without its evils. It is to this source we are to trace many of the fatal mistakes, which have so deeply endangered the common cause; particularly that defect which will be the object of these remarks,--a want of power in Congress." Works, II. 186. [273] Secret Journals, II. 7, 8. [274] Ibid. 59. [275] Articles of Confederation, Art. VI., IX. The expression in the _sixth_ article was: "No State shall lay any imposts, &c. that shall interfere with any stipulations in treaties entered into by the United States with any king, prince, or state, _in pursuance of_ any treaties already proposed by Congress to the court of France and Spain." The _ninth_ article saved to the States the general power of levying duties and laying prohibitions. [276] Secret Journals, II. 65, 66. Art. XIII of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France. The expression employed was, "goods movable and immovable," and the right of succession was given, _ab intestato_, without first obtaining letters of naturalization. [277] See a report on this _projet_ of the treaty, made by Mr. Madison, July 17, 1782. Secret Journals, II. 142-144. [278] Ibid. [279] Art. VI. of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the Netherlands, executed by Mr. Adams at the Hague, October 8, 1782. Journals, VIII. 96. [280] Ibid., Art. II., III. [281] April 3, 1783. Journals, VIII. 386-398. [282] Mr. Pitt's bill was brought in in March, 1783, and he went out of office immediately afterwards. [283] April, 1783. [284] July, 1783. Their idea was, that, if the American States should choose to send consuls, they should be received, and consuls sent to them in return that each State would soon enter into all necessary regulations with the consul, and that nothing more was necessary. See Lord Sheffield's Observations on American Commerce. [285] April 30, 1784. [286] February 14, 1785. Journals, X. 53. [287] By an act passed June 22-23, 1785; laid before Congress October 10, 1785. Ibid. 353. [288] The commission consisted of Mr. John Adams, then at the Hague, Dr. Franklin, then in France, and Mr. Jefferson, then in Congress. Mr. Jefferson sailed from Boston on the 5th of July, and arrived in Paris on the 6th of August, 1784. (Works, I. 49.) The powers with whom they were to negotiate commercial treaties were Russia, Austria, Prussia, Denmark, Saxony, Hamburg, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Genoa, Tuscany, Rome, Naples, Venice, Sardinia, and the Ottoman Porte. Secret Journals, III. 484-489. May 7, 1784. [289] Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. [290] Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. [291] New Hampshire. [292] Rhode Island. [293] North Carolina. [294] Delaware, South Carolina, and Georgia. [295] See a report made in Congress, March 3, 1786. Journals, XI. 41.