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in the remaining part of the period. Why should not governments long established, be changed for light and transient causes? Ans. Because of the evils which are always incident to change, and of the danger of making matters worse instead of better. What has been the general practice of mankind on this subject as shown by experience? In what cases is it affirmed to be the right and the duty of mankind to throw off their government and establish others? The truths, affirmed in this declaration to be so plain as to require no proof, or self-evident, strike at the very foundation of the systems of government in almost all countries of the earth except America. Their express purport is that governments are made for the people, and not the people for the governments, a truth which tyranny and ignorance have been most lamentably successful in smothering and keeping from the light of the world. Relate some of the facts submitted to the world by the colonies, as reasons for changing their government. Was there any regularly formed union between the Colonies at the time of the Declaration of Independence? When and by whom were articles of union begun to be prepared? When was the instrument completed and approved by Congress? To whom

36 ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION FORMED.

was it then sent for ratification? When was it finally ratified by all the thirteen States? What State was the last to give her assent? How long was Congress in agreeing upon the articles of union? How long were they in receiving the sanction of the State legislatures? Why was so much time required? What was the cause which induced the States to agree to a union? Would any other cause have been sufficient? What lesson should the citizens of the different States learn from observ. ing the difficulties attending the formation of our union? What was the instrument containing the articles of union termed? How long did these articles remain in force?

CHAPTER III.

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,

We, the undersigned delegates of the states affixed to our names, send greeting.

WHEREAS the delegates of the United States of America in congress assembled did, on the fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, and in the second year of the independence of America, agree to certain articles of confederation and perpetual union between the 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, in the words following, viz.:

Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Isl

and and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

ARTICLE I. THE style of this confederacy shall be "The United States of America."

ART. II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States in congress assembled.

ART. III. The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare; binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence what

any

ever.

ART. IV. The better to secure and perpetuate mutual friendship and inter

course among the people of the different states in this union, the free inhabitants of each of these states, paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice excepted, shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the several states; and the people of each state shall have free ingress and regress to and from any other state, and shall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same duties, impositions, and restrictions, as the inhabitants thereof respectively, provided that such restrictions shall not extend so far as to prevent the removal of property imported into any state, to any other state of which the owner is an inhabitant; provided also that no imposition, duties, or restriction shall be laid by any state, on the property of the United States, or either of them.

If any person guilty of, or charged with treason, felony, or other high misdemeanor in any state, shall flee from justice, and be found in any of the United States, he shall, upon demand of the government or executive power of the state from which he

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