Article XIII. Every state shall abide by the determinations of the united states in congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this confederation shall be inviolably observed by every state, and the union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the united states, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every state. And whereas it hath 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 under-signed 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 & behalf of the State of New Hampshire JOSIAH BARTLETT, JOHN WENTWORTH Jun'r. August 8th 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 behalf of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations WILLIAM ELLARY, 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 JA'S. DUANE, FRA'S. LEWIS, W'M DUER., GOUV MORRIS On the Part and in Behalf of the State of New Jersey. Nov'r. 26, 1778-- JNO. WITHERSPOON, NATHL. SCUDDER On the part and behalf of the State of Pennsylvania ROB'T. MORRIS, DANIEL ROBERDEAU, JON'A. BAYARD SMITH., WILLIAM CLINGAN, JOSEPH REED 22d July 1778 On the part & behalf of the State of Delaware THO McKEAN Feby 12 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 d'o On the Part and Behalf of the State of Virginia