Assembly shall be binding, and in consequence the legislative body of each State shall nominate the particular officers, levy the men, arm and equip them properly; and these officers and soldiers, thus armed and equipped, shall proceed to te place and within the time fixed by the General Assembly.

But if the General Assembly from some particular circumstances should think proper to exempt one or several of the States from raising troops or to demand of them less than their contingent and should on the contrary judge it convenient, that one or several others should raise more than their contingent: the number extraordinary demanded shall be raised, provided with officers, armed and equipped in the same manner, as the contingent, unless the legislative body of that or of those of the States, to whom the requisition shall have been made, should deem it dangerous for themselves to be drained of that number extraordinary; and in that case they shall furnish no more, than what they think compatible with their safety; and the officers and soldiers so raised and equipped shall go to the place and within the time fixed by the General Assembly.

The General Assembly shall never engage in any war nor grant letters of marque or reprisal in time of peace nor contract any treaties of alliance or other conventions, except to make peace, nor coin money or regulate its value nor determine or fix the sums necessary to be raised or the disbursements necessary to be made for the defence or advantage of the United States or of some of them, nor create bills nor borrow money on the credit of the United States nor dispose of any sums of money nor resolve on the number of ships of war to be built or purchased or on the number of troops to be raised for land or sea service, nor appoint a commander or chief of the land or sea forces, but by the United consent of nine of the States: and no question on any point whatsoever, except for adjourning from one day to another, shall be decided but by a majority of the United States.

of six.

No delegate shall be chosen for more than three years out

No person invested with any employment whatever in the extent of the United States and receiving by virtue of that employment either by himself or through the hands of any other for him any salaries, wages or emoluments whatever shall be chosen a delegate.

The General Assembly shall publish every month a journal of their sessions except, what shall relate to treaties, alliances or military operations, when it shall appear to them, that these matters ought to be kept secret. The opinions "pro" and contra" of the delegates of each State shall be entered in the journals as often, as any one of the delegates shall require it; and there shall be delivered to the delegates of each State on their demand or even to any one of the delegates of each State at his parti

cular requisition a copy of the journal, except of the parths above mentioned, to be carried to the legislative body of his respective State. Art. 15. The Council of State shall be composed of one delegate of each of the States, nominated annually by the other delegates of his respective State; and the case, where these electors might not be able to agree, that delegate shall be nominated by the General Assembly.

The Council of State shall be authorised to receive and open all the letters addressed to the United States and answer them; but shall not contract any engagements binding to the United States. They shall correspond with the legislative bodies of each State and with all persons employed under the authority of the United States or of some of the particular legislative bodies. They shall address themselves to these legislative bodies or to the officers, to whom each State shall have entrusted the executive power for aid and assistance of every kind, as occasion shall require. They shall give instructions to the generals and direct the military operations by land or by sea; but without making any alterations in the objects or expeditions determined by the General Assembly, unless a change of circumstances intervening and coming to their knowledge since the breaking up of the Assembly, should render a change of measures indispensably necessary. They shall be careful of the defence and preservation of the fortresses or fortified ports. They shall procure information and designs of the enemy. They shall put in execution the measures and plans, that shall have been resolved by the General Assembly by virtue of the powers, with which they are invested by the present confederation. They shall draw upon the treasurers for the sums the destination, of which shall have been settled by the General Assembly, and for the payment of the contracts, which they may have made by virtue of the powers, that are granted to them. They shall inspect and reprove, they shall even suspend all officers civil or military acting under the authority of the United States. In the case of death or suspension of any officer, whose nomination belongs to the General Assembly, they may replace him, by what person they think proper until the next Assembly. They may

publish and disperse authentic accounts of the military operations. They may convene the General Assembly for a nearer term than that, to which they had adjourned, when they separated, if any important and unexpected event should require it for the welfare or benefit of the United States or of some of them. They shall prepare the matters, that are to be submitted to the inspection of the General Assembly, and lay before them at the next sitting all the letters or advices by them received, and shall render an exact account of all, that they have done in the interim. They shall take for the secretary a person fit for that employment, who, before he enters on his function, shall take an oath of secrecy and fidelity. The presence of seven membres of the Council will