CHAPTER X.

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

No sooner had the congress determined upon independence, than it took measures to determine upon a form of union between the colonies, and the establishment of a definite plan for this union. On the 11th of June, 1776, the very day when the committee was appointed for drafting a declaration of independence, another committee was also appointed to draft a plan of government. A month later, and only eight days after the declaration of independence, this committee reported a plan for a confederacy which consisted of twenty articles called "articles of confederation." This draft was debated and amended at various times, but was not finally adopted by the congress, until Nov. 15, 1777, and then the articles did not go into effect until the following July. They were not submitted to the people of the several states, but were only ratified by the delegates in congress. The delegates from New Jersey did not ratify the articles until November, 1778; and the delegates from Delaware, not until November, 1779; while Maryland, which was the last to ratify, signed the articles March 1, 1781. During all this time the national government consisted solely of the continental congress, which comprised but one house, with no executive and no judiciary. Indeed, after the articles of confederation had been adopted, and had gone into

effect between the several states, the same continental congress continued its sessions, but now under the authority of the articles of confederation. These articles, in fact, made but very little difference in the management of affairs.

Meantime the continental congress and the several states, acting with vigor and energy, had prosecuted the war zealously. The articles of confederation united the thirteen states, under the style of The United States of America, into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their defence, and to secure 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 pretence whatever. Not less than two nor more than seven delegates were to be chosen every year by each state to meet in congress, and, as heretofore, in deciding all questions, the votes were to be taken by states — each state having a single vote.

Congress should not engage in war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, enter into treaties or alliances, coin money or regulate its value, determine the sums necessary for the use of the United States, emit bills of credit, borrow money or appropriate money, designate the size of the army and navy, without the assent of nine states; nor could a question upon any other point, except adjournment from day to day, be determined unless by the votes of the majority of the states in congress.

Sheppard, in his Constitutional Text-Book says: "It was soon found that the plan detailed in the articles of

confederation was impracticable. It gave to the congress no means of enforcing its laws upon the states, and the states disregarded the recommendations of congress with impunity. The congress had no power to lay taxes or collect a revenue for the public service, nor could it regulate commerce, either with foreign nations , or among the several states. The public debt incurred by the war was very great, and the articles of confederation in no way provided effectual means for its payment." "It became evident in a short time that distress and ruin would overspread the country, unless some different and more vigorous form of government was adopted. This discouraging state of affairs led to the proceedings which finally terminated in the formation and adoption of the present federal constitution." The government of this country may be said to have passed through four forms:

(1) The Colonial.

(2) The Revolutionary. (3) The Confederate.

(4) The Constitutional.

The colonial governments ended July 4, 1776, when the declaration of independence was passed and the union was formed.

The revolutionary government, which practically commenced at the meeting of the first continental congress, or, as some would say, at the meeting of the second continental congress, assumed full powers at the declaration of independence, and continued to the final ratification of the articles of confederation, March I, 1781.

The confederate government extended from the rati

fication of the articles of confederation to the 4th of March, 1789, when the constitution, having previously been adopted, went into effect.

The constitutional government has been in operation from that time until the present, and to that we are now to direct our attention.

CHAPTER XI.

ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

CONVENTION AT ANNAPOLIS.-An attempt, which originated with Virginia, was made early in the year 1786, for the appointment of commissioners by the several states to consider the subject of the trade and commerce of the United States, and how far a uniform system in their commercial regulations might be desirable and feasible for their common interest and permanent well-being. It was proposed that these commissioners report to the several states an act relative to this great object, which, when ratified by the states, would enable congress to better provide for the efficiency and unity of our commercial relations. It was agreed that commissioners should meet at Annapolis, Md., in September of that year. The meeting was held at the time and place appointed. Commissioners were present from Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, a minority of the states. Delegates had been appointed by New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and North Carolina, but they did not attend.

So small was the number of states represented, that the delegates did not think proper to proceed to the important business which had brought them together. They were also satisfied that they ought to be entrusted with more ample powers, embracing other objects in addition to the mere regulation of trade and commerce.