pact, for the purpose aforesaid; such compact when made to be laid before Congress for their approbation; and to continue until mutually dissolved by these States, or Congress shall declare that such compact shall no longer exist.

It also appeared to the commissioners that foreign gold and silver coin, received in the two States, as the current money thereof, should pass at the same value, according to its fineness and weight; and if the species of coin could be regulated at the same nominal value, it would be of great convenience to the commerce and dealings between the citizens of the two States. The damages on foreign bills of exchange protested are very different in the two States, and it is obvious that they ought to be the same, and should be considered in all cases, and to all purposes, as of equal rank with debts upon contract in writing, signed by the party, and it was suggested that fifteen pct. should be allowed, without regard to the time of negotiation, and legal interest on the principal from the time of protest. It was also conceived by the commissioners, that drafts by the merchants of either State, upon those of the other, in the nature of inland bills of exchange, should be subject by law, to official protest, by a notary public, and that the damages, for non-payment, should be the same in both States; and it was thought, that eight pct. should be allowed upon protest, and legal interest upon the principal, from the time of protest.

It appeared to the commissioners to be essential to the commerce and revenue of the two governments, that duties on imports or exports (if laid) should be the same in both States.

If these subjects should be deemed worthy notice, it may be proper for the two legislatures, at their annual meeting in the autumn to appoint commissioners to meet and communicate the regulations of commerce and duties proposed by each State, and to confer on such subjects as may concern the commercial interests of both States. It was suggested that the number of the said commissioners should be equal, and not less than three, nor more than five, from each State; and that they should annually meet in the third week in September, at such place as they should appoint. We have the honor to be with the greatest respect sir,

Your most obedient servants

G. MASON.

ALEXANDER HENDERSON.

P. S. The Commissioners also beg leave to transmit to the General Assembly, the inclosed copy of their joint application to the State of Pennsylvania respecting the communication between Potomac River and the Western waters.

Honorable the Speaker of the House

SIR:

of Delegates of Virginia.

VIRGINIA, MOUNT VERNON, March 28, 1785.

In pursuance of directions from the legislatures of Virginia and Maryland, respectively to us given, we beg leave to represent to the State of Pennsylvania that it is in contemplation of the said two States to promote the clearing, and extending the navigation of Potomac, from tide-water, upwards, as far as the same may be found practicable, to open a convenient road from the head of such navigation, to the waters running into the Ohio, and to render these waters navigable, as far as may be necessary and proper. That the said works will require great expence, which may not be repaid, unless a free use be secured to the said States, and their citizens, of the waters of the Ohio and its branches, as far as the same lie within the limits of Pennsylvania; that as essential advantages will accrue from such works to a considerable portion of the said State, it is thought reasonable that the legislature thereof should by some previous act engage, that for the encouragement of the said works, all articles of produce or merchandise, which may be conveyed to or from either of the said two States, through either of the said rivers, within the limits of Pennsylvania, to or from any place without the said limits, shall pass throughout free from all duties or tolls whatsoever, other than such tolls as may be established and be necessary for reimbursing expences incurred by the State, or its citizens, in clearing, or for defraying the expence of preserving the navigation of the said rivers. And that no articles imported into Pennsylvania through the channel or channels, or any part thereof to be opened as aforesaid, and rendered or used within the said State, shall be subject to any duties on imports, other than such articles would be subject to, if imported into the said State through any other channel whatsoever.

We request Sir, that you will take the earliest opportunity of laying this representation, on behalf of the two States, before the

legislature of Pennsylvania; and that you will communicate the result to the executives of Virginia and Maryland.

By acts of the legislatures of Virginia and Maryland for opening the navigation of the river Potomac above tide-water, the citizens of the United States have the same right of trading through the said water, which the citizens of Maryland and Virginia enjoy ; and we have no doubt but the legislature of your State will, agreeably to this principle, give every encouragement to measures which have for their object, the interest and convenience of their citizens, and those of the other States in the Union.

We have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient servants,

Honorable the President of the Executive Council

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

II.

OBJECTIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND OTHER PAPERS.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONFEDERATION.

1. Impost for 25 years and the collection of it.

2. The regulation of the commerce of the United States. 3. Regulation of the Highways and Ferries throughout the United States.

4. Supreme federal Court of Error and Appeal, the judges to be appointed by Congress with supreme jurisdiction in all causes in which the United States are concerned.

5. All judges and executive officers appointed by the several States to take an oath to observe and obey the federal laws and the writs of error, decrees, judgments, orders, and warrants of the federal court in federal causes.

6. The warrant of the Chief Justice and the President of Congress to be of force throughout all the United States, and all

sheriffs, under sheriffs, constables, and other executive officers to obey and execute them.

7. A Convention shall be holden to meet the 1st Monday in May every 5 years, for the purpose of examining into the administration of the federal government for the five preceding years and proposing such amendments and additional powers as to them may seem necessary. For which purpose the said Convention shall have power to appoint a committee which shall examine the secret journals of Congress and report thereon.

(Arthur Lee on letter of George Mason's.)

NOTES ON THE CONSTITUTION IN HANDWRITING OF GEORGE

MASON.

In the beginning of the 4th clause of the 3rd section of the 1st Article, strike out the words-the vice-president of the United States, and instead of them insert-a vice-president of the United States shall be chosen in the manner hereinafter directed who

In the 3rd clause of the 5th section of the 1st Article, after the words such parts add-of the journals of the

senate.

[refused]

[refused]

At the end of the same clause add-and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditure of all public money shall be annually published from time to time, [the word "annually" is marked over as in the text and the last four words are in another hand—].

[agreed to]

In the 8th section of the 1st Article to the beginning of the clause, before the words To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia add―That the liberties of the people may be the better secured against the danger of regular troops or standing armies in time of peace.

[refused]

In the 3rd clause of the 9th section of the 1st Article

[refused]

strike out the words-nor any ex post facto laws.

In the 4th clause of the same Article after the word

[agreed]

census add-or enumeration.

In the 1st clause of the 10th section of the same Article strike out ex post facto laws-and after the words obligation of insert-previous.

[refused]

In the latter end of the 3rd clause of the 2nd Article—enquire of the committee about the senate chusing the vice president.

In the 7th clause of the 1st section of the 2nd Article-strike out the words during the period for which he shall have been elected -and instead of them insert-so as in any manner to affect the person in office at the time of such increase or diminution.

At the end of the 1st clause of the 2nd section of the 2nd Article add the words-or Treason; but he may grant reprieves in cases of treason, until the end of the next ensuing session of Congress.

At the end of the 2nd clause of the 2nd section of the 2nd Article and which shall be established by law [added in another hand], and the Congress may by law vest the appoint[agreed] ment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the president alone, in the court of law, or the heads of Depart

ments.

Section 4th of the same Article-Inconsistency between this and the 7th clause of the 3rd section of the 1st Article-amend by inserting after the word office the words-and disqualified from holding or enjoying-any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.

Article 3rd, section 1-before the word diminished-insert-encreased or

In the 2nd clause of the 2nd section of the 3rd Article-strike out the word Fact-and insert-Equity.

In the 3rd section of 3rd Article-corruption of blood inaccurately expressed; and no exception or provision for the wife, who may be innocent, and ought not to be involved in ruin from the guilt of the husband.

Section 2nd, Article 4th-The citizens of one State having an estate in another, have not secured to them the right of removing their property as in the 4th Article of the Confederation-amend

by adding the following clause: and every citizen having [not an estate in two or more States shall have a right to remove his property from one State to another.

proposed]

Article 5th-By this Article Congress only have the power of proposing amendments at any future time to this constitution and should it prove ever so oppressive, the whole people of America can't make, or even propose alterations to it; a doctrine utterly