ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION. The title of the compact which was made by the thirteen original states of the United States of America.
2. The full title was, "Articles of ration and perpetual union between the states of New Hampshire, Massabhusetts Bay; Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Penn sylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, north Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia." It was adopted and went into force on the first day of March, 1781, and remained as the supreme law until the first Wednesday of March, 1789. 5 Wheat. 420.
The accompanying analysis of this important instrument is copied from Judge Story's Commen taries on the Constitution of the United States, book 2, c. 3.
3. The style of the confederacy was, by the first article, declared to be, "The United States of Ame rica." The second article declared that each state retained its sovereignty, freedom, and independ ence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right which was not by this confederation expreagy dele gated to the United States, in congress assembled. The third article declared that the states severally entered 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 upop them, or any of them, on account of religion, save. reignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever. The fourth article declared that the free inhabit ants of eaoh of the states (vagabonds and fugi tives from justice excepted) should be entitled to all the privileges of free citizens in the several states; that the people of each state should have free ingress and regress to and from any other state, and should enjoy all the privileges of trade and commerce, subject to the same duties and re strictions as the inhabitants; that fugitives from justice should, upon the demand of the executive of the state from which they fled, be delivered up; and that full faith and credit should be given, in each of the states, to the records, acts, and judicial proceedings of the courts and magistrates of every other state.
4. Having thus provided for the security and intercourse of the states, the next article (5thl pro vided for the organization of a general oongress, declaring that delegates should be chesen in such manner as the, legislature of each state should direct; to meet in congress on the first Monday in every pair, with a power, reserved to each state, to recall any or all of the delegates, and to send others in their stead. No state was to be represented in congress by less than two nor more than seven members. No delegate was eligible for more than three in any term of six years; and no delegate was capable of holding any office of emolument under the United States. Each state was to main tale its own delegates, and, in determining ques tions in congress was to' have one vote. Freedom of speech and debate io congress was not to be WI peached or questioned in any other place; and the members were to be protected from arrest and im prisonment during the time of their going to and from and attendance on congress, except for trea 'son; felony, or breach of the peace.
5. By subsequent articles, congress was invested with the sole and exclusive right and power of de termioing on peace and war, unless in case of an invasion of a state by enemies, or an imminent danger of an invasion by Indians; of sending and receiving ambassadors; entering into treaties and alliances, under certain limitations as to treaties of comMerce; of establishing rules fei deciding all oasis of capture on land and water, and for the division and apprnpriation of prizes taken by the land or naval forces, in the service of the United States; of granting letters of marque and reprisal in times of peace; of appointing courts for the trial of piracies and felonies committed on the high seas; and of establishing courts for receiving and finally determining appeals in all cases of captures.