Outlines of the plan of confederacy submitted to congress by Dr. Franklin, July, 1775 ---Not acted upon-June 11th, 1776, congress appoint a committee of one from a state to prepare a plan of confederation-Plan reported July following-Is debated in congress at various times until the 15th of November, 1777, when it is adopted -Outlines of the system-Congress divided as to terms of union-Particularly the mode of voting in congress, the rule of apportioning expenses among the states, and the disposition of the western lands-Articles sent to the several states with a circular letter-Adopted by some states without amendment-Principal amendments proposed by several states-All the states except New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, instruct their delegates to ratify and sign the articles, if their amendments should be rejected by congress-Objections of New Jersey-Congress nearly equally divided on the amendment proposed about the western lands-Articles ratified by New Jersey and Delaware-Maryland gives special instructions to her delegates not to ratify them, without an amendment securing the western lands for the benefit of the union-These instructions laid before congress-States of Virginia and Connecticut empower their delegates to agree to the confederacy, exclusive of Maryland -Other states unwilling to do this-Compromise about the western lands-New York cedes for the benefit of the union her claim to lands west of a certain lineCongress recommend to the other states to make liberal cessions for the same purpose-Virginia cedes her right to the country north west of the Ohio-Maryland accedes to the union, and the articles signed by her delegates March first, 1781the union then completed.
Ir will be remembered, that in the summer of 1775, Dr. Franklin submitted to congress, articles of confederation and perpetual union among the colonies, but which were not finally acted upon. A majority in that body were not then prepared for so decisive a step. The purport of his plan was, that the colonies entered "into a firm league of friendship with each other, binding on themselves and their posterity, for the common defense against their enemies, for the security of their liberties and properties, VOL. II.