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YIELDING TO THE ENTREATIES OF CONGRESS. 473
its vacant lands " for the use and benefit of such of the Uuited States as should
become members of the Federal alliance of the said States, and for no other
purpose luhatsoever."
In compliance with the recommendation of congress, Virginia, on the 2d of
January, 1781, offered to make a cession to the United States of her title to lands
northwest of the Ohio, upon certain conditions, which were not satisfactory.
Maryland, having succeeded so far as to arouse other States to a sense of
the importance of the question in relation to the western domain, to prevent
the injurious impression that irreconcilable dissensions existed among the
States, on the 29th of January, 1781, again took the subject into consideration.
On that day, the House of Delegates passed and sent to the Senate for their
action, a bill entitled an
"' Act to empower the Delegates of this State in Congress to subscribe and ratify the
Articles of Confederation' with the following message:
" The earnest desire we have that this State should confederate, from our opinion of
the utility of such a measure, has induced us to return you the bill to empower the Delegates of this State in Congress to subscribe and ratify the Articles of Confederation, in
hopes of your Honors' affirmative thereto. The advantages and necessity of one general
•established power to draw into action the force of the United States is obvious; perhaps
the efforts of the Union, have not yet, for want of it, been equal to its ability; and by
longer delaying to define and mark out distinctly the powers of Congress, it is possible
that body may, according to the course of human events, possess, in a short time, too
little for our defence or too much for our liberty. But if the weight and moderation of
Congress should continue as it has done, to the admiration of a speculative mind, for
upwards of five years, the inconvenience, which has already been very great, will also
continue, of transacting executive business by so large a body or committee of it; and if
We should obtain a Peace, on terms the most desirable, a new compact must then be
formed, or each State left to pursue its separate views and interests without any common
object or centre of Union ; a situation not eligible by any who wish well to the whole.
" As your Honors have not intimated your reasons for your negative, we cannot be
certain what they are; but from what has heretofore passed on the subject, we presume
the claim made by this State to the back country, being a common stock, not having been
acceded to, is the principle. We are as strongly impressed with the justice of that claim
as your Honors; and are persuaded, that had no exclusive claim been set up, the United
States would not have been under their present embarrassments about finances. How
far the United States may now be benefitted by the western country as a common fund, is
impossible to determine; but it does not appear probable that this State, still refusing to
confederate, can be a means of securing or improving it as a fund. On the contrary,
where the free and independent will of many is to be consulted, giving up something of
the opinion of each is necessary to conciliate an agreement of all in one point. The
present appears to us to be a reasonable time to show that as our claim was better founded
in justice than the exclusive claims of others, having supported it with firmness, till a
■disposition is shown of candidly considering it, we choose rather to rely on the justice of
the Confederated States, than by an over perseverance, incur the censure of obstinacy.
Besides the good effects which will flow from settling the powers of Congress on a known
and permanent basis, and thereby greatly improve the executive department, our confederating will, in all probability, spread confidence and satisfaction amongst the States,
gratify the wish of our illustrious ally, and may make us be considered by our enemy
and all Europe, as one cemented body, than which nothing can more directly tend to
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000516 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | YIELDING TO THE ENTREATIES OF CONGRESS. 473 its vacant lands " for the use and benefit of such of the Uuited States as should become members of the Federal alliance of the said States, and for no other purpose luhatsoever." In compliance with the recommendation of congress, Virginia, on the 2d of January, 1781, offered to make a cession to the United States of her title to lands northwest of the Ohio, upon certain conditions, which were not satisfactory. Maryland, having succeeded so far as to arouse other States to a sense of the importance of the question in relation to the western domain, to prevent the injurious impression that irreconcilable dissensions existed among the States, on the 29th of January, 1781, again took the subject into consideration. On that day, the House of Delegates passed and sent to the Senate for their action, a bill entitled an "' Act to empower the Delegates of this State in Congress to subscribe and ratify the Articles of Confederation' with the following message: " The earnest desire we have that this State should confederate, from our opinion of the utility of such a measure, has induced us to return you the bill to empower the Delegates of this State in Congress to subscribe and ratify the Articles of Confederation, in hopes of your Honors' affirmative thereto. The advantages and necessity of one general •established power to draw into action the force of the United States is obvious; perhaps the efforts of the Union, have not yet, for want of it, been equal to its ability; and by longer delaying to define and mark out distinctly the powers of Congress, it is possible that body may, according to the course of human events, possess, in a short time, too little for our defence or too much for our liberty. But if the weight and moderation of Congress should continue as it has done, to the admiration of a speculative mind, for upwards of five years, the inconvenience, which has already been very great, will also continue, of transacting executive business by so large a body or committee of it; and if We should obtain a Peace, on terms the most desirable, a new compact must then be formed, or each State left to pursue its separate views and interests without any common object or centre of Union ; a situation not eligible by any who wish well to the whole. " As your Honors have not intimated your reasons for your negative, we cannot be certain what they are; but from what has heretofore passed on the subject, we presume the claim made by this State to the back country, being a common stock, not having been acceded to, is the principle. We are as strongly impressed with the justice of that claim as your Honors; and are persuaded, that had no exclusive claim been set up, the United States would not have been under their present embarrassments about finances. How far the United States may now be benefitted by the western country as a common fund, is impossible to determine; but it does not appear probable that this State, still refusing to confederate, can be a means of securing or improving it as a fund. On the contrary, where the free and independent will of many is to be consulted, giving up something of the opinion of each is necessary to conciliate an agreement of all in one point. The present appears to us to be a reasonable time to show that as our claim was better founded in justice than the exclusive claims of others, having supported it with firmness, till a ■disposition is shown of candidly considering it, we choose rather to rely on the justice of the Confederated States, than by an over perseverance, incur the censure of obstinacy. Besides the good effects which will flow from settling the powers of Congress on a known and permanent basis, and thereby greatly improve the executive department, our confederating will, in all probability, spread confidence and satisfaction amongst the States, gratify the wish of our illustrious ally, and may make us be considered by our enemy and all Europe, as one cemented body, than which nothing can more directly tend to |
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