articles of confederation. This plan wa from time to time, and finally, somewhat m agreed to by congress, November 15, 17 then submitted to the states for ratification.

In July, 1778, the articles were ratified the states. New Jersey ratified in Nove and Delaware in February, 1779. But were not to become binding until ratified states, and Maryland did not authorize he in congress to sign the instrument in ratifi March 1, 1781. (Maryland claims to h through the revolutionary war, not as a as an ally of the United States.)

Their peculiarities.-The articles of co were different from our present constituti principle and in method of operation, as foll

1. The nature of the government formed. ernment was that of a "confederation of s retaining its sovereignty and independ union was declared to be a "firm league ship." It was to be perpetual.

2. The branches of government. Only o vided for, a congress. No provision was ma utive or judicial officers apart from the cong 3. The structure of the congress. The co

had power to treat with foreign
d receive ambassadors, to deter-
Congress was the last resort on
s between the states; could fix
its and measures, and of the fine-
stablish and regulate postoffices;
ppropriate “the necessary sums
d for the service of the United
w money
on the credit of the
I agree upon the number of land
quisition on each state for its
point a committee consisting of
ch state, to sit during the vaca-

1

o the states. No state could enter another state or with a foreign - war, except by consent of "the ress assembled;" nor keep vessels army in time of peace, except ess should deem necessary.

culiarities.-Suffering breeds cauthe peculiarities was based upon

aid to trust their delegates. This rtness of the term, the provision ed right to control the delegates

go

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The

a can government was 4

but it was given only very limited powers. would not have an executive officer, because anything resembling kingly rule. They did establish a national judiciary having jurisd persons and property, because their expe "trials beyond the sea" had made them wary tribunals.

It is to be observed, however, that with a trust, in spite of the fact that their colon jealousies and habits had returned upon ther standing their specific statement in the itself that "each state retains its sovere instinct of nationality was yet strong enoug them to continue in the general government sovereign powers. Thus, the "United St could treat with foreign nations, declare war peace. Another great sovereign power, that money, was unfortunately shared by the stat

Their defects.-The great defect in the confederation was that they placed too litt the hands of the general government. Alt gress possessed the right to declare war, it apportion the quota of men to each state raised the troops. And so on with the ot The government of the United States during

es. They may borrow money on n; but they cannot pay a dollar. 7; but they cannot buy an ounce y make war and determine what but they cannot raise a single ey may declare everything, but

-"The history of the confederve years beyond which it was not f, is the history of the utter pros e whole country, of every public -of that which was, beyond all trying period of our national and as the extreme weakness of the ent, if such it could be called, - of independence to drag its slow = seven dreary years, and which, concurrence of circumstances in prevented it from reaching any rous conclusion. When, at last, d, the confederate congress had feeble junto of about twenty pergraded and demoralized, that its more respected than those of any onsible association. The treaties on had made with foreign powers,

pros and wen-imgu ruineu.

and distress were the rule rather than th * ** The currency of the country ha The states themselves wer

nominal value.

* * *

of jealous hostility to each other. the states rebellion was already raising its threatening the overthrow of all regular and the inauguration or universal anarchy."

CHAPTER XIX.

THE ORIGIN OF THE CONSTITUTI

"For several years efforts were made by wisest and best patriots to procure an enla the powers of the continental congress, b predominance of state jealousies, and th incompatibility of state interests with each all failed. At length, however, it becam that the confederation, being left without re without powers, must soon expire of its o

*Each state regulated its own commerce.

† Dr. J. H. Mellvaine in Princeton Review, October, 1 Fiske's Critical Period of American History, chapter IV.