"3d. That no act of Congress, that may be authorized as hereby proposed, shall be entered into by less than two thirds of the confederated states, nor be in force longer than thirteen years."
A motion was made, and the question being put, to amend the resolution by adding to the end thereof the following words, to wit: "unless continued by a like proportion of votes within one year immediately preceding the expiration of the said period, or be revived in like manner after the expiration thereof," it passed in the negative—ayes, 28; noes, 79.
On a motion made by Mr. Turberville, and seconded by Mr. Watkins,—
Ordered, That the names of the ayes and noes, on the question to agree to the said amendment, be inserted in the journal.
And then the said resolution, being again read, was, on the question put thereon, agreed to by the house.
Ordered, That Mr. Alexander White do carry the resolution to the Senate, and desire their concurrence.
Thursday, December 1, 1785.—On a motion made to the following effect—that the resolution reported from a committee of the whole house, and agreed to by the house on yesterday, containing instructions to the delegates of this commonwealth in Congress, respecting commerce, does not, from a mistake, contain the sense of the majority of this house that voted for the said resolution.
Ordered, therefore, That the direction to send the said resolution to the Senate for their concurrence be rescinded, and that this house do immediately resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to reconsider the said resolution.
It was resolved in the affirmative—ayes, 60; noes, 33.
The house then accordingly resolved itself into a committee of the whole house on the said resolution; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Matthews reported that the said committee had, according to order, had the said resolution under their consideration, and had made several amendments thereto, which they had directed him to report when the house should think proper to receive the same.
Ordered, That the said report do lie on the table.
[With the same object in view, the General Assembly of Virginia eventually pursued a different course to attain it, as will be seen by the subjoined resolution.]
PROPOSITION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
Virginia, ss. In the House of Delegates, January 21, 1786.
Resolved, That Edmund Randolph, James Madison, Jun., Walter Jones, St. George Tucker, Meriwether Smith, David Ross, William Ronald and George Mason, Esquires, be appointed commissioners, who, or any five of whom, shall meet such commissioners as may be appointed by the other states in the Union, at a time and place to be agreed on, to take into consideration the trade of the United States; to examine the relative situation and trade of the said states; to consider how far a uniform system in their commercial regulations may be necessary to their common interest and their permanent harmony; and to report to the several states such an act relative to this great object as, when unanimously ratified by them, will enable the United States in Congress assembled effectually to provide for
