raim Cleaveland give bond to the Treasurer, with sufficient Chapter 76. Chap. 76 RESOLVE RECOMMENDING A CONVENTION OF DELEGATES FROM ALL THE STATES, FOR THE PURPOSE MENTIONED. As the prosperity and happiness of a nation, cannot be secured without a due proportion of power lodged in the hands of the Supreme Rulers of the State, the present embarrassed situation of our public affairs, must lead the mind of the most inattentive observer to realize the necessity of a revision of the powers vested in the Congress of the United States, by the Articles of Confederation: And as we conceive it to be equally the duty and the privilege of every State in the Union, freely to communicate their sentiments to the rest on every subject relating to their common interest, and to solicit their concurrence in such measures as the exigency of their public affairs may require: Therefore Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Court, that the present powers of the Congress of the United States, as contained in the Articles of Confederation, are not fully adequate to the great purposes they were originally designed to effect. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Court, that it is highly expedient, if not indispensibly necessary, that there should be a Convention of Delegates from all the States in the Union, at some convenient place, as soon as may be, for the sole purpose of revising the confederation, and reporting to Congress how far it may be necessary to alter or enlarge the same. Resolved, That Congress be, and they are hereby requested to recommend a Convention of Delegates from all the States, at such time and place as they may think convenient, to revise the confederation, and report to Congress how far it may be necessary, in their opinion, to alter or enlarge the same, in order to secure and perpetuate the primary objects of the Union. July 1, 1785. SIR, Chapter 77. LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Impressed with the importance and necessity of revising the powers of the United States in Congress assembled, the General Court of the Massachusetts have taken the subject under their serious consideration, and have adopted the enclosed resolutions, which you are requested to communicate. Should the nature and importance of the subject appear to Congress in the same point of light that it does to this Court, they flatter themselves, that Congress will so far endeavour to carry their views into effect, as to recommend a Convention of the States at some convenient place, on an early day, that the evils so severely experienced from the want of adequate powers in the fæderal Government, may find a remedy as soon as possible. As a perfect harmony among the States, is an object no less important than desirable, the Legislature of the Massachusetts have aimed at that unassuming openness of conduct and respectful attention to the rights of every State in the Union, as they doubt not will secure their confidence, and meet the approbation of Congress. A circular letter to the States is herewith transmitted to Congress, which they are requested to forward with their recommendation for a Convention of Delegates from the States, if they should so far concur in sentiment with this Court, as to deem such recommendation adviseable. July 1, 1785. Chapter 78. TO THE SUPREME EXECUTIVE OF EACH STATE. (CIRCULAR.) The unequal footing on which we find ourselves placed by all the powers with whom we have any commercial intercourse, has produced consequences too extensive not to be universally felt, and too important to be longer neglected. As commerce and our national credit and importance must decline, unless our Representatives in Congress are vested with more efficient powers, we cannot doubt of your ready concurrence in measures necessary to accomplish so important a purpose. We have by a Resolve of this day, made application to the United States in Congress assembled, for such recom Chap. 77 Chap. 78 Chap. 79 Chap. mendation to the several States, as shall be thought most conducive to the purposes aforesaid, a copy of which Resolve, with the letter enclosing it, addressed to the President of Congress, is herewith transmitted you,should you be in sentiment with us, that the measures proposed are the proper expedients to relieve us from the national embarrassments we labour under, you are requested to signify your approbation of them to Congress, as early as possible. Chapter 79. TO THE DELEGATES OF THIS STATE IN CONGRESS. You have herewith transmitted you, copies of a Resolve of the General Court, accompanied by a letter to the President of Congress, and a circular letter to the States, upon business of the greatest importance to this, as well as every State in the Union, as you will readily preceive by a perusal of them: You are therefore directed to take the earliest opportunity of laying them before Congress, and making every exertion in your power to carry the object of them into effect, and to give notice to the Governor as early as possible of the success of such application. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be, and he is, hereby requested, in behalf of the Legislature, to sign the foregoing letter to the President of Congress, the Supreme Executive of the several States, and to the Delegates of this Commonwealth in Congress, and to forward them accordingly. July 1, 1785. Chapter 80. 80 RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF THOMAS CLARKE OF ALMSBURY, DIRECTING THE SHERIFF OF ESSEX TO RECEIVE THE SUM On the petition of Thomas Clarke of Almsbury, for reasons set forth in said petition: Resolved, That the Sheriff of the county of Essex, be, and he is, hereby directed to receive of Thomas Clarke aforesaid, the sum of Fifty pounds in consolidated securities of this Commonwealth, in full discharge of an execution which he has against the said Thomas, in favour of this Commonwealth, for the said sum, provided the said Chapter 81. RESOLVE GRANTING NINETEEN POUNDS FOUR SHILLINGS, TO Chap. 81 THE COMMITTEE FOR SURVEYING LAND GRANTED TO 4. Resolved, That there be paid out of the public treasury of this Commonwealth, to Isaac Parsons and John Lewis, Esq'rs, Nineteen pounds four shillings, in full for their trouble and cost of Surveyor, chainmen, &c. in surveying a plat of land granted to Arthur Lee, Esq. Chapter 82.' July 1, 1785. RESOLVE GRANTING NINE POUNDS THREE SHILLINGS, TO Chap. 82 SAMUEL JOHNSON, RICHARD WARD AND JOHN CHOATE, Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the Chapter 83. RESOLVE GRANTING EIGHT POUNDS FOUR SHILLINGS, TO Chap. 83 JOSHUA WASHBURN, A SOLDIER. On the petition of Joshua Washburn, a soldier in the regiment of militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Comd't Putnam, in the year 1781, setting forth, that the wages for his services in said regiment, to the amount of Eight pounds for shillings, have been drawn at the treasury of this Commonwealth, by a forged order: Resolved, That there be paid out of the treasury of this Commonwealth, to the said Joshua Washburn, the aforesaid sum of Eight pounds four shillings, in full for his services in said regiment. July 1, 1785. Chapter 84. Chap. 84 RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF WARD, DIRECTING THE TREASURER TO STAY HIS On the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Ward, praying that a part of the arrears of the taxes of said town, for the years 1781 and 1782, may be remitted, or that a resolve may obtain directing the Treasurer to stay his executions against said town for said arrears, until it may be in the power of the said town to discharge the same: Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be so far granted, that the Treasurer of this Commonwealth, be directed to stay his executions against the said town for the arrears of taxes committed to the Constables or Collectors of said town, for the years 1781 and 1782, for the term of six months from the date of this Resolve. July 1, 1785. Chapter 85. Chap. 85 RESOLVE DISCHARGING SEVERAL TOWNS IN THE COUNTY OF YORK, OF CERTAIN SUMS, BY THE BOOKS OF WILLIAM FOYE, Whereas from certain papers said to be extracts from the books of William Foye, Esq; deceased, who was Treasurer of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, more than forty years ago, a former General Court of this Commonwealth were induced to suppose that there still remained due from several towns in the county of York, divers sums of money, amounting in the whole, to Seventy pounds, eighteen shillings and seven pence; and whereas it now appears to this Court, that executions were issued by the said Treasurer against the Constables and Collectors of such towns for the sums respectively due, which were delivered to Joseph Plaisted, Esq; deceased, then Sheriff of the said county, and from receipts and indorsements on said executions, and a settlement made in the year 1754, with the executors of the last will of the said Sheriff, by a committee appointed by the General Court for that purpose, and other circumstances, that the said sums supposed |