Smith, Richard Henry Lee,
° Cyrus Griffin, William Fleming.
May zi. The Delegates of Maryland informed Con
gre's that they have received inftruftions refpefting the
articles of confederation, which they are direded to lay
before Congress, and to have entered on the journals : the
inffrudjons being read are as follows :
" Inftruaions @f the General Assembly of Maryland io
George Plater, William Paca, William Carmichael, John
Henry, James Forbes and Daniel of St. Thomas Jeni er,
Enquires. .
Gentlemen, Having conferred upon you a trult of the
highest nature, it is evident we place great confidence in
your integrity, abilities, and zeal to promote the general
welfare of the United States, and ,the particular interest of
this State, where the latter is not incompatible with the
former; but to add greater weight to your proceedings in
Congress, and to take awy all suspicion that the ®pinions
you there d. liver and the votes you give may be the mere
opinions of individuals, and net refultirag from your know
ledge of the sense and deliberate judgment of the St ite you
represent, we think it,cur duty to inftrud you as follow
ed on the fubjedt of the confederation, a fubje& in which
unfortunately a supposed difference of interest has produc
ed an almost equal division of sentiments among the. Gver
al States coippofing the Union : We fay,a supposed dif
ference of interests ; for if local attachments and prejudices,
ind the avarice and ambition of individuls, would give
way to the dilates of a found policy, founded on the. rin,
cipfes of justice, (and no other policy but what is founded
on those immutable principles deserves to be called found)
we flatter ourftlves this apparent diversity of interests
would soon vanifti, and all the States would confederate
on terms mutually advantageous to all; for they wou:d
then perceive that no other confederation than one so form
ed can be lasting. Although the pressure of immediate ca
lamities, the dread of their continuance from the appear
ance of dis union, and some other peculiar circum fiances,
may have induced some States to accede to the present con
federation, contrary to their own interests and judgments,
i! requires no great share of forefight to predict, that when
those causes cease to operate the States which have thus ac
ceded to the confederation will confi ler it as ^o longer
'binding, and will eagerly embrace the firfl occanon of as
serting their just rightsand fearing their independence.
Is it possible that thofeStates, who are ambitiously grafp
ir^at territories, to which in our judgment they have not
the least shadow of exiufive ri ht, will use with greater
moderation the increase of wealth and power derived from
those territories, when acquired, that what they have dis
played in their endeavours to acquire them ? we think not ;
•weare convinced the famelpirit which hath prompted t em
to insist on a dim so extravagant, so repugnant to every
principle of jofiice, so jn.ompatible with the general wel
fareo all the States, will, urge them on to add oppression
to injustice. If they should not be incidet by a superiori
ty of wealth and flrength to oppress by open force their
less wealthy and let's powerful neighbours, yet the depo
pulation, and consequently the impoveriihment of those
States, will necessarily follow, which by an unfair con
flruction of the confederation may be stripped of a com
mon interest in, and the common benefits derivable from
the western country. Suppose, for instance, Virginia in
disputably poffeffe I of the extensive and fertile country to
which she has set up a claim, what would be the probable
conferences to Maryland of such an undisturbed and un
disputed poffeffiou ? They cannot escape the lead difeern
ing. Virginia, by felling on the most moder ite terms a
small proportion of the lands in queflien, would draw in
to her Tre fury vast fems of money, and in proportion
to the sums arising from such sales, would be enabled to
Itffen her taxes: lands comparatively cheap, and taxes
comparatively low with tl e lands and taxes of an adjacent
'State, would quickly drain the State thus" difadvantage
oufiy circumdanepd of its most ufeful inhabitants, its wealth
and its consequence in the scale of the confederated States
would fink of course. A claim so ibjurious to more than
one half if not the whole of the United States, ought to
be Supported by the cleared evidence of the right. Yet
what evidences of that right have been produced ? what
arguments alledged in flipport either of the evidence or
the right ? none that we have heard of deserving a serious
refutation.
It has been said that some of the Delegates of a neigh
bouring Stite have declared thrir opinion of the impradi
cabihy of governing the extensive dominion claimed by
t, 3 '; hence also the necessity was admitted of di
v./^ i^ territory and ereßing a hew State, under the
auspices and dirteaion of the elder, from whom no doubt
it would receive its form of government, to whom it would
be bound by some alliance or confederacy, and by whose
Councils it would be influenced, such a measure, if ever
attempted, would certainly be opposed by the other States,
as inconsistent with the letter and spirit of the proposed
confederation. Should.it take place, by establishing a fuld
confederacy,lmperium in Imperio,theState poffeffe^of this
extensive dominion must then either submit to all the in
conveniencies of am overgrown and unwieldy government,
or fuffer the authority of Congress to interpose at a uture
time, and to lop offa part of its territory to be ere&ed in
to a new and free State, and admitted into the confedera
tion on such conditions as shall be fettled by nine States.
If it is necessary for the happiness and tranquility of a
State thus overgrown, that Congress should hereafter in
terfere and divide its territory : why is the claim to that
territory now made and so pertinaciously infilled on ? we
can suggest to ourfthes but two motives ; either thedecla
ration of relinquishing at some future period a portion of
the country, now contended for, was made to lull suspicion
asleep, and to cover the designs of a secret ambition, or if
the thought was seriously entertained, the lands are now
claimed to reap am immediate profit from the sale.—We
are convinced policy and juflice require that a country
unsettled at the commencement of this war, claimed by
the Bridfh Crown, and ceded'to it by the treaty of Paris,
if wrefled from the common enemy by the blood and trea
fufe oft e Thirteen States, fliould be ednfidered as a com
m<n property, subj ch to be parcelled out by Congress
into free, convenient nd independant governments, in
such manner and at such t mes as the wifdem of that As
sembly "all hereafter direct.—Thus convinced, we should
betray the trust reposed in us by our constituents,/ were
we to authorife you to ratify on their behalf the confeder
ation, unless it be'farth'er explained : we have coolly and
difpafFonatcly confiderechthe fubjeft ; we have weigl ed
probable inconveniencies and hardships against the facri
ficesef just -.nd effentiaf rights ; and do infiruct you not
to agree to the confederation, unless an article or articles
be added thereto in conformity with our declaration:
flioufd we succeed in obtaining such article or articles, then
you are hereh y fully empowered to accede to the confeder
ation.
That these our sentiments refp^aing the Confederation
may be more publicly known, and more explicitly and
concisely declared,we have draw/ )up the annexed declara
tion, which we inftrua you to lay before Congress, to
have it printed, and to deliver to each of the Delegates of
the other States in Congress assembled copies thereof,
signed by yourfelvts,or by such of you as may be present
at the time of the delivery ; to the intent and purpose that
the copies aforefaid may be communicated to our brethren
of the United States,,and the contents of th,e said declara
tion taken into their serious and candid consideration.
Also we desire and dafirua you to move at a proper
time, that t:.efe inftruHions be read to Congress by their
Secretary, and entered on the journals of Congress.
We have spoken with freedom, as becomes freemen;
and we sincerely will, that these our reprt flotations may
make such an impression on that Assembly as, to induce
them to makefuch addition to the Articles of Confedera
tion as m y bring al out a permanent union.
A true copy from the proceedings of December tsth, 1778.
T<ft. T. DUCKETT, C. H D.
The Delegates for the State of Conne&icut laid before
Congress farther powers relative to tee Articles of Confe
deration, which were read, and are as follows :
" State of Connecticut, ffi Ata General Assembly of the
Governor and Company o' the State of Connecticut in
America, holden at Hartford by special order of the
Coverrior of said State, on Wednesday the seventh day
of April, Anno Domini 1779.
(L. S) It appearing to this Assembly to be essentially
necessary for the preservation, fafety, independence and
sovereignty of the United States of America, that the Ar
ticles of Confederation and Perpetual Union be acceded
to, ratified and confirmed: And whereas all of the said
States; ex ept M iryland, have agreed to and confirmed
said Articles of Confederation, and Maryland hath not ac
ceded to faiJ Articles as drawn up, for reasons heretofore
.publiflied: And wh reas the Confederation of Thirteen
States may not be considered as obligatory on Twelve
States only :
Resolve , That the Delegates of this State in Congress
be directed and empowered, and full power and authority
is hereby given and granted to the Hid Delegates, 111 the
nan^ And behalf of this State, to enter into, ratify and
confirm said Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Uni
orf with the States of New.Hampfliire, Massachusetts-
Bxy, Rhode Inland and Providence Plantations, New-
York, New-'Jerfey, Penpfylvtnia, Delaware, Virginia,
North - Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, in ,the
most full and ample manner; always provided, that the
State of Maryland be not thereby ex< luded from acceding
to said Confederation at any time hereafter.
A true copy of record,
Examined by George Wyllys, Secretary."
Refolded, That these Unitel Spates be called upon, in
addition to the sum required by a refolutioo of Congress of
the fefond of January )aft, for their refpe&-ive quotas of
forty-five millions of dollars, to be paid into the Conti
nental Treasury before the firfl day of January next; ill
the proportion following:
New Hampshire, - - 1,500,000
Matfachilfetts-Bay, - - 6,c00,000
Rhode-Ifland, - - 750,000
Connecticut, - -- 5,100,000
New-York, - - 2,400,000
New-Jersey, - - 2,4.00,000
Pennfybvania, - - 5,700,000
Delaware, - - 4.50,000
Maryland, - - 4,680,000
Virginia, - - 7,200,000
Worth^Carolina, - - 3,2/0,000
South-Carolina, - -- 5,550,000
45,000,d00
Georgia being invaded is hereafter to raise her propor
tion.
Refolded, That the said several sums, or any greater
sums, which shall be paid by any of the States into the
Continental Treasury, shall be passed to their refpeftive
credits on interest, on the fame terms as are prescribed by
the resolution of Congress, passed the zzd of Nsvember,
i 777.
My 22. In consequence of a recommendation from
the Board of Treasury,।
Revert, That John Reed, William Coats, John Wil
liams, George Bright, and Levy Budd, be appointed
signers of the Continental Bdls of Credit. ,
The Committee-on the Treasury nominate,
Mr. John Dyer Mercier, and
Mr. Philip Audibert,
to be appointed Commiffioheis of Accounts.
The Delegates of New York, in behalf of their State,
moved that Congress- come to the following resolutions:
“ Whereas divers i habitants, cf a c-rtain dift^a of'
country over a particular part of which the State of New-
York, and over the rtfidue of which the State of New-
Hampfhre, at the time when these United States were Co
lonifsof and fubjeStto tie crown of Great- Britain, did
exercise jurifdiaion, have under various pretences, refufed
allegiance, thereto, and attempted to constitute them
selves into a separate State, under the affirmed nameof the
State of Vermont: R&olqvd, That the States of New-
Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-Ifland and Pro
vidence Plantations, Conm&icut, New,-York, New-
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North-Carol,n?, South- Carolina, and Georgia, are fede
rally intitled to and ought to held and be maintained in
the piffrffion of all the finds and territories which apper
tained of right to each of them refpraiyely while they
we-e Colonies of and fubjed to the King of Great-Bri
tain.
R^okel, That none of the said Stites ought to be or
shall be divested ofanyl-nd or territories over which they
retp^hvely exercised jurisdiction at the time aforefaid,
unless by judgment cf Congress in favour of certain other
of the said States claiming Jie fame ot any part thereof,
and prosecuting that claim in tke way prescribed by the
Articles of Confederation.
Reiobved, That no part or diflrift of one or more of the
fail Stales shall be permitted to separate therefrom and
become independent thereon, without the express content
and approbation of such State or States refpedively.-
Revived, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of
the said pretended State of Vermont to return peaceably to
their former jurfdi&ions, that is to fay, those who have
fepaiand from the State of New-York, to the State cf
New-York, and those who . have separated from the State
of New Hampshire, to the State of New-Hampshire.
Refolded, That Congress will readily hear, examine and
interpose, to obtain a redress of sny grievances of which
the laid itibabitants my have cause to complain against
their said reiptUive St tes.
Refolded, That nothing in the preceding resolutions con
tained ihallte conftruedd confirm or prejudice the title
ofthe States of New- Hampshire- or New-York to the ju
rifdi&ions aforefaidfor'to-e^clude or ar any claims wine•
other States may have thereto or to any part thereof."
A motion was thereupon made by Mr. Burke, seconded
by Mr. Morr s,
That on Saturday next Congress be refolded into, a
Committee of the whole, to confider the foregoing refolM
ti©ns: ,
Quefiion put, 1
Rcfolvted in the affirmative.
Ti e Committee to whom was referred the letter from
the Mihifter Plenipotentiary of France, with the note
from Don Juan de Mirailles, ' dated,May 18th, 1779,
brought in a report; whereupon
Refolded. That the resolutions of Congress passed on the
sixth day of March last, relative to the controul of Congress
by appeal in the lift resort over all jurisdictions for decid
ing the leg lity of captures on the high seas, be immedi
ately transmitted to the several States,, and tht they be
refpedively requested to take effectual meafu^s for con
forming therewith.
Refolded, That the following letter be written to the
Minister Plenipotentiary of France, and signed by thePre
fident:
Sir, Congress having taken into confederation your let
ter of the 19th of this month, I am directed to assure you,
that as loon as the matter shall in due course come before
them, they will attend very particularly to t^e cases of toe
vessels stated in the note from Don Juan de Mirailles to
have been failing under the flag of his Catholic Majesty,
and captured by armed vessels under the Hag of the United
States ; and that they will cause the law of nations to be
most ftridly observed: That if it shall be found, sifter due
trial, that t e owners of the captured vessels have fuffered
damage frohi the ibifapprehenfion or violation ofthe rights
of war and neutrality, Congress will cause reparation to be
made in such manner as to do ample juflice and vindicate
the honour of the Spanish flag.
That Congress have every possible disposition to culti
vate the most perfect harmony with his Catholic Majesty,
and to encourage the most liberal and friendly intercourse
between his fubjefy and the citizens of these United States ;
but they cannot, confidently with the powers intruded to
them and the rights of the States and of individuals, in
any case suspend or interrupt the ordinary course of justice.
On motion of Mr. Duane seconded by Mr- Morris',
Congress came to the following resolution :
Whereas a proposition has been made for exchanging a
number of the good citizens of these States who are in
captivity at Niagara and its vicinity, for difaffeded citi
zens who are desirous to join the enemy:
Refolded, That the Commissioners of Indian Affairs for
the Northern Department, or any two of them, be autho
rifed and directed, with the concurrence of the Command
er in chief and the Governor or Executive Authority of
the several States, whose citizens refpedively shall be the
fubjed of the proposed exchange, to negotiate and fettle
such exchange in the manner and on the terms they shall
judge reasonable and expedient.
Q-^ 444+ ^±-4044*+ 4#+***+ *
MELCHER and .VANDEREN,
Have for sale at their store in Second- street, between Arch
< and Race streets.
RUM and Spirits,
" Sugar and Tea,
Bar and Nail-rod Iron,
A neat assortment of Iron Caftiogs,
Holland Stone-ware,
Yellow-Oker, &c. &c.
Also, a few cags and half-barrels of excellent frefh,
fuperfine Flour, manufactured out &f white Wheat, clear
of the fly.