have just received, through the hands of the ambassador of Spain, the much esteemed present your Most Serene Highness hath so kindly sent me, of your excellent version of Sallust. Ref. 018
I am extremely sensible of the honor done me, and beg you would accept my thankful acknowledgments. I wish I could send hence any American literary production worthy of your perusal; but as yet the Muses have scarcely visited these remote regions. Perhaps, however, the proceedings of our American Congress, just published, may be a subject of some curiosity at your court. I therefore take the liberty of sending your Highness a copy, with some other papers, which contain accounts of the successes wherewith Providence has lately favored us. Therein your wise politicians may contemplate the first efforts of a rising state, which seems likely soon to act a part of some importance on the stage of human affairs, and furnish materials for a future Sallust. I am very old, and can scarce hope to see the event of this great contest; but, looking forward, I think I see a powerful dominion growing up here, whose interest it will be to form a close and firm alliance with Spain (their territories bordering), and who, being united, will be able, not only to preserve their own people in peace, but to repel the force of all the other powers in Europe. It seems, therefore, prudent on both sides to cultivate a good understanding, that may hereafter be so useful to both; towards which a fair foundation is already laid in our minds, by the well founded popular opinion entertained here of Spanish integrity and honor. I hope my presumption in hinting this will be pardoned. If in any thing on this side of the globe I can render either service or pleasure to your Royal Highness, your commands will make me happy. With the utmost esteem and veneration, I have the honor to be your Serene Highness’ most obedient and most humble servant,
B. Franklin.
DCIX: ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND PERPETUAL UNION, PROPOSED IN GENERAL CONGRESS Ref. 019
ARTICLE I
The name of this Confederacy shall henceforth be The United Colonies of North America.
ARTICLE II
The said United Colonies hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, binding on themselves and their posterity, for their common defence against their enemies; for the security of their liberties and properties; the safety of their persons and families, and their mutual and general welfare.
ARTICLE III
That each colony shall enjoy and retain as much as it may think fit of its own present laws, customs, rights, privileges, and peculiar jurisdictions within its own limits: and may amend its own constitution, as shall seem best to its own Assembly or Convention.
ARTICLE IV
That, for the more convenient management of general interests, delegates shall be annually elected in each colony, to meet in general Congress at such time and place as shall be agreed on in the next preceding Congress. Only where particular circumstances do not make a deviation necessary, it is understood to be a rule that each succeeding Congress be held in a different colony, till the whole number be gone through; and so in perpetual rotation; and that accordingly the next Congress after the present shall be held at Annapolis, in Maryland.
ARTICLE V
That the power and duty of the Congress shall extend to the determining on war and peace; the entering into alliances and sending and receiving ambassadors (the reconciliation with Great Britain); the settling all disputes and differences between colony and colony, about limits or any other cause, if such should arise; and the planting of new colonies when proper. The Congress shall also make such general ordinances as, though necessary to the general welfare, particular Assemblies cannot be competent to, viz.: those that may relate to our general commerce or general currency, to the establishment of posts, and the regulation of our common forces. The Congress shall also have the appointment of all general officers, civil and military, appertaining to the general Confederacy, such as general treasurer, secretary, etc.
ARTICLE VI
All charges of wars, and all other general expenses to be incurred for the common welfare, shall be defrayed out of the common treasury, which is to be supplied by each colony in proportion to its number of male polls between sixteen and sixty years of age. The taxes for paying that proportion are to be laid and levied by the laws of each colony.
ARTICLE VII
The number of delegates to be elected and sent to the Congress by each colony shall be regulated, from time to time, by the number of such polls returned; so as that one delegate be allowed for every five thousand polls. And the delegates are to bring with them to every Congress an authenticated return of the number of polls in their respective provinces, which is to be triennially taken, for the purposes above mentioned.
ARTICLE VIII
At every meeting of the Congress, one half of the members returned, exclusive of proxies, shall be necessary to make a quorum; and each delegate at the Congress shall have a vote in all cases, and, if necessarily absent, shall be allowed to appoint any other delegate from the same colony to be his proxy, who may vote for him.
ARTICLE IX
An Executive Council shall be appointed by the Congress out of their own body, consisting of twelve persons; of whom, in the first appointment, one third, viz. four, shall be for one year, four for two years, and four for three years; and, as the said terms expire, the vacancies shall be filled by appointments for three years, whereby one third of the members will be changed annually. And each person who has served the said term of three years as councillor, shall have a respite of three years before he can be elected again. This Council, of whom two thirds shall be a quorum in the recess of the Congress, is to execute what shall have been enjoined thereby; to manage the general Continental business and interests; to receive applications from foreign countries; to prepare matters for the consideration of the Congress; to fill up, pro tempore, Continental offices that fall vacant, and to draw on the general treasurer for such moneys as may be necessary for general services, and appropriated by the Congress to such services.
ARTICLE X
No colony shall engage in an offensive war with any nation of Indians without the consent of the Congress, or Great Council above mentioned, who are first to consider the justice and necessity of such war.
ARTICLE XI
A perpetual alliance, offensive and defensive, is to be entered into as soon as may be with the Six Nations; their limits to be ascertained and secured to them; their land not to be encroached on, nor any private or colony purchases made of them, hereafter to be held good; nor any contract for lands to be made, but between the great Council of the Indians at Onondaga and the general Congress. The boundaries and lands of all the other Indians shall also be ascertained and secured to them in the same manner, and persons appointed to reside among them in proper districts; who shall take care to prevent injustice in the trade with them; and be enabled at our general expense, by occasional small supplies, to relieve their personal wants and distresses. And all purchases from them shall be by the Congress, for the general advantage and benefit of the United Colonies.
ARTICLE
