ARTICLE I. THE ſtyle of this confederacy ſhall be "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA."

ART. II Each ſtate retains its ſovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, juriſdiction, and right, which is not by th • confederation expreſſly delegated to the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled.

ART III. The ſaid ſtates hereby ſeverally enter into a firm league of friendſhip with each other for their common defence, the ſecurity of 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 other pretence whatever.

ART. IV. The better to ſecure and perpetuate mutual friendſhip and intercourſe among the people of the different ſtates in this union, the free inhabitants of each of theſe ſtates, (paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from Juſtice, excepted) ſhall be intitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the ſeveral ſtates; and the people of each ſtate ſhall have free ingreſs and regreſs to and from any other ſtate, and ſhall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, ſubject to the ſame duties, impoſitions, and reſtrictions, as the inhabitants thereof reſpectively. Provided that ſuch reſtriction ſhall not extend ſo far to prevent the removal of property imported into any ſtate to any other ſtate of which the owner i • an inhabitant; provided alſo, that no impoſition, duties, or reſtriction, ſhall be laid by any ſtate on the property of the United States, or either of them.

I • any perſon guilty of or charged with treaſon, felony or other high miſdemeanor, in any ſtate, ſhall flee from juſtice, and be found in any of the United States, he ſhall, upon demand of the Governor or Executive power of the ſtate from which • e fled, be delivered up, and removed to the ſtate having juriſdiction of his offence.

Full faith and credit ſhall be given in each of theſe ſtates to th • record, • cts and judical proceedings, of the courts and magiſtrate of every other ſtate.

ART. V For the more convenient management of the general intereſts of the United States, delegates ſhall be annually appointed, in ſuch manner as the Legiſlature of each ſtate ſhall direct, • o meet in Congreſs on the firſt Monday in November in every year, with a power reſerved to each ſtate to recall its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year, and to ſend others in their ſtead for the remainder of the year.

No ſtate ſhall be repreſented in Congreſs by leſs than two, nor more than ſeven members; and no perſon ſhall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years, in any term of ſix years; nor ſhall any perſon, being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the United States, for which he, or any other for his benefit, receives any •• lary, ſees, o • emolument of any kind.

Each ſtate ſhall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the ſtates, and while they act as members of the committee of the ſtates.

In determining queſtions in the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, each ſtate ſhall have one vote.

Freedom of ſpeech and debate in Congreſs ſhall not be impeached or queſtioned in any court, or place, out of Congreſs; and the members of Congreſs ſhall be protected in their perſons from arreſts and impriſonments during the time of their going to and from, and attendance on Congreſs, except for treaſon, felony, or breach of the peace.

ART. VI. No ſtate, without the conſent of the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall ſend any embaſſy to or receive any embaſſy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance, or treaty with, any King, Prince, or ſtate; nor ſhall any perſon holding any office of profit or truſt under the United States, or any of them, accept of any preſent, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign ſtate; nor ſhall the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility.

No two or more ſtates ſhall enter into any treaty, confederation, or alliance whatever, between them, without the conſent of the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, ſpecifying accurately the purpoſes for which the ſame is to be entered into, and how long it ſhall continue.

No ſtate ſhall lay any impoſts of duties which may interfere with any ſtipulations in treaties entered into by the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, with any King, Prince, or ſtate, in purſuance of any treaties already propoſed by Congreſs to the Courts of France and Spain.

No veſſels of war ſhall be kept up in time of peace by any ſtate, except ſuch number only as ſhall be deemed neceſſary by the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, for the defence of ſuch ſtate, or its trade; nor ſhall any body of forces be kept up by any ſtate in time of peace, except ſuch number only, as, in the judgment of the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall be deemed requiſite to garriſon the forts neceſſary for the defence of ſuch ſtate; but every ſtate ſhall always keep up a well regulated and diſciplined militia, ſufficiently armed and accounted, and ſhall provide and conſtantly have ready for uſe, in public ſtores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition, and camp equipage.

No ſtate ſhall engage in any war without the conſent of the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, unleſs ſuch ſtate be actually invaded by enemies, or ſhall have received certain advice of a reſolution being formed by ſome nation of Indians to invade ſuch ſtate, and the danger is ſo eminent as not to admit of a delay, till the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, can be conſulted. Nor ſhall any ſtate grant commiſſions to any ſhips or veſſels of war, nor letters of ma • que or repriſal, except it be after a declaration of war by the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, and then only againſt the kingdom or ſtate, and the ſubjects thereof, againſt which war has been ſo declared, and under ſuch regulations as ſhall be eſtabliſhed by the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, unleſs ſuch ſtate be infeſted by pirates, in which caſe veſſels of war may be fitted out for that occaſion, and kept ſo long as the danger ſhall continue, or until the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall determine otherwiſe.

ART. VII. When land forces are raiſed by any ſtate for the common defence, all officers, of or under the rank of Colonel, ſhall be appointed by the Legiſlature of each ſtate reſpectively by whom ſuch forces ſhall be raiſed, or in ſuch manner as ſuch ſtate ſhall direct, and all vacancies ſhall be filled up by the ſtate which firſt made the appointment.

ART. VIII. All charges of war, and all other expences that ſhall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall be defrayed out of a common treaſury, which ſhall be ſupplied by the ſeveral ſtates, in proportion to the value of all land within each ſtate, granted to or ſurveyed for any perſon, as ſuch land and the buildings and improvements thereon ſhall be eſtimated, according to ſuch mode as the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall from time to time direct and appoint. The taxes of paying that proportion ſhall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the Legiſlatures of the ſeveral ſtates within the time agreed upon by the United States in Congreſs aſſembled.

ART. IX. The United States in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall have the ſole and excluſive right and power of determining on peace and war, except in the caſes mentioned in the ſixth article; of ſending and receiving ambaſſadors; entering into treaties and alliances, provided that no treaty of commerce ſhall be made, whereby the Legiſlative power of the reſpective ſtates ſhall be reſtrained from impoſing ſuch impoſts and duties on foreigners, as their own people are ſubjected to, or from prohibiting be exportation or importation of any ſpecies of goods or commodities whatſoever; of eſtabliſhing 〈◊〉 for d • ci • ing in all caſes, w •• t c • otures on land or water ſhall be legal, and in what manner 〈…〉 taken by land or naval forces in the ſervice of the United States ſhall be divided o • appropriated; of granting letters of marque and repriſal in times of peace; appointing courts for the trial of piracies and felonies committed • n the high ſeas, and eſtabliſhing c • u • ts for receiving and determining finally appeals in all caſes of captures, provided that no member of Congreſs ſhall be appointed a judge of any of the ſaid court.

The United States in Congreſs aſſembled ſhall alſo be the laſt reſort on appeal in all diſputes and differences now ſubſiſting, or that hereafter may ariſe, between two or more ſtates concerning boundary, juriſdiction, or any other cauſe whatever, which authority ſhall always be exerciſed in the manner following: Whenever the Legiſlative or Executive authority o • lawful agent of any ſtate in controverſy with another ſhall preſent a petition to Congreſs, ſtating the matter in queſtion, and p • a • ing for a • e •• ing, notice thereof ſhall be given by order of Congreſs to the Legiſlative or Executive authority of the other ſtate in controverſy, and a day aſſigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents, who ſhall then be directed to appoint, by joint conſent, commiſſioners or judges to conſtitute a court for hearing and determining the matter in queſtion; but if they cannot agree, Congreſs ſhall ſame three perſons out of each of the United States, and from the l • ſt • f ſuch perſons each • a • ty ſhall alternately ſtrike out one, the petitioners beginning, until the number ſhal be reduced to thirteen, •• d from that number, not leſs than ſeven, nor more than nine names, 〈◊〉 Congreſs ſhall direct, ſhall in the preſence of Congreſs, be drawn out by lot, and the perſons whoſe names ſhall be ſo drawn, or any ſi • e of them, ſhall be commiſſioners, or judges, to hear and finally determine the controverſy, ſo always as a major part of the judges who ſhall hear the cauſe ſhall agree in the determination. And if either party ſhall neglect to attend at the day appointed, without ſhewing reaſons which Congreſs ſhall judge ſufficient, or being preſent ſhall refuſe to ſtrike, the Congreſs ſhall proceed to nominate three perſons out of each ſtate, and the ſecretary of Congreſs ſhall ſtrike in behaif of ſuch party abſent or refuſing; and the judgment and ſentence of the court to be appointed, in the manner before preſcribed, ſhall be final and concluſive. And if any of the parties ſhall refuſe to ſubmit to the authority of ſuch court, or to appear or defend their claim or cauſe, the court ſhall nevertheleſs proceed to pronounce ſentence, or judgment, which ſhall in like manner be final and deciſive, the judgment or ſentence and other proceedings being in either caſe tranſmitted to Congreſs, and lodged among the acts of Congreſs, for the ſecurity of the parties concerned. Provided, that every commiſſioner, before he ſits in judgment, ſhall take an oath, to be adminiſtered by one of the judges of the ſupreme or ſuperior court of the ſtate where the cauſe ſhall be tried, " • well and truly to hear and determine the matter in queſtion, according to the beſt of his judgment, without favor, affection, or hope of reward." Provided alſo, that no ſtate ſhall be deprived of territory for the benefit of the United States.

All controverſies concerning the private right of ſoil claimed under different grants of two or more ſtates, whoſe juriſdictions, as they may reſpect ſuch lands, and the ſtates which p • ſſed ſuch grants, are adjuſted, the ſaid grants, or either of them, being at the ſame time claimed to have originated antecedent to ſuch ſettlement of juriſdiction, ſhall, on the petition of either party to the Congreſs of the United States, be finally determined, as near as may be, in the ſame manner as is before preſcribed for deciding diſputes reſpecting territorial juriſdiction between different ſtates.

The United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall alſo have the ſole and excluſive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of coin ſt • u • k by ••• ir own authority, or by that of the reſpective ſtates; fixing the ſtandard of weights and meaſures throughout the United States; regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members of any of the ſtates, provided that the Legiſlative right of any ſtate within its own limits be not infringed or violated; eſtabliſhing and regulating poſt offices from one ſtate to another, throughout all the United States, and exacting ſuch poſtage on the papers paſſing through the ſame as may be requiſite to defray the expences of the ſaid office; appointing all officers of the land forces in the ſervice of the United States, excepting regimental officers; appointing all the officers of the naval forces, and commiſſioning all officers whatever in the ſervice of the United States▪ making rules the government and regulation of the ſaid land and naval forces, and directing their operations.

The United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, ſhall have authority to appoint a committee to fit in the receſs of Congreſs, to be denominated "A committee of the ſtates," and to conſiſt of one delegate from each ſtate, and to appoint ſuch other committees and civil officers as may be neceſſary for managing the general affairs of the United States under their direction; to appoint one of their number to preſide, provided that 10 perſon be allowed to ſerve in the office of preſident more than one year in any term of three years; to aſcertain the neceſſary ſums of money to be ra •• ed for the ſervice of the United States, and to appropriate and apply the ſame to def •••• ng the public expences; to borrow money o • emit • i •• s on the c •• dit of the United States, tranſmitting every half year to the reſ ••• ctive ſtates, an account of the ſums of money ſo borrowed or emitted; to build and equip a naval; to agree upon the number of land forces, and to make requiſition from each ſtate for its qu ••• , in proportion to the number of while inhabitants in ſuch ſtate, which requiſition ſhall be binding, and thereupon the Legiſlature of each ſtate ſhall appoint the regimental officers, raiſe the men, and cloath, arm, and equip them in a ſoldier like manner, at the expence of the United States, and the officers and men ſo cloathed, armed, and equipped, ſhall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United States in Congreſs aſſembled; but if the United States in Congreſs aſſembled ſhall, on conſideration of circumſtances, judge proper that any ſtate ſhould not raiſe men, or ſhould raiſe a ſmaller number than its quota, and that any other ſtate ſhould raiſe a greater number of men than the quota▪ thereof, ſuch extra number ſhall be raiſed, officered, cloathed, armed, and equipped in the ſame manner as the quota of ſuch ſtate, unleſs the Legiſlature of ſuch ſtate ſhall judge that ſuch extra number cannot be ſafely ſpared out of the ſame, in which caſe they ſhall raiſe, officer, cloath, arm, and equip, as many of ſuch extra number as they judge can be ſafely ſpared, And the officers and men ſo cloathed, armed, and equipped, ſhall march to the place appointed, and within the time agreed on by the United States in Congreſs aſſembled.

The United States in Congreſs aſſembled ſhall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and rep • iſal, in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor aſcertain the ſu •• s and expences neceſſary for the defence and welfare of the United States, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the United States, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of veſſels of war, to be built or purchaſed, o • the number of land or ſea forces to be raiſed, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unleſs nine ſtates aſſent to the ſame: Nor ſhall a queſtion on any other point, except for adjourning from day to day, be determined, unleſs by the votes of a majority of the United States in Congreſs aſſembled.

The Congreſs of the United State ſhall have power to adjourn to any time within the year, and to any place within the United States, ſo that no period of adjournment be for a longer duration than the ſpace of ſix months, and ſhall publiſh the journal of their proceedings monthly, except ſuch parts thereof relating to treaties, alliances or military operations, as in their judgment require ſecrecy; and the yeas and nays of the delegates of each ſtate on any queſtion ſhall be entered on the journal, when it is deſired by any delegate; and the delegates of a ſtate, or any of them, at his or their requeſt, ſhall be furniſhed with a tranſcript of the ſaid journal, except ſuch parts as are above excepted, to lay before the Legiſlatures of the ſeveral ſtates.

ART. X. The committee of the ſtates, or any nine of them, ſhall be authoriſed to execute, in the receſs of Congreſs, ſuch of the powers of Congreſs a • the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, by the conſent of nine ſtates, ſhall from time to time think exp • dient to veſt them with; provided that no power be delegated to the ſaid committee, for the exerciſe of which, by the articles of confederation, the voice of nine ſtates, in the Congreſs of the United States aſſembled, is requiſite.

ART. XI. Canada acceding to this confederation, and joining in the meaſures of the United States ſhall be admitted in o • and entitled to all the advantages of this 〈◊〉 but n • • ther colony ſhall be admitted into the ſame, unleſs ſuch admiſſion be agreed to by nine ſtates.

ART. XII. All bills of credit emitted, monies borrowed and debts contracted by, or under the authority of Congreſs before the aſſembling of the United States, in purſuance of the preſent confederation, ſhall be deemed and conſidered • s • charge againſt the United States, for payment and ſatisfaction whereof the ſaid United States, and the public faith are hereby ſolemnly pledged.

ART. XIII. Every ſtate ſhall abide by the deſcriminations of the United States, in Congreſs aſſembled, on all queſtions which by this confederation are ſubmitted to them. And the articles of this confederation ſhall be inviolably obſerved by every ſtate, and the union ſhall be perpetual; nor ſhall an alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unleſs ſuch alteration be agreed to in a Congreſs of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the Legiſlatures of every ſtate.

AND WHEREAS it hath pleaſed the great Governor of the world ſo incline the hearts of the Legiſlatures we reſpectively repreſent in Congreſs, to approve of, and to authoriſe us to r • tif • the ſi • d articles of confederation and perpetual union. KNOW YE, that we, the underſigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpoſe, do, by theſe preſents, in the name and in behalf of our reſpective conſtituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the ſaid articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and ſingular the matters and things therein contained. And we do further ſolemnly plight and engage the faith of our reſpective conſtituents, that they ſhall abide by the determinations of the United States in Congreſs aſſembled, on all queſtions which by the ſaid confederation are ſubmitted to them; and that the articles thereof ſhall be inviolably obſerved by the ſtates we reſpectively repreſent; and that the union ſhall be perpetual. IN WITNESS whereof, we have her unto ſet our hands in Congreſs.

FIRST, THAT all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a ſtate of ſociety, they cannot, by any c • m •• ct, deprive or diveſt their poſterity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and poſſeſſing property, and purſuing and obtaining happineſs and ſafety.

2d. That all power is veſted in, and conſequently derived from, the people; that magiſtrates are their truſtees and ſervants, and at all times amenable to them.

3d. That government is, or ought to be inſtituted for the common benefit, protection and ſecurity, of the people, nation, or community, of all the various modes and forms of government that is beſt, which is capable of producing the greateſt degree of happineſs and ſafety, and is moſt effectually ſecured againſt the danger of mal-adminiſtration; and that wherever any government ſhall be found inadequate or contrary to theſe purpoſes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefe • ſible right, to perform, alter, or aboliſh it, in ſuch manner as ſhall be judged moſt conducive to the public weal.

4th. That no man, or ſet of men, are intitled to excluſive or ſeparate emoluments or privileges from the community, but in conſideration of public ſervices; which, not being deſcendible, neither ought the offices of magiſtrate, legiſlature, or judge, to be the hereditary.

5th. That the Legiſlative and Executive powers of the ſtate ſhould be ſeparate and diſtinct from the judicary; and that the members of the two firſt may be reſtrained from oppreſſion, by feeling and participating the burthens of the people, they ſhould at fixed periods, be reduced to a private ſtation, return into that body from which they were originally taken, and the vacancies be ſupplied by frequent, certain, and regular elections, in which all, or any part of the former members, to be again eligible, or ineligible, as the laws ſhall direct.

6th. That elections of members to ſerve as repreſentatives of the people, in Aſſembly, ought to be free, and that all men, having ſufficient evidence of permanent common intereſt with, and attachment to, the community, have the right of ſuffrage, and cannot be taxed or deprived of their property for public uſes without their own conſent, or that of their repreſentatives ſo elected, nor bound by any law to which they have not, in like manner, aſſented for the public good.

7th. That all power of ſuſpending law, or the execution of laws, by any authority without conſent of the repreſentatives of the people, is injurious to their rights, and ought not to be exerciſed.

8th. That in all capital or criminal proſecutions, a man hath a right to demand the cauſe and nature of his accuſation, to be confronted with the accuſers and witneſſes, to call for evidence in his favor, and to a ſpeedy trial by an impartial jury of his vicinage, whithout whoſe unanimous conſent he cannot be found guilty, nor can he be compelled to give evidence againſt himſelf; that no man be deprived of his liberty, except by the law of the land, or the judgment of his peers.

9th. That exceſſive bail ought not to be required, nor exceſſive fines impoſed, nor cruel unuſual puniſhments inflicted.

10th. The general warrants, whereby any officer or meſſenger may be commanded to ſearch ſuſpected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to ſeize any perſon or perſons not named, or whoſe offence is not particularly deſcribed and ſupported by evidence, are grievous and oppreſſive, and ought not to be granted.

11th. That in controverſies reſpecting property, and in ſuits between man and man, the ancient trial by jury is preferable to any other, and ought to be held ſacred.

12th. That the freedom of the preſs is one of the great bulwarks of liberty, and can never be reſtrained but by diſpotic governments.

13th. That a well regulated militia, compoſed of the body of the people trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and ſafe defence of a free ſtate; that ſtanding armies, in time of peace, ſhould be avoided, as dangerous to liberty; and that, in all caſes, the m ••••• ry ſhould be under ſtrict ſubordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

14th. That the people have a right to uniform government; and therefore, that no government ſeparate from, or independent of the government of Virginia, ought to be erected or eſtabliſhed within the limits thereof.

15th. That no free government, or the bleſſing of liberty, can be preſerved to any people but by a fi • n • adherence to juſtice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundimental principles.

16th. That religion, or the duty which we owe to our CREATOR, and the manner of diſcharging it, can be directed only by reaſon and conviction, not by force or violence, and therefore all men are equally entitled to the free exerciſe of religion, according to the dictates of conſcience; and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Chriſtian forbearance, love, and charity, towards each other.

WHEREAS George III. King of Great-Britain and Ireland, and elector of Hanover, heretofore intruſted with the exerciſe of the kingly office in this government, hath indeavoured to pervert the ſame into a deteſtable and inſupportable tyranny, by p •• ting his negative on laws the moſt wholeſome and neceſſary for the public good:

By denying his Governors permiſſion to paſs laws of immediate and preſſing importance, unleſs ſuſpended in their operation for his aſſent, and, when ſo ſuſpended, neglecting to attend to them for many years.

By refuſing to paſs certain other laws, unleſs the perſon to be benefited by them would relinquiſh the ineſtimable right of repreſentation in the legiſlature:

By diſſolving legiſlative Aſſemblies repeatedly and continually, for oppoſing with manly firmneſs, his invaſions of the rights of the people:

When diſſolved, by refuſing to call others for a long ſpace of time, thereby leaving the political ſyſtem without any legiſlative head:

By endeavouring to prevent the population of our country, and, for that purpoſe, obſtructing the laws for the naturalization of foreigners:

By keeping among us, in times of peace, ſtanding armies and ſhips of war:

By • ffecting to render the military independent of, and ſuperior to, the civil power:

By combining with others to ſubject us to a foreign juriſdiction giving his aſſent to their pretended acts of legiſlation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For impoſing taxes on us without our conſent:

For depriving us of the benefits of trial by jury:

For tranſporting us beyond ſeas, to be tried for pretended offences:

For ſuſpending our own legiſlatures, and declaring themſelves inveſted with power to legiſlate for us in all caſes whatſoever:

By plundering our ſons, ravaging our coaſts, burning our towns, and deſtroying the lives of our people:

By inciting inſurrection of our fellow ſubjects, with the allurements of forfeiture and confiſcation:

By prompting our negroes to • ife in arms among us, thoſe very negroes whom, by an inhuman uſe of his negative, he hath refuſed us permiſſion to exclude by law:

By endeavoring to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the mercileſs Indian ſavages, whoſe known rule of warfare as an undiſtinguiſhed deſtinction of all ages, ſexes, and conditions of exiſtence:

By tranſporting, at this time, a large army of foreign mercenaries, to complete the works of death, deſolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumſtances of cruelty and perfidy unworthy the head of a civilized nation:

By anſwering our repeated petitions for redreſs with a repetition of injuries:

And finally, by abandoning the helm of government, and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection.

By which ſeveral acts of miſrule, the government of this country, as formerly exerciſed under the crown of Great-Britain, is TOTALLY DISSOLVED.

We therefore, the Delegates and Repreſentatives of the good people of Virginia, having maturely conſidered the premiſes, and viewing with great concern the deplorable condition to which this once happy country muſt be reduced, unleſs ſome regular adequate mode of civil policy is ſpeedily adopted, and in compliance with a recommendation of the General Congreſs, do ordain and declare the future form of government of Virginia to be as followeth:

The legiſlative, executive, and judiciary departments, ſhall be ſeparate and diſtinct, ſo that neither exerciſe the powers properly belonging to the other; nor ſhall any perſon exerciſe the powers of more than one of them at the ſame time, except that the juſtices of the county courts ſhall be eligible to either Houſe of Aſſembly.

The legiſlative ſhall be formed of two diſtinct branches, who, together, ſhall be a complete legiſlature. They ſhall meet once or oftener, every year, and ſhall be called the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of VIRGINIA.

One of theſe ſhall be called the HOUSE of DELEGATES, and conſiſt of two repreſentatives to be choſen for each county, and for the diſtrict of Weſt Auguſta, annuall, of ſuch men as actually reſid • in and are freeholders, or duly qualified according to law, and alſo one Delegate or Repreſentative to be choſen annually for the city of Williamſburg, and one for the borough of Norfolk, and a Repreſentative for each of ſuch other cities and boroughs as may hereafter be allowed particular repreſentation by the legiſlature; but when any city or borough ſhall ſo decreaſe as that the number of perſons having right of ſuffrage therein ſhall have been for the ſpace of ſeven years ſucceſſively, leſs than half the number of voters in ſome one county in Virginia, ſuch city or borough thenceforward ſhall ceaſ • to ſend a Delegate or Repreſentative to the Aſſembly.

The other ſhall be called the SENATE, and conſiſt of twenty four members, of whom thirteen ſhall conſtitute a Houſe to proceed on buſineſs, for whoſe elections the different counties ſhall be divided into twenty-four diſtricts, and each county of the reſpective diſtrict, at the time of the election of its Delegates, ſhall vote for one Senator, who is actually a reſident and freeholder within the diſtrict, or duly qualified according to law, and is upwards of twenty-five years of age; and the ſheriff • of each county, within five days at fartheſt after the laſt county election in the diſtrict, ſhall meet at ſome convenient place, and from the place ſo taken in their reſpective counties return a Senator the man who ſhall have the greateſt number of votes in the • hole diſtrict. To keep up this Aſſembly by rotation, the diſtricts ſhall be equally divided into four claſſes, and numbered by lot. At the end of one year after the general election, the ſix members elected by the firſt diviſion ſhall be diſplaced, and the vacancies thereby occaſioned ſupplied from ſuch claſs or diviſion, by new election, in the manner aforeſaid. This rotation ſhall be applied to each diviſion, according to its number, and continued in due order annually.

The right of ſuffrage in the election of members of both Houſes ſhall remain as exerciſed a • preſent, and each Houſe ſhall chooſe its own Speaker, appoint its own officers, ſettle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election for ſupplying intermediate vacancies.

All laws ſhall originate in the Houſe of Delegates, to be approved or rejected in the Senate, or to be amended with the conſent of the Houſe of Delegates; except money bills, which in no inſtance ſhall be altered by the Senate, but wholly approved or rejected.

A Governor or Chief Magiſtrate, ſhall be choſen annually, by joint ballot of both Houſes, to be taken in each Houſe reſpectively, depoſited in the conference room, the boxes examined jointly by a committee of each Houſe, and the numbers ſeverally reported to them, that the appointments may be entered (which ſhall be the mode of taxing the joint ballot of both Houſes in all caſes) who ſhall not continue in that office longer than three years ſucceſſively, no • be eligible until the expiration of four years after he ſhall have been out of that office. An adequate but moderate ſalary, ſhall be ſettled on him during his continuance in office; and he ſhall, with the advice of the Council of State, exerciſe the executive powers of government according to the laws of this commonwealth; and ſhall not, under any pretence, exerciſe any power or prerogative by virtue of any law, ſtatute, or cuſtom of England: But he ſhall, with the advice of the Council of State, have the power of granting reprieves or pardons, except where the proſecution ſhall have been carried on by the Houſe of Delegates, or the law ſhall otherwiſe particularly direct; in which caſes, no reprieve or pardon ſhall be granted, but by reſolve of the Houſe of Delegates.

Either Houſe of the General Aſſembly may adjourn themſelves reſpectively. The Governor ſhall not prorogue or adjourn the Aſſembly during their ſitting, nor diſſolve them at any time; but he ſhall, if neceſſary, either by advice of the Council of State, or on application of a majority of the Houſe of Delegates, call them before the time to which they ſhall ſtand prorogued or adjourned.

A Privy Council, or Council of State, conſiſting of eight members, ſhall be choſen by joint ballot of both Houſes of Aſſembly, either from their own members or the people at large, to aſſiſt in the adminiſtration of government. They ſhall annually chooſe out of their own members, a Preſident, who, in caſe of the death, inability, or neceſſary abſence of the Governor from the government, ſhall act as Lieutenant Governor. Four members ſhall be ſufficient to act, and their advice and proceedings ſhall be entered of record, and ſigned by the members preſent (to any part whereof any member may enter his diſſent) to be laid before the General Aſſembly, when called for by them. This Council may appoint their own clerk, who ſhall have a ſalary ſettled by law, and take an oath of ſecrecy in ſuch matters as he ſhall be directed by the Board to conceal. A ſum of money appropriated to that purpoſe ſhall be divided annually among the members in proportion to their attendance; and they ſhall be incapable, during their continuance in office, of ſitting in either Houſe of Aſſembly. Two members ſhall be removed by joint ballot of both Houſes of Aſſembly at the end of every three years, and be ineligible for the three next years. Theſe vacancies, as well as thoſe occaſioned by death or incapacity, ſhall be ſupplied by new elections, in the ſame manner.

The Delegates for Virginia to the Continental Congreſs ſhall be choſen annually, or ſuperſeded in the mean time by joint ballot of both Houſes of Aſſembly.

The preſent militia officers ſhall be continued, and vacancies ſupplied by appointment of the Governor, with the advice of the Privy Council, or recommendations from the reſpective county courts; but the Governor and Council ſhall have a power of ſuſpending any officer and ordering a court martial on complaint of miſbehavior or inability, or to ſupply vacancies of officers happening in actual ſervice.

The Governor may embody the militia, with the advice of the Privy Council; and, when embodied, ſhall alone have the direction of the militia under the laws of the country.

The two Houſes of Aſſembly ſhall, by joint ballot, appoint Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals, and General Court, Judges in Chancery, Judges of Admiralty, Secretary, and the Attorney-General, to be commiſſioned by the Governor, and continue in office during good behavior, In caſe of death, incapacity, or reſignation, the Governor, with the advice of the Privy-Council, ſhall appoint perſons to ſucceed in office, to be approved or diſplaced by both Houſes. Theſe officers ſhall have fixed and adequate ſalaries, and, together with all others holding lucrative offices, and all miniſters of the Goſpel of every denomination, be incapable of being elected members of either Houſe of Aſſembly, or the Privy-Council.

The Governor, with the advice of the Privy-Council, ſhall appoint juſtices of the peace for the counties; and in caſe of vacancies, or a neceſſity of increaſing the number hereafter, ſuch appointments to be made upon the recommendation of the reſpective county courts. The preſent acting ſecretary in Virginia, and clerks of all the county courts, ſhall continue in office. In caſe of vacancies, either by death, incapacity, or reſignation, a ſecretary ſhall be appointed, as before directed, and the clerks by the reſpective courts. The preſent and future clerks ſhall hold their offices during good behavior, to be judged of and determined in the General Court. The ſheriffs and coroners ſhall be nominated by the reſpective courts, approved by the Governor with the advice of the Privy Council, and commiſſioned by the Governor. The Juſtices ſhall appoint conſtables; and all fees of the aforeſaid officers be regulated by law.

The Governor, when he is out of office, and others offending againſt the ſtate, either by male adminiſtration, corruption, or other means, by which the ſafety of the ſtate may be endangered, ſhall be impeachable by the Houſe of Delegates Such impeachment ſhall be proſecuted by the Attorney General, or ſuch other perſon or perſons as the Houſe may appoint, in the General Court, according to the laws of the land. If found guilty, he 〈◊〉 they ſhall be either forever be diſabled to hold any office under government, or removed from ſuch office pro tempore, or ſubjected to ſuch pains or penalties as the law ſhall direct

If al • , or any of the Judges of the General Court, ſhall, on good grounds (to be judged of by the Houſe of Delegates) 〈◊〉 accuſed of any of the crimes or offences before-mentioned, 〈◊〉 Houſe of Delegates may, in like manner, impeach the Judge or Judges ſo accuſed to be proſecuted in the Court of Appeals; and he or they, if found guilty, ſhall be puniſhed in the ſame manner as is preſcribed in the preceeding clauſe.

Commiſſions and grants ſhall run, In the name of the COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA, and bear teſt by the Governor with the ſeal of the Commonwealth annexed. Writs ſhall run in the ſame manner, and bear teſt by the clerks of the ſeveral courts. Indictments ſhall conclude, Againſt the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth.

A Treaſurer ſhall be appointed annually, by joint ballot of both Houſes.

All eſcheats, penalties, and forfeitures, heretofore going to the King, ſhall go to the commonwealth, ſave only ſuch as the Legiſlature may aboliſh, or otherwiſe provide for.

The territories contained within the charters erecting the colonies of Maryland, Pennſylvania, North and South Carolina, are hereby ceeded, releaſed and forever confirmed to the people of thoſe colonies reſpectively, with all the rights of property, juriſdiction, and government, and all other rights whatſoever which might at any time heretofore have been claimed by Virginia, except the free navigation and uſe the rivers Potowmack and Pocomoke, with the property of the Virginia ſhores or ſtrands bordering on either of the ſaid rivers, and all improvements which have been or ſhall be made thereon. The weſtern and northern extent of Virginia ſhall, in all other reſpects, ſtand as fixed by the charter of King James I in the year one thouſand ſix hundred and nine, • nd by the public treaty of peace between the Courts of Great-Britain and France, in the year one thouſand ſeven hundred and ſixty three, unleſs, by act of Legiſlature, one or more territories ſhall hereafter be • aid off, and governments eſtabliſhed weſtward of the Allegany mountains. And no purchaſe of lands ſhall be made of the Indian natives but on behalf of the public, by authority of the General Aſſembly.

In order to introduce this government, the Repreſentatives of the people met in Convention ſhall chooſe a Governor and Privy Council, alſo ſuch other officers directed to be choſen by both Houſes as may be judged neceſſary to be immediately appointed. The Senate to be firſt choſen by the people, to continue until the laſt day of March next, and the other until the end of the ſucceedng ſeſſion of Aſſembly In caſe of vacancies, the Speaker of either Houſe ſhall iſſue writs for new elections.

IT having pleaſed the Divine Providence to diſpoſe the hearts of the moſt ſerene and moſt potent Prince George the third, by the Grace of God, King of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Duke of Brunſwick and Lunenburg, Arch-Treaſurer and Prince Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, &c and of the United States of America, to forget all paſt miſunderſtandings and differences, that have unhappily interrupted the good correſpondence and friendſhip which they mutually wiſh to reſtore; and to eſtabliſh ſuch a beneficial and ſatisfactory intercourſe between the two countries, upon the ground of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience, as may promote and ſecure to both perpetual peace and harmony: And having for this deſirable end, already la • d • he foundation of peace and reconciliation, by the proviſional articles, ſigned at Paris, on the 30th of November, 1782, by the commiſſioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed to be inſerted in, and to conſtitute the treaty of peace propoſed to be concluded between the crown of Great-Britain and the ſaid United States, but which treaty was not to be concluded until terms of peace ſhould be agreed upon between Great-Britain and France, and his Britannic Majeſty ſhould be ready to conclude ſuch treaty accordingly; and the treaty between Great-Britain and France, having been ſince concluded, his Britannic Majeſty and the United States of America, in order to carry into full effect the proviſional articles above-mentioned, according to the tenor thereof, have conſtituted and appointed, that is to ſay, His Britannic Majeſty on his part, David Hartley, Eſquire, member of the Parliament of Great-Britain, and the ſaid United States on their part, John Adams, Eſquire, late a commiſſioner of the United States of America at the court of Verſailles, late Delegate in Congreſs from the ſtate of Maſſachuſetts, and Chief Juſtice of the ſaid ſtate, and Miniſter Plenipotentiary of the ſaid United States, to their High Mightineſſe • the States General of the United Netherlands; Benjamin Franklin, Eſquire, late Delegate in Congreſs from the •• me of Pennſylvania, Preſident of the Convention of the ſaid ſtate, and Miniſter Plenipotentiary from the United States of America at the Court of Verſailles; John Jay, Eſquire, late Preſident of Congreſs, and Chief Juſtice of the ſtate of New York, and Miniſter Plenipotentiary from the ſaid United States at the Court of Madrid, to be the Plenipotentiaries for the concluding and ſigning the preſent definitive treaty; who after having reciprocally communicated 〈◊〉 reſpective full powers, have agreed upon and confirmed the following articles.

ARTICLE I. His Britannic Majeſty acknowledges the ſaid United States, viz. New-Hampſhire, Maſſachuſetts-Bay, Rhode-Iſland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerſey, Pennſylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia, to be free, ſovereign and independent ſtates; that be treats with them as ſuch, and for himſelf, his heirs and ſucceſſors, relinquiſhes all claims to the government, propriety and territorial rights of the ſame, and every part thereof.

ART. II. And that all diſputes which might ariſe in future on the ſubject of the boundaries of the ſaid United States may be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the following are and ſhall be their boundaries, viz.

From the north weſt angle of Nova-Scotia, viz. that angle which is formed by a line drawn due north from the ſource of Saint Croix • ver to the Highlands; along the ſaid Highlands which divide th • ſe rivers that empty themſelves into the river Saint Lawrence from thoſe which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the north weſtern moſt ha • d of Connecticut river, thence down along the middle of that river to the forty fifth degree of north latitude; from thence by a line due weſt on ſaid latitude, until it ſtrikes the river Iroquois or Cataraquy; thence along the middle of ſaid river into lake Ontario, through the middle of ſaid lake until it ſtrikes the communication by water between that lake and lake Erie; thence along the middle of the ſaid communication into lake Erie, through the middle of ſaid lake until it arrives at the water communication between that lake and lake Huron; thence along the middle of ſaid water communication into the lake Huron; thence through the middle of ſaid lake to be water communication between that lake and lake Superior; thence • hrough lake Superior northward of the iſles, Ro • al and Philapeaus to the long lake; thence through the middle of ſaid long lake and the water communication between it and the lake of the Woods, to the ſaid lake of the Woods; thence through the ſaid lake to the m • ſt north weſtern point thereof, and from thence on a due weſt courſe to the river Miſſiſippi; thence by a line to be drawn along the middle of the ſaid river Miſſiſippi, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 interſect the northernmoſt part of the thirty-firſt degree of north latitude. South by a line to be drawn due eaſt from the determination of the line laſt mentioned, in the latitude of thirty-one degrees north of the equator, to the middle of the river Apalachicola or Catahouche; thence along the middle thereof to its junction with the Flint river; thence ſtrait to the head of Saint Mary's river; and thence down along the middle of Saint Mary's river to the Atlantic Ocean. Eaſt by a line to be drawn along the middle of the river Saint Croix, from its mouth in the bay of Fundy to its ſource, and from its ſource directly north to the aforeſaid Highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean from thoſe which fall into the river Saint Lawrence; comprehending all iſlands within twenty leagues of any part of the ſhores of the United States, and lying between lines to be drawn due eaſt from the points where the aforeſaid boundaries between Nova-Scotia on the one part, and Eaſt-Florida on the other, ſhall reſpectively touch the bay of Fundy, and the Atlantic Ocean; excepting ſuch iſlands as now are or heretofore have been within the limits of the ſaid province of Nova-Scotia.

ART. III. It is agreed that the people of the United States ſhall continue to enjoy, unmoleſted, the right to take fiſh of every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all the other banks of Newfoundland; alſo in the gulph of Saint Lawrence, and at all other place • in the ſea, where the inhabitants of both countries uſed at any time heretofore to fiſh; and alſo that the inhabitants of the United States ſhall have liberty to take fiſh of every kind on ſuch part of the coaſt of Newfoundland as Britiſh fiſhermen ſhall uſe, (but not to dry or cure the fame on that iſland) and alſo on the coaſts, bays and creeks of all other of his Britannic Majeſty's dominions in America; and that the American fiſhermen ſhall have liberty to dry and cure fiſh in any of the unſettled bays, harbors and creeks of Nova-Scotia, Magdalen iſlands, and Labradore, ſo long as the ſame ſhall remain unſettled, but ſo ſoon as the ſame or either of them ſhall be ſettled, it ſhall not be lawful for the ſaid fiſhermen to dry or cure fiſh at ſuch ſettlement, without a previous agreement for that purpoſe with the inhabitants, proprietors or poſſeſſors of the ground.

ART. IV. It is agreed that creditors on either ſide, ſhall meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full value in ſterling money, of all bona fide debts heretofore contracted.

ART. V. It is agreed that the Congreſs ſhall earneſtly recommend it to the legiſlatures of the reſpective ſtates, to provide for the reſtitution of all eſtates, rights and properties, which have been confiſcated, belonging to real Britiſh ſubjects, and alſo o • the eſtates, rights and properties of perſons reſident in diſtricts in the poſſeſſion of his Majeſty's arms, and who have not borne arms againſt the ſaid United States. And that perſons of any other deſcription ſhall have free liberty to go to any part or parts of any of the Thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve months unmoleſted in their endeavors to obtain the reſtitution of 〈◊〉 their eſtates, rights and properties, as may have been confiſcated; and that Congreſs ſhall alſo earneſtly recommend to the ſeveral ſtates a reconſideration and reviſion of all acts or laws regarding the premiſes, ſo as to render the ſaid laws or acts perfectly conſiſtent, not only with juſtice and equity, but with that ſpirit of conciliation which on the return of the bleſſings of peace ſhould univerſally prevail. And that Congreſs ſhall alſo earneſtly recommend to the ſeveral ſtates, that the eſtates, rights and properties, of ſuch laſt mentioned perſons ſhall be reſtored to them; they refunding to any perſons who may be now in poſſeſſion the bona fide price (where any has been given) which ſuch perſons may have paid on purchaſing any of the ſaid lands, rights or properties ſince the confiſcation. And it is agreed that all perſons who have any intereſt in confiſcated lands, either by debts, marriage ſettlements, or otherwiſe, ſhall meet with no lawful impediment in the proſecution of their juſt rights.

ART. VI. That there ſhall be no future confiſcations made, nor any proſecutions commenced againſt any perſon or perſons for or by reaſon of the part which he or they may have taken in the preſent war; and that no perſon ſhall on that account, ſuffer any future loſs or damage, either in his perſon, liberty or property, and that thoſe who may be in confinement on ſuch charges, at the time of the ratification of the treaty in America; ſhall be immediately ſet at liberty, and the proſecutions ſo commenced be diſcontinued.

ART. VII. There ſhall be a firm and perpetual peace between his Britannic Majeſty and the ſaid States, and between the ſubjects of the one, and the citizens of the other, wherefore all hoſtilities both by ſea and land ſhall from henceforth ceaſe; all priſoners on both ſides ſhall be ſet at liberty, and his Britannic Majeſty ſhall with all convenient ſpeed, and without cauſing any deſtruction, or carrying away any negroes or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garriſons and fleets from the ſaid United States, and from every poſt, place and harbor within the ſame; leaving in all fortifications the American artillery that may be therein, and ſhall alſo order and cauſe all archives, records, deeds and papers, belonging to any of the ſtates, or their citizens, which in the courſe of the war may have fallen into the hands of his officers, ſhall be forthwith reſtored and delivered to the proper ſtates and perſons to whom they belong.

ART. VIII. The navigation of the river Miſſiſippi, from its ſource to the Ocean, ſhall forever remain free and open to the ſubjects of Great-Britain and the citizens of the United States

ART. IX. In caſe it ſhould ſo happen that any place or territory belonging to Great-Britain or to the United States, ſhould have been conquered by the arms of either from the other, before the arrival of the ſaid proviſional articles in America, it is agreed, that the ſame ſhall be reſtored without difficulty, and without requiring any compenſation.

ART X. The ſolemn ratifications of the preſent treaty, expedite 〈◊〉 good and due form, ſhall be exchanged between the contracting parties, in the ſpace of ſix months, or ſooner if poſſible, to be computed from the day of the ſignature of the preſent treaty. In witneſs whereof, we the underſigned, their Miniſters Plenipotenti • r • , have in their name and in virtue of our full powers, 〈…〉 our hands the preſent definitive treaty, and cauſed the ſca • s of our arms to be affixed thereto.