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1776. Articles of Confederation by the American Congress. 75

the only business is "to talk gracefully, to shine, and not to weigh---the manner is all, and to acquire that, a dancing mafter would be of infinitely more ufe than all the rules laid down by Ariftotle." There however we went, and there I was impreffed with the deepeft fenfe of their importance, knowledge, and real dignity---what

ever the prejudices of mankind may lead them to affert, I know not; but I am fully convinced, that there never was more fcience than in the present line of law Lords---there never were more respectable men than on the prefent bench of bithops-nor ever better fpeakers than fome of our prin. cipal nobility.

A Copy of the ARTICLES of CONFEDERATION and PERPETUAL UNION, entered into by the DELEGATES of the feveral Colonies of New-Hampshire, Malachusetts, &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. in GENERAL CONGRESS met at Philadelphia, May 10th, 1775.

ARTICLE I.

fhall alfo make fuch general ordinances HE name of the confederacy fhall thought neceffary to the general wel

The name of the Co- fare, of which particular affemblies

lonies of North America.

II. The united colonies hereby feverally enter into a firm league of friendfhip with each other, binding on themfelves and their pofterity, for their common defence against their enemies, for the fecurity of their liberties and properties, the fafety of their perfons and families, and their mutual and general welfare.

III. That each colony fhall enjoy and retain as much as it may think fit of its own prefent laws, cuftoms, rights, privileges, and peculiar jurifdictions, within its own limits; and may amend its own conftitution, as fhall feem beft to its own affembly or convention.

IV. That for the more convenient Imanagement of general interefts, delegates fhall be elected annually, in each colony, to meet in General Congrefs, at fuch time and place as hall be agreed on in the next preceding Congrefs. Only where particular circumitances do not make a deviation neceffary, it is understood to be a rule, that each fucceeding Congrefs is to be held in a different colony, till the whole number be gone through, and fo in perpetual rotation; and that accordingly, the next Congrefs after the prefent fhall be held at Annapolis, in Maryland.

V. That the power and duty of the Congrefs thall extend to the determining on war and peace, the entering into alliances, the reconciliation with Great Britain, the fettling all difputes between colony and colony, if any fhould arife, and the planting new colonies where proper. The Congress

cannot be competent, viz. thofe that may relate to our general commerce or general currency, to the establishment of posts, the regulation of our common forces: the Congress shall alfo have the appointment of all officers civil and military, appertaining to the general confederacy, fuch as general treasurer, fecretary, &c. &c. &c.

VI. All charges of wars, and all other general expences to be incurred for the common welfare, fhall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which is to be fupplied by each colony, in proportion to its number of male polls between 16 and 60 years of age: the taxes for paying that proportion are to be laid and levied by the laws of each colony.

VII. The number of delegates to be elected, and fent to the Congress by each colony, fhall be regulated from time to time, by the number of fuch polls returned; fo as that one delegate be allowed for every 5000 polls. And the delegates are to bring with them to every Congress an authenticated return of the number of polls in their refpective colonies, which is to be taken for the purposes above-mentioned.

VIII. At every meeting of the Congrefs, one half of the members returned, exclufive of proxies, thall be neceffary to make a quorum; and each delegate at the Congrefs thall have a vote in all cafes; and if neceffarily abfent, fhall be allowed to appoint any other delegate from the fame colony to be his proxy, who may vote for him.

IX. An executive council fhall be

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appointed

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appointed by the Congrefs out of their
own body, confifting of 12 perfons,
of whom in the first appointment, one
third, viz. four, fhall be for one year,
four for two years, and four for three
years; and as the faid terms expire, the
vacancies fhall be filled up by appoint-
ments for three years, whereby one
third of the members will be chofen an-
nually; and each perfon who has ferved
the fame term of three years as coun-
fellor, fhall have a refpite of three
years, before he can be elected again.
This council, of whom two thirds thall
be a quorum, in the recefs of the Con-
grefs, is to execute what fhall have
been enjoined thereby; to manage the
general continental bufinefs and in-
terefts, to receive applications from fo-
reign countries, to prepare matters for
the confideration of the Congress, to
fill up, pro tempore, continental offices
that fall vacant, and to draw on the
general treasurer for fuch monies as
may be neceffary for general fervices,
and appropriated by the Congrefs to
fuck fervices.

American Congress's Articles of Confederation.

X. No colony fhall engage in an offenfive war with any nation of Indians, without the confent of the Congrefs or great council above-mentioned, who are first to confider the juftice and neceffity of fuch war.

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and experience can difcover, it is agreed that the General Congrefs, from time to time, fhall propofe fuch amendments of this conftitution as may be found neceffary, which being approved by a majority of the Colony Affem blies, fhall be equally binding with the reft of the articles of this Confederation.

XI. A perpetual alliance, offenfive and defenfive, is to be entered into,, as foon as may be, with the Six Na tions; their limits afcertained, and to be fecured to them; their lands not to be encroached on, nor any private or colony purchase to be made of them hereafter to be heid good, nor any contract for lands to be made, but betwee the great council of the Indians at Onondega and the general Congrefs. The boundaries and lands of all the other Indians fhall also be afcertained and fecured to them in the fame manner; and perfons appointed to refide among them in proper districts, who fhall take care to prevent injuftice in the trade with them; and be enabled at our general expence, by occafional fmall fupplies, to relieve their perfonal wants and diftreffes; and all purchases from them fhall be by the Congrefs, for the general advantage and benefit of the United Colonies.

XII. As all new inftitutions may have imperfections, which only time

XIII. Any and every colony from Great Britain upon the continent of North America, not at present engaged in our affociation, may, upon application, and joining the laid affociation, be received into the confederation, viz. Quebec, St. John's, Nova Scotia, Bermudas, and the East and Weft Floridas, and hall thereupon be entitled to all the advantages of our union, mutual affistance, and com

merce.

Thefe articles fhall be propofed to the feveral provincial conventions or affemblies, to be by them confidered and, if approved, they are advifed to empower their delegates to agree and ratify the fame in the enfuing Congrefs; after which the union thereby eftablifhed is to continue firm, till the terms of reconciliation propofed in the petition of the laft Congress to the King are agreed to; till the acts, fince made, reftraining the American commerce and fisheries, are repealed; till reparation is made for the injury done to Bofton by shutting up its port; for burning Charlestown, and for the expence of this unjust war; and till all the British troops are withdrawn from America. On the arrival of thefe events, the colonies are to return to their former connections and friendship with Great Britain; but on failure thereof, this confederation is to be perpetual.

WHEREAS it hath pleafed God to blefs thefe countries with a most plentiful harvelt, whereby much corn and other provifions can be fpared to foreign nations who may want the

fame:

Refolved, That after the expiration of fix months, from the 20th of July inft. being the day appointed by a late act of parliament of Great-Britain, for reftraining the trade of the Confederate colonies, all custom - houses therein (if the faid act be not firft repealed) thall be fhut up, and all the officers of the fame difcharged from the

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1776. Address of the Amer. Congress to the Canadians.

execution of their several functions; and all the ports of the faid colonies are hereby declared to be thencefortli open to the ships of every state in Enrope that will admit our commerce, and protect it; who may bring in and expofe to fale, free of all duties, their refpective produce and manufactures, and every kind of merchandize, excepting teas, and the merchandize of Great-Britain, Ireland, and the British Weft-India islands.

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Refolved, That we will, to the utmoft of our power, maintain and fupport this freedom of commerce for two years certain after its commencement, any reconciliation between us and Great-Britain notwithstanding, and as much longer beyond that term as the late acts of parliament for reftraining the commerce and fisheries, and difallowing the laws and charters of any of the colonies, fhall continue unrepealed.

In Congress, May 26, 1775. INHABITANTS of CANADA. more terrible than the most fanguine operations of war, it is high time for them to affert thofe rights, and with honeft indignation oppose the torrent of oppreffion rushing in upon them.

ADDRESS to the oppressed Friends and Countrymen, LARMED by the defigns of A an arbitrary ministry, to extirpate the rights and liberties of all America, a fenfe of common danger confpired with the dictates of humanity, in urging us to call your attention by our late addrefs to this very important object.

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Since the conclufion of the late war, we have been happy in confidering you as fellow-fufferers with us. As we were both entitled, by the bounty of an indulgent Creator, to freedom, and being both devoted by the cruel edicts of a defpotic adminiftration to common ruin, we perceived the fate of the Protestant and Catholic colonies to be strongly linked together, and therefore invited you to join with us in refolving to be free, and in rejecting with difdain the fetters of flavery, however artfully polished.

"We moft fincerely condole with you on the arrival of that day, in the courfe of which the fun could not fhine on a fingle freeman in all your extenfive dominion. Be affured that your unmerited degradation has engaged the most unfeigned pity of your filter colonies: and we flatter ourselves you will not, by tamely bearing the yoke, fuffer that pity to be fupplanted by contempt.

"When hardy attempts are made to deprive men of rights bestowed by the Almighty, when avenues are cut through the moft folemn compacts, for the admiffion of defpotifm; when the plighted faith of government ceases to give fecurity to loyal and dutiful fub. jects; and when the infidious ftratagems and manoeuvres of peace become

"By the introduction of your prefent form of government, or rather form of tyranny, you and your wives and your children are made flaves. You have nothing that you can call your own, and all the fruits of your labour and industry may be taken from you, whenever an avaricious governor and a rapacious council may incline to demand them. You are liable by their edicts, to be transported into foreign countries to fight battles in which you have no intereft, and to fpill your blood in conflicts, from which neither honour nor emolument can be derived: nay, the enjoyment of your very religion, on the prefent fyftem depends on a legislature, in which you have no fhare, and over which you have no controul, and your priests are expofed to expulfion, banishment, and ruin, whenever their wealth and poffeffions furnish fufficient temptations. They cannot be fure that a virtuous Prince will always fill the throne, and should a wicked or a carelefs King concur with a wicked ministry, in extracting the treasure and ftrength of your country, it is impoffible to conceive to what variety and to what extremes of wretchedness you may, under the prefent eftablishment, be reducedWe are informed you have already been called upon to wafte your lives in a contest with us. Should you, by a compliance in this inftance, affent to your new establishment, and a war break out with France, your wealth

* See London Mag. for 1775. p. 20.

and

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Account of a new difcovered Ifland in the S. Sea.

and your
fons may be fent to perish in
expeditions against their islands in the
Weft-Indies.

"It cannot be prefumed, that thefe confiderations will have no weight with you, or that you are fo loft to all fenfe of honour. We can never believe, that the prefent race of Canadians are fo degenerated as to poffefs neither the spirit, the gallantry, nor the courage of their ancestors. You certainly will not permit the infamy and difgrace of fuch pufillanimity to reft on your own heads, and the confequences of it on your children for

ever.

"We, for our parts, are determined to live free or not at all, and are refolved that pofterity fhall never reproach us with having brought flaves into the world.

"Permit us again to repeat, that we are your friends, not your enemies; and be not impofed on by thofe who create animomay endeavour to fities. The taking the fort and military ftores at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the armed veffels on the Lake, was dictated by the great law

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of felf prefervation. They were intended to annoy us, and to cut off that friendly intercourfe and communication which has hitherto fubfifted between you and us.—We hope it has given you no uneafinefs, and you may rely on our affurances, that thefe colonies will purfue no measures whatever, but fuch as friendship and a regard for our mutual fafety and intereft may fuggeft.

"As our concern for your welfare entitles us to your friendship, we prefume you will not, by doing us injury, reduce us to the difagreeable neceffity of treating you as enemies.

"We yet entertain hopes of your uniting with us in the defence of our common liberty, and there is yet reafon to believe, that fhould we join in imploring the attention of our fovereign to the unmerited and unparalleled oppreffions of his American fubjects, he will at length be undeceived, and forbid a licentious minifiry any longer to riot in the ruins of the rights of mankind.

A true copy from the minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec."

ACCOUNT of an Island vifited by the Refolution, in the late Voyage to the

South Sea.

ARCH 13, 1774. Wind off Mthore, founded and found ground at 91 fathom red and white firm corally fand. Lat. 27 deg. 6 min. At four hoifted the cutter out, and fent her on fhore to look for good anchorage. At five the returned with news, that at the diftance of five miles from the inland there was fafe anchoring. On board the boat came one of the natives, a man of a middling ftature, curioufly tataowed from head to foot. His language was different from that of any of the islanders they had yet vifited, fo that he was no otherwife understood by the Indian, nor by any other man on board, except by figns. The island had no very promifing appearance on their approach towards it; they could fee indeed at the distance of fix or feven miles up the country a number of houfes, but no cocoa-nut or other large trees, no beautiful plantations, fuch as they faw on the islands of Middleburgh and Amfterdam, but a

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low level green within land, defended from the fea by craggs and rocks near the thore. The wind ftill proving contrary, they caft anchor where directed.

14. The captain ordered the pinnace to be hoisted out, and the great and fmall cutters to be manned; and he, attended by his chief officers, and accompanied by Mr. Fofter, went on fhore about fix in the morning, and returned again about nine. The wind coming fair they weighed, and stood in clofe to land, and again came to an anchor about two miles from land in forty fathom water. Several of the natives came on board, the greatest part of whom fwam from the shore, and a few came in wretched canoes, old and rotten, and fo fmall that three people could barely fit in them: they were indeed of a pretty construction, but the materials were the worst they had ever feen made ufe of; nor was it easy to conceive how, or where they procured the materials, as no

trees

1776. Defcript. of the Natives, their Houfes, Arms, Idols, &c. 79

trees were to be feen on the island even by those who were fent to fur⚫vey it. Canoes, indeed, feemed lefs neceffary, as hardly any fish were to be feen upon the coaft; from whence it is imagined, that the natives live wholly upon fowls and vegetables, no four-footed animal being mentioned in any of the relations.

The people on board made figns that they wanted provifions, and fhewed them several articles; fuch as nails, beads, looking-glaffes, knives, fciffars and the like, which they made figns they would give in exchange; they alfo fhewed them fome linen, and Otaheite-cloth. They preferred the linen, because it was white; and indeed any thing of that colour feemed to please them beft. The chief articles they brought to fell were fowls, fweet potatoes, a few plantains, and fome bananas; but fruit, as well as other provifions, were in no great plenty among them. The chiefs, on their first coming on board, brought five or fix fowls ready barbecued, as prefents to the captain, who in return loaded them with trifles of small value, with which they were exceedingly pleased. The men were of the middle ftature, ftrong, and apparently healthy, they were naked above and below the middle, and had only a kind of broad net-work girdle to furround the waift. The women were covered with a garment from head to foot, and were besides painted with a varie ty of colours, fuch as orange, red, yellow, and white. They approach the nearest to the New Zealanders in habit and appearance of any people they had yet feen. Thofe who came on board had no arms; but the party that was fent out to reconnoitre the country, found arms amongst them that were very different in every refpect from the arms of the islanders in the tropical regions. They remarked likewife a peculiarity that was very fingular under their hair, which was in general short and bushy, they thought they perceived fomething uncommon about their ears and upon examination, they found them of an aftonishing length, but fo nicely wrapt up, by means of the grilles being taken out, that they appeared rather like fmall flatted chitterlings than ears; yet when they came to be un

folded, our journalist fays, he measured one of them full five inches and a half long. Their houfes, or rather huts, were very mean, and covered all over, except a fmall hole to creep in at, which ferved them for door, window, and chimney. They were the greatest thieves they met with in their whole voyage and it was found neceffary to shoot one thief to preferve the lives of many others. Indeed the people were ready enough to shoot them, a common failor no more regarding the life of one of those poor creatures who had filched from him a nail, than a countryman would regard the life of a fox that was robbing his hen-rooft. When the Refolution arrived at this ifland he was principally in want of water, but of water the inland was in want too. They dug a well, but that afforded only a brackith bad-tafted fupply, fuch as they met with at the islands of Middleburgh and Amfterdam; nor when they had ranged the island through, could they meet with any better; yet the natives did not feem to regret the want of water, though they were destitute of cocoa-nuts, the milk of which the tropical inlanders drink in its ftead.

The arms which the waterers obferved in their rout were fpears of a fubitance and fhape wholly of their own invention, and other weapons they had curioufly wrought in the forms of fishes, birds, and men. They had alfo among them, engines for throwing ftones, fome of which they made ule of in a skirmish they had with a party of marines.

In furveying the island, the gentlemen on board had the curiofity to vifit thofe famous ftatues, or more properly idols, that gave rife to the fabulous reports of the first discoverers, who gave out that on this ifland they had feen men from 12 to 20 feet high. Upon examining thefe idols, it appeared indeed very wonderful by what powers they had been raised, or by what art fabricated; for whether the materials of which they are formed be natural or factitious, thefe effects are myfterious. If not fone, they are as hard as ftone; and if ftone, they must have been hewen from one folid block. for our voyagers could difcern not the fmalleft feam or join

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