1487. CONFEDERATION, The States' Committee.—
The Committee of the States,
which shall be appointed pursuant to the 9th
article of Confederation and perpetual union,
to sit in the recess of Congress for transacting
the business of the United States, shall
possess all the powers which may be exercised
by seven States in Congress assembled. except
that of sending ambassadors, ministers,
envoys, resident-consuls or agents to foreign
countries or courts: Establishing rules for deciding
what captures on land or water shall
be legal, and in what manner prizes, taken by
land or naval forces in the service of the
United States, shall be divided or appropriated:
Establishing courts for receiving and
determining finally appeals in cases of capture,
constituting courts for deciding disputes
and differences arising between two or
more States: Fixing the standard of weights
and measures for the United States: Changing
the rate of postage on the papers passing
through the post-offices established by Congress,
and of repealing or travening any
ordinance or act passed by Congress. No
question except for adjourning from day to
day shall be determined without the concurrence
of nine votes. A chairman to be
chosen by the Committee shall preside. The
officers of Congress, when required, shall
attend on the Committee. The Committee
shall keep a journal of their proceedings, to
be laid before Congress, and in these journals,
which shall be published monthly, and transmitted
to the Executives of the several States,
shall be entered the yeas and nays of the
members, when any one of them shall have
desired it before the question be put.—
Report on Com. of the States.
Ford ed., iii, 392.
(Jan. 1784)
