March 5, 1776
The Continental Congress, made up of delegates from different colonies, could only do so much. By the spring of 1776, the need for a legally-binding confederation among the colonies was a popular topic for newspaper commentary. These “Proposals for a CONFEDERATION of the United Colonies,” printed in the Pennsylvania Evening Post were not dependent on the colonies declaring independence. The anonymous author wrote that a “Confederation of the Colonies would be useful if the former connexion between them and Great-Britain were restored.” However, “in their present state, when they are expressly excluded from the King’s protection by a late act of Parliament, and probably will never be restored to it again unless they resign their liberties,” a confederation could be especially useful, “to enable them to exert their united strength in their own defence.”
These articles of confederation— “proposed to the public rather to draw their attention to the subject, than as a perfect model”—emphasized the need for each colony to “retain and enjoy as much as it may think fit, of its own present laws, customs, privileges, and peculiar constitutions.” A general congress would continue under confederation, but each annual session would be held in a different colony, “until it hath been held in seven of the middle Colonies at least.” Other British North American colonies would be permitted to join the confederation.
These proposals were reprinted in other newspapers, including the Boston Gazette in late April. After reading them, John Adams’s friend, Cotton Tufts, wrote to him that, “in general they seem to be well calculated.” By the time Adams responded in June, a committee had been “appointed to prepare a Draught of Confederation.”
The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne
Proposals for a CONFEDERATION of the United Colonies.
ARTICLES of agreement and confederation entered into by the several colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, The Three Lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia.
ARTICLE I.
THE said Colonies do severally enter into a firm league and covenant with each other to act in union, by the name of The United Colonies in North-America, for their common defence against their enemies, the security of their LIBERTIES and PROPERTIES, and for their mutual and general welfare.
II. Each Colony shall retain and enjoy as much as it may think fit, of its own present laws, customs, privileges, and peculiar constitutions, and have the sole direction and government of its own internal police; but shall form no alliances, or political connections, with the people of any other country or state separate from the other United Colonies.
III. For the management of their common interests and concerns, a General Congress of Delegates, from the several United Colonies, shall be held on the first Thursday of September annually, at such place as the Congress shall appoint; the next September session to be at such place as the present Congress shall appoint, and each succeeding annual session shall be in a different colony, until it hath been held in seven of the middle Colonies at least, and so in perpetual rotation, unless exigencies require a deviation, or the Congress shall think fit to enlarge the circuit, or extend it to all the Colonies. The number of Delegates from each Colony shall be in proportion to the number of its inhabitants of every age and quality, not exceeding one Delegate for every thirty thousand inhabitants complete, who shall be annually elected by the legislative Assembly, or Convention, of the respective Colonies. And to constitute a Congress, two thirds at least of the United Colonies shall be represented therein. And the concurrence of a majority of the Colonies represented, and also a majority of the Delegates present, shall be necessary to make a vote of the Congress. The Delegates when convened in Congress shall elect one of their number to preside, and a suitable person for Secretary to keep a record of their votes and proceedings.
IV. The Congress shall have authority to agree on proper measures for the defence and security of the United Colonies against all their enemies; for restoring peace and harmony with Great-Britain on terms not inconsistent with the constitutional rights of any of the Colonies, to manage treaties and form alliances of amity and commerce with other states, determine of peace and war, superintend Indian affairs, establish and regulate post-offices, hear and determine controversies between Colony and Colony according to the right of the parties by the rules of law or equity, make rules for regulating the naval and land forces in the pay of the United Colonies, appoint the general officers to command them, and other officers necessary for managing the public affairs, under the direction of the Congress, appoint a Committee of Safety and Correspondence to transmit such matters in the recess of the Congress, as may be judged necessary to commit to them for the general welfare of the United Colonies. But the Congress shall have no authority to impose or leavy taxes, or interfere with the internal policy of any of the Colonies.
V. The charges of war, and all other expences, that shall be incurred for the common welfare, and allowed by the Congress, shall be defrayed out of the common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several colonies in proportion to the number of inhabitants of every age and quality, a true account of which shall be triennally taken and transmitted to the Congress. The taxes, for paying that proportion, shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the Assemblies of the respective colonies; and each colony shall be at the expence of supporting its own Delegates in Congress.
VI. No army shall be kept up in the pay of the United Colonies in time of peace; but each colony shall always keep up a well regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutred; and shall also be provided with public stores of ammunition, not less than at the rate of two pounds of powder and eight pounds of lead or leaden ball for every militia-man in the colony. And when troops are raised in any of the colonies for the common defence, the commission officers proper for the troops raised in each colony (except the General Officers) shall be appointed by the Assembly and Convention thereof, and commissioned as the Congress shall direct.
VII. Any other of the British colonies on this continent, upon their acceding to this confederation, shall be admitted to the privileges of the Union.
A Confederation of the Colonies would be useful if the former connexion between them and Great-Britain were restored, and would not be inconsistent therewith.
But in their present state, when they are expressly excluded from the King’s protection by a late act of Parliament, and probably will never be restored to it again unless they resign their liberties; and Great-Britain is carrying on a cruel war against them, is it not absolutely necessary that they should enter into an explicit Confederation with each other, to enable them to exert their united strength in their own defence, when they may expect soon to be attacked by all the force that the British government can send against them? The New-England Colonies, by many years experience, found great advantages by a Confederation, in carrying on their wars with the Indians, in treating with neigbouring Colonies settled under other states, and in adjusting and settling matters among themselves. A Confederation will require the consent or approbation of the several Colonies in their respective Assemblies or Conventions, and that they authorize their Delegates to ratify it in Congress before it will be valid.—Ought it not to be forwarded without loss of time?
The foregoing articles are proposed to the public rather to draw their attention to the subject, than as a perfect model. Should they be of any use in forming a Confederation, they will doubtless admit of amendments.
