Wythe, Archibald Cary & the Virginia General Assembly to John Jay & the Continental Congress, 15 December 1778

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"Virginia General Assembly Resolve re Articles of Confederation, 15 December 1778, pg 1." Image from The Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789.

Speaker of the Senate Archibald Cary and Speaker of the House of Delegates George Wythe write to John Jay, the president of the Continental Congress in 1778. They tell Jay that Virginia General Assembly has unanimously agreed to the ratification of the Articles of Confederation. The General Assembly believes that ratifying the Articles quickly will allow the United States to further establish itself as an independent nation and enable the United States to have an upper hand in dealing with foreign affairs.

Letter text

Page 1

Virginia

In General Assembly, December 15th, 1778

Resolved, Nemine contradicente, that a Speedy ratification of the Articles of Confederation between the United States of America will confound the devices of their foreign and frustrate

Page 2

"Virginia General Assembly Resolve re Articles of Confederation, 15 December 1778, pg 2." Image from The Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789.

frustrate the machinations of their domestic enemies, encourage their firm friends, and fix the wavering, contribute much to the support of their public Credit, and the restoration of the value of their paper Money; produce Unanimity in their Councils at home and add weight to their Negociations abroad; and compleating the Independence of their Country establish the best foundation of its prosperity.

Resolved, Nemine contradicente that the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union proposed by Congress the 7th day of November last between the States of New Hampshire Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and providence plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and referred for approbation to the consideration of the several Legislatures of the said States, be approved and ratified on the part of this Commonwealth, and that our Delegates in Congress be accordingly authorised and instructed to ratify the same, in the name and on the behalf of this Commonwealth, and that they attend for that purpose on or below the Tenth day of March Next.

Archibald Cary, Speaker of the Senate
G. Wythe, Speaker of the House of Delegates