VIRGINIA. IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, December 15, 1778. Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That a speedy ratification of the Articles of Confederation between the United States of America, will confound the devices of their foreign, and frustrate the machinations of their domestic enemies; encourage their firm friends, and fix the wavering; contribute much to the support of their public Credit and the restoration of the value of their paper Money; produce Unanimity in their Councils at home, and add weight to their Negotiations abroad; and compleating the Independence of their Country, establish the best foundation of its prosperity. Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, proposed by Congress the 7th day of November last, 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, and referred for approbation to the consideration of the several Legislatures of the said States, be approved and ratified on the part of this Commonwealth, and that our Delegates in Congress be accordingly authorized and instructed to ratify the same, in the name and on the behalf of this Commonwealth, and that they attend, for that purpose, on or before the Tenth day of March next. ARCHIBALD CARY, Speaker of the Senate, G. WYTHE, Speaker of the House of Delegates. NORTH CAROLINA: State of North Carolina. In Senate, 25th of April, 1778. To his Excellency Richard Caswell, Esquire, Captain General, Governor, and Commander in Chief, &c. &c. SIR: The two houses of the general Assembly have taken into consideration the Confederacy proposed to the United States by the Continental Congress, and have Unanimously acceded thereto, and request your Excellency will be pleased to inform the president of the Continental Congress thereof by the earliest opportunity. By order, J. SITGREAVES, C. S. WHITMILL HILL, S. S. SOUTH CAROLINA: IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, Resolved, Nemine contradicente, That the delegates of this State in the Continental Congress, or any three of them, be, and they are hereby authorized, on the part of this State, to agree to and ratify Articles of Confederation between the United States of America. Ordered, That the foregoing Resolution be sent to the Hon. the Legislative Council for their concurrence, and to his Excellency the President for his assent. By order of the House, THOMAS BEE, Speaker. IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Read the foregoing Resolution of the general Assembly. Ordered, That it be sent to his Excellency the President for his Assent. Assented to, February 5th, 1778. J. RUTLEDGE. GEORGIA: HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker. HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, The house resolved itself into a Committee of the whole house, to take into consideration the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Whitefield, from the Committee of the whole, reported, they had taken the said Articles into consideration and gone through the same, and made several amendments thereto, which were read and agreed to. Extract from the Minutes, GEORGE CUTHBERT, Clerk. Report of the amendments to the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union: 4th article, 4th page, 4th line, add the words "white inhabitants:" 6th line, between the words "vagabonds and" add "all persons who refuse to bear Arms in defence of the State to which they belong, and all persons who have been or shall be attainted and Judged guilty of high treason in any of the United States." 9th article, 20th page, 20th line, between the words "emitted to” add "and the expenditure of the same: 11th article, 25th page, between the words "Canada acceding" add "and the colonies of East and West Florida." by A true Copy from the Original, taken the 24th May, and examined GEORGE CUTHBERT, C. H. A. HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, Thursday, February 26th, 1778 Resolved, That the Delegates for this State be authorized and required to lay before the general Congress of the United States the several alterations proposed and agreed upon by this house this day in the Articles of Confederation and that they do use their exertions to have such alterations agreed to and confirmed in Congress. Resolved, That in case all or none of such alterations shall be agreed to and confirmed in Congress, that then and notwithstanding, they be empowered and required in behalf of this State, to sign, ratify, and confirm the several Articles of the Confederation recommended to the respective Legislatures of the United States by Congress, or any other plan of a general Confederation which shall be agreed upon by nine of the United States. GEORGE CUTHBERT, Clerk. THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1778 PHILADELPHIA: According to adjournment, the president and a number of members met at the State House in Philadelphia on Thursday the 2d ||of July,|| and adjourned from day to day, to the present, TUESDAY, JULY 7, 1778 When ten states appearing, Mr. E[lias] Boudinot, a delegate from New Jersey, attended, and took his seat, and the following letters were read: viz. One of the 21st, one of the 28, and one of 29 June, and one of the 1st July, from General Washington;1 One of 19 June, from General Heath, enclosing sundry letters that passed between him and Major General Phillips, consequent to the death of Lieutenant Richard Brown, of the troops of the convention of Saratoga who was shot by a centinel "for not stopping when repeatedly challenged, as he was riding out of the lines with two women:"2 Resolved, That Congress approve of Major General Heath's conduct respecting Major General Phillips, consequent upon the death of Lieutenant Richard Brown, of the troops of the convention. Ordered, That an extract of General Heath's letter, with the letters that passed between him and Major General Phillips, together with the inquest held on the body of Lieutenant R. Brown, be published. Ordered, That so much of General Heath's letter as relates to money, with the account of provisions issued to the troops of the convention of Saratoga, from 6 November, 1777, to 1 March, 1778, and those received in lieu thereof, be referred to the Board of Treasury. Congress took into consideration the letter of the 29 June, and that of the 1 July, from General Washington, 1 Washington's letter of June 21 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 127; that of the 28th is on folio 139; that of the 29th is on folio 143; and that of July 1, on folio 147. These papers and Heath's letter are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 57, folio 283. giving an account of his movements from Valley Forge to Monmouth court house, in the State of New Jersey, in pursuit of the enemy, and of the victory obtained over the British army commanded by General Clinton, in a battle near Monmouth court house, on the 28th June: Whereupon, Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of Congress be given to General Washington for the activity with which he marched from the camp at Valley Forge, in pursuit of the enemy; for his distinguished exertions in forming the order of battle; and for his great good conduct in leading on the attack and gaining the important victory of Monmouth over the British grand army, under the command of Lieutenant General Sir Henry Clinton, in their march from Philadelphia to New York. Resolved, That General Washington be directed to signify the thanks of Congress to the gallant officers and men under his command, who distinguished themselves by their conduct and valour at the battle of Monmouth. Ordered, That Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, and Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, have leave of absence. Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1778 A letter, of 30 June, from Major General Putnam, was read: Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War. A letter, of the 4 April, and one of 26 April, from Major General R. Howe, at Savannah, and one of 4 April, from J. Houston, governor of Georgia, were read: Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury. 4938-07-43 |