EODEM DIE, P. M.

The Council met and took into consideration the preceding report of their committee, and after some time was spent therein the further consideration was deferred till to-morrow.

Mr. Stout, a member of Assembly, was admitted and delivered to the Chair a bill for suppressing vice and immorality, which, by order, was read the first time.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

The Council met.

SATURDAY, A. M., January 23d, 1779.

Present all the members.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. M.

EODEM DIE, P. M.

The Council met.

The Council having resumed the consideration of the committee's report on the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, &c., came to the following resolutions thereon:

Resolved, That this State think it necessary, for the peace and safety of the States to be included in the Union, that a moderate extent of limits should be assigned for such of those States as claim to the Mississippi or South Sea, and that the United States, in Congress assembled, should and ought to have the power of fixing their western limits.

Resolved also, That this State consider themselves justly entitled to a right, in common with the other members of the Union, to that extensive tract of country which lies to the westward of the frontiers of the United States, the property of which was not vested in or granted to individuals at the commencement of the present war; that the same hath been or may hereafter be gained from the King of Great Britain or the native Indians by the blood and treasure of all, and ought therefore to be a common estate, to be granted out on terms beneficial to the United States.

Resolved also, That the courts of law established within this State are competent for the purpose of determining all controversies concerning the private right of soil claimed within the same, and that they now, and at all times hereafter, ought to have cognizance of all such controversies; that the indeterminate provision, proposed in the 9th Article of the Confederation, for deciding upon controversies that may arise about some of those private rights of soil, tends to take away such_cognizance, and is contrary to the Declaration of Rights of this State, and therefore ought to receive an alteration.

The Council then, taking into consideration the strong and earnest recommendations of Congress forthwith to accede to the present plan of Confederacy, and the probable disadvantages that may attend the further delaying a ratification thereof,

Resolved, That, notwithstanding the terms of the Articles of Confederation aforesaid are considered as in divers respects unequal and disadvantageous to this State, and the objections in the report of the committee of this House and the resolves made thereon are viewed as just and reasonable and of great moment to the welfare and happiness of the good people thereof, yet, under the full conviction of the present necessity of acceding to the Confederacy proposed, and in firm reliance that the candor and justice of the several States will in due time remove, as far as possible, the objectionable parts thereof, the Delegates appointed to represent this State in Congress, or any one or more of them, be authorized, empowered and directed, on behalf of this State, to subscribe and ratify the said Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the several States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,

and Georgia, and that the said articles, when so subscribed and ratified, shall become obligatory on this State.

And, on motion, leave was given to bring in a bill to empower the Delegates of this State to ratify the said articles. A bill for this purpose being laid on the table, was, by order, read the first time.

By special order, the same was read the second time and passed.

Ordered, That Mr. Baning wait on the House of Assembly with the copy of the Articles of Confederation and the report of the committee thereon, the preceding resolutions and bill founded thereon.

Mr. Speaker now informed the Council that he had received the answer of John Clark, Esquire, to the notification directed to him by the Speakers of the two Houses, in which he signified his willingness to accept of his appointment to the office of Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Orphans' Courts of Kent County. Adjourned till Monday morning, 10 o'clock.

MONDAY, January 25th, 1779.

The Council met. Present all the members.

Mr. Baning now reported the delivery of the several papers given him in charge, according to the order of Saturday.

Doctor Hall, a member of Assembly, was admitted and delivered to the Chair a bill for raising one hundred and seventy thousand dollars, in the Delaware State, for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, by a general

tax.

The same member also delivered a supplementary bill to the act of pardon.

The same member also delivered a supplement to an act enti

tled "An act to prohibit the exportation of provisions from this State beyond the seas for a limited time," and also a bill for the relief of wounded officers, soldiers, &c.

On motion, by order, the foregoing bills were severally read the first time.

Mr. Craghead, a member of Assembly, was admitted and presented to the Chair a message from the President to the General Assembly, inclosing a letter from his Excellency, General Washington, of the 19th inst.; another, of the same date, from Messrs. Governieur Morris and William Whipple, a committee of Congress, and another from Jeremiah Wadsworth, CommissaryGeneral of Purchases, to the said committee, on the subject of engrossing.

On motion, by order, the said message and its inclosures were severally read, and the said message is as follows, viz :

"Gentlemen of the General Assembly:

'Saturday afternoon I received, by express, a letter from his "Excellency, General Washington, requesting that I would give "the Deputy Quarter authority to canton Pulaskie's Legion "within this State, and as I would wish the General Assembly to take order in this matter, have directed the Secretary to lay the letter before you. I have also directed him to lay before 'your Honors a letter, of the 19th instant, from the committee 'of Congress, on the subject of engrossing, with a copy of a "letter from the Commissary-General of Purchases to them on 66 that head.

"CÆSAR RODNEY.

Resolved, That Messrs. Clowes, Read, and Bassett be a committee to prepare and bring in a bill for the quartering of troops within this State.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock.

The Council met.

TUESDAY, January 26th, 1779.

Present the same members as on yesterday.

The committee appointed to prepare and bring in a bill for the quartering of troops in this State, now delivered one at the table, which, by order, was read the first time.

On motion,

Resolved, That Mr. Clowes, Mr. Read, and Mr. Bassett be a committee to prepare and bring in a bill against engrossing and forestalling of flour, grain and forage.

Doctor Clayton, a member of Assembly, was admitted and delivered to the Chair a memorial from the members of the Privy Council, praying the aid of the Legislature to make provision for their expenses incurred during their attendance on the duties of their office, with a resolution of the House of Assembly empowering the Speakers of both Houses to draw for divers sums of money in favor of the members of the Privy Council and Secretary, and also the following verbal message, viz :

"Gentlemen:

"As the seat of John Clark, Esquire, the second Justice of the "Court of Common Pleas and Orphans' Court in the County of "Kent, is become vacant by his appointment to and acceptance of "the office of Chief Justice of those Courts, and it is necessary to "fill that vacancy, this House therefore propose to your honor"able House to meet the Council, at such time and place as you may appoint, for the purpose of putting into nomination proper persons to be balloted for as second Justice in said Courts. "This House also inform the honorable the Council that they "intend to adjourn on Saturday next, for this present sitting, to "some future day."

On motion, by order, the foregoing memorial and resolution founded thereon were severally read the first time.

On motion, by order,

The bill for the relief of wounded officers and soldiers, &c., was read the second time, and thereupon