And whereas it has pleased the Great Governor of the world to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of confederation and perpetual union: Know ye, That we, the undersigned delegates, by virtue of the power and authority to us given for that purpose, do, by these presents, in the name and in behalf of our respective constituents, fully and entirely ratify and confirm each and every of the said Articles of confederation and perpetual union, and all and singular the matters and things therein contained; and we do further solemnly plight and engage the faith of our respective constituents, that they shall abide by the determinations of the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which, by the said confederation, are submitted to them; and that the Articles thereof shall be inviolably observed by the States we respectively represent; and that the union shall be perpetual.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, in Congress. Done at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, the ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, and in the third year of the independence of America.

On the part and behalf of the State of New Hampshire.
Josiah Bartlet, John Wentworth, jun.,
August 8, 1778.
On the part and behalf of the State of Massachusetts Bay.
John Hancock,
Samuel Adams,
Elbridge Gerry, 		Francis Dana,
James Lovell,
Samuel Holten.
On the part and in behalf of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
William Ellery,
Henry Marchant,
 John Collins.
On the part and behalf of the State of Connecticut.
Roger Sherman,
Samuel Huntington,
Oliver Wolcott,
 Titus Hosmer,
Andrew Adams.
On the part and behalf of the State of New York.
Jas. Duane,
Fra. Lewis, 		Wm. Duer,
Gouv. Morris.
On the part and in behalf of the State of New Jersey.
Jno. Witherspoon, Nath. Scudder,
Nov. 26, 1778.
On the part and behalf of the State of Pennsylvania.
Robt. Morris,
Daniel Roberdeau,
Jona. Bayard Smith, 		William Clingan,
Joseph Reed,
22d July, 1778.
On the part and behalf of the State of Delaware.
Tho. M'Kean,
Feb. 13, 1779,
John Dickinson,
May 5th, 1779,
 Nicholas Van Dyke.
On the part and behalf of the State of Maryland.
John Hanson,
March 1,1781,		 Daniel Carroll,
March 1, 1781.
On the part and behalf of the State of Virginia.
Richard Henry Lee,
John Banister,
Thomas Adams,
 Jno. Harvie,
Francis Lightfoot Lee.
On the part and behalf of the State of North Carolina.
John Penn,
July 21,1778,
Corns. Harnett,
 Jno. Williams.
On the part and behalf of the State of South Carolina.
Henry Laurens,
William Henry Drayton,
Jno. Mathews,
 Richard Hutson,
Thos. Heywood, jun.
On the part and behalf of the State of Georgia.
Jno. Walton,
24th July, 1778,
Edwd. Telfair,
 Edwd. Langworthy.

Note.—From the circumstance of delegates from the same State having signed the Articles of confederation at different times, as appears by the dates, it is probable they affixed their names as they happened to be present in Congress, after they had been authorized by their constituents.

The above Articles of confederation continued in force until the 4th day of March, 1789, when the constitution of the United States took effect.

APPENDIX C.

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

PREAMBLE.

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

ARTICLE I.