34 MARYLAND.

The number of deputies which the respec-
tive states should send to the congress, was
never stipulated—nor was it material. The in-
dividual members of the congress did not vote
as such. On all questions, it was as states, that
they answered, the deputies from each state giv-
ing one vote without regard to the dimensions of
the state, or to the number of her deputies that
night be present.

Then Congress passed no laws—The prac-
tice was to recommend to the state to pass such
laws as the public good required.

All the powers of government ware deposited
by the people in the state legislatures. Each
state was essentially independent. Had either of
the states thought it expedient to have made a
seperate peace for themselves, it would have
been considered a violation of implied faith, but
no question could have been raised, of their
actual competency to do so. All the intrigues
of an insidious enemy, failed to effect a single
deversioa of this kind; because the people, as a
body, were intelligent and virtuous.

When it was ascertained that neither this
form of connexion, nor the articles of confedera-
tion which were subsequently agreed to, were
well adapted to the circumstances of the states, it
was determined to re-model the general govern-
ment. The several states appointed deputies to
a general convention for the purpose of consider-
ing the subject, who framed the constitution,
which was adopted by the several states, and