6. Congress was also invested with power to de cide in the last resort, on appeal, all disputes and differences between two or more states concerning boundary, jurisdiction, or any other. cause whatso ever; and the mods of exereising that authority was specially prescribed. And all controversies concerning the private right of soil, claimed under different grants of two or more states before the settlement of their jurisdiction, were to be finally determined in the same manner, upon the petition of either of the grantees. But no state was to be deprived of territory for the benefit of the United &totes.
7. Congress was also invested with the sole and exclusive right and power of regulating the alloy and value of coin struck by their own authority, or that of the United States; of fixing the standard of weights and measures throughout the United States; of regulating the trade and managing all affairs with the Indians, not members of any of the states, provided that the legislative right of any state within its owe' limits should not be infringed or violated; of establishing and regulating post offices from one state to another, and exacting postage to defray the expenses; of anpointing all officers of the land forces in the service of the dhlited States, except regimental officers; of ap pointing all officers of the naval force', and com missioning all officers whatsoever in the service of the United States; and of making rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces, and directing their operations.
S. Congress was also invested with authority to appoint a committee of the states to sit in the recess of congress, and to consist of one delegate from each state, and other committees and civil officers, to manage the general affairs under their direction; to appoint one of their number to, pre side, but unperson was to serve in the office of president more than one year in the term of three years; to ascertain the necessary sums for the public service, and to appropriate the same for de fraying the public expenses; to borrow money and emit bills on credit of the United States; to huilti and equip a navy ; to agree upon the number of land forces, and make requisitions upon each state for its quota, in proportion to the number of white inhabitants in such state. The legislatures of each state were to appoint the regimental officers, raise the men, and clothe, arm, and equip them at the expense of the United States.
9. Congress was also invested with power to adjourn for any time not exceeding six months, and to any place within the United States; and provision was made for the publication of its permit, and for entering the yeas and nays thereon* when desired by any delegate.
10. Such were the powers confided in congress. But even these were greatly restricted in their ex ercise; for it was expressly provided that congress should never engage in a war; nor grunt letters of marque or reprisal in time of peace; nor enter into any treaties or alliances; nor coin money or regu late the value thereof; nor ascertain the sums or expenses necessary for the defence and welfare of the States; nor emit bills; nor borrow money on the credit of the United States; nor ap propriate money ; nor agree upon the number of vessels of war to be built, or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be raised; nor ap point a commander-in-chief of the army or navy; unless nine states should assent to the same. And no question on any other point, except for adjourn ing, from day to day, was to be determined, except by vote of the majority of the states.
11. The committee of the states, or any nine of them, were authorized in the recess of congress to exercise such powers as congress, with the assent of nine states, should think it expedient to vest them with, except powers for the exercise of which, by the articles of confederation, the assent of nine states was required, which could not be thus delegated.
12. It was further provided that all bills of credit, moneys borrowed, and debts contracted by or under the authority of congress before the con federation, should be a charge against the United States; that when land forces were raised by any state for the common defence, all officers of or under the rank of colonel should be appointed by the legislature of the state, cr in such manner as the state should direct; and all vacancies should be filled up in the same manner; that all charges of war, and all other expenses for the common de fence or general welfare, should be defrayed out of a common treasury, which should be supplied by the several states. in proportion to the value of the land within each state granted or surveyed, and the buildings and improvements thereon, to he estimated according to the mode prescribed by congress; and the taxes for that proportion were to be laid and levied by the legislatures of the states within the time agreed upon by cenmas.