Excerpt from State Claims North-West Territory

Thus convinced, we should betray the trust reposed in us by our constituents were we to authorize you to ratify on their behalf the Confederation, unless it be further explained. We have coolly and dispassionately considered the subject; we have weighed probable inconveniences and hardships against the sacrifice of just and essential rights; and do instruct you not to agree to the Confederation unless an article or articles be added thereto in conformity with our declaration. Should we succeed in obtaining such article or articles, then you are hereby fully empowered to accede to the Confederation.

That these, our sentiments respecting our Confederation, may be more publicly known and more explicitly and concisely declared, we have drawn up the annexed declaration, which we instruct on to lay before Congress, to have printed, and to deliver to each of the Delegates of, the other States in Congress assembled copies thereof signed by yourselves or by such of you as may be present at the time of delivery, to the intent and purpose that the copies aforesaid may be communicated to our brethren of the United States and the contents of the said declaration taken into their serious and candid consideration.

Also we desire and instruct you to move at the proper time that these instructions be read to Congress by their Secretary and entered on the Journals of Congress.

We have spoken with freedom, as becomes freemen, and we sincerely wish that these, our representations, may make such an impression on that assembly as to induce them to make such addition to the Articles of Confederation as may bring about a permanent Union.

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