Founding America (Barnes & Noble Classics) - Jack N. Rakove [90]
ARTICLE XV. The Council of State shall consist of one Delegate from each State, to be a named annually by the Delegates of each State, and where they cannot agree, by the United States assembled.
This Council shall have power to receive and open all Letters directed to the United States, and to return proper Answers; but not to make any engagements that shall be binding on the United States—To correspond with the legislature of every State, and all persons acting under the authority of the United States, or of the said legislatures—To apply to such Legislatures, or to the Officers in the several States who are entrusted with the executive powers of government, for occasional aid whenever and wherever necessary—To give counsel to the Commanding Officers, and to direct military operations by sea and land, not changing any objects or expeditions determined on by the United States Assembled, unless an alteration of circumstances which shall come to the knowledge of the Council after the recess of the States, shall make such change absolutely necessary—To attend to the defence and preservation of forts and strong posts—To procure intelligence of the condition and designs of the enemy—To expedite the execution of such measures as may be resolved on by the United States Assembled, in pursuance of the powers hereby given to them—To draw upon the treasurers for such sums as may be appropriated by the United States Assembled, and for the payment of such contracts as the said Council may make in pursuance of the powers hereby given to them—To superintend and controul or suspend all Officers civil and military, acting under the authority of the United States—In case of the death or removal of any Officer within the appointment of the United States Assembled, to employ a person to fulfill the Duties of such Office until the Assembly of the States meet—To publish and disperse authentic accounts of military operations—To summon an Assembly of the States at an earlier day than that appointed for their next meeting, if any great and unexpected emergency should render it necessary for the safety or welfare of the United States or any of them—To prepare matters for the consideration of the United States, and to lay before them at their next meeting all letters and advices received by the Council, with a report of their proceedings—To appoint a proper person for their Clerk, who shall take an oath of secrecy and fidelity, before he enters on the exercise of his office—seven Members shall have power to act—In case of the death of any Member, the Council shall immediately apply to his surviving colleagues to appoint some one of themselves to be a Member thereof till the meeting of the States, and if only one survives, they shall give immediate notice, that he may take his seat as a Councillor till such meeting.
ARTICLE XVI. Canada acceding to this Confederation, and entirely joining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into and entitled to all the advantages of this Union: But no other Colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine States.
These Articles shall be proposed to the legislatures of all the United States, to be by them considered, and if approved by them, they are advised to authorize their Delegates to ratify the same in the Assembly of the United States, which being done, the Articles of this Confederation shall inviolably be observed by every State, and the Union is to be perpetual: Nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in these Articles or any of them, unless such alteration be agreed to in an Assembly of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the Legislatures of every State.
Ordered,