t might be ceded by them should be
disposed of, the material parts of which are as follows, viz:

_Resolved_, That the unappropriated lands which may be ceded or
relinquished to the United States by any particular State pursuant to
the recommendation of Congress of the 6th day of September last shall be
disposed of for the common benefit of the United States and be settled
and formed into distinct republican States, which shall become members
of the Federal Union and have the same rights of sovereignty, freedom,
and independence as the other States; ... that the said lands shall be
granted or settled at such times and under such regulations as shall
hereafter be agreed on by the United States in Congress assembled, or
nine or more of them.

In February, 1781, the legislature of Maryland passed an act authorizing
their delegates in Congress to sign the Articles of Confederation. The
following are extracts from the preamble and body of the act, viz:

Whereas it hath been said that the common enemy is encouraged by this
State not acceding to the Confederation to hope that the union of the
sister States may be dissolved, and therefore prosecutes the war in
expectation of an event so disgraceful to America, and our friends and
illustrious ally are impressed with an idea that the common cause would
be promoted by our formally acceding to the Confederation. ...

The act of which this is the preamble authorizes the delegates of that
State to sign the Articles, and proceeds to declare "that by acceding
to the said Confederation this State doth not relinquish, nor intend
to relinquish, any right or interest she hath with the other united or
confederated States to the back country," etc.

On the 1st of March, 1781, the delegates of Maryland signed the Articles
of Confederation, and the Federal Union under that compact was complete.
The conflicting claims to the Western lands, however, were not disposed
of, and continued to give great trouble to Congress. Repeated and urgent
calls were made by Congress upon the States claiming them to make
liberal cessions to the United States, and it was not until long after
the present Constitution was formed that the grants were completed.

The deed of cession from New York was executed on the 1st of March,
1781, the day the Articles of Confederation were ratified, and it was
accepted by Congress on the 29th October, 1782. One of the conditions of
thi