That as a more convenient and certain rule of ascertaining the proportions to be supplied by the States respectively to the common treasury, the following alteration in the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union, between these States, be, and the same is hereby agreed to in Congress; and the several States are advised to authorize their respective delegates to subscribe and ratify the same as part of the said instrument of union, in the words following, to wit.
So much of the 8th of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen States of America, as is contained in the words following, to wit.
“All charges of war, and all other expences that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States in proportion to the value of all land within each State granted to or surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon, shall be estimated according to such mode as the United States in Congress assembled shall from time to time direct and appoint,” is hereby revoked and made void; and in place thereof it is declared and concluded, the same having been agreed to in a Congress of the United States, that all charges of war and all other expences that have been or shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, except so far as shall be otherwise provided for, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants, of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and three-fifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians, not paying taxes, in each state; which number shall be triennially taken and transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, in such mode as they shall direct and appoint.
Cite as: The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution Digital Edition, ed. John P. Kaminski, Gaspare J. Saladino, Richard Leffler, Charles H. Schoenleber and Margaret A. Hogan. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009. Canonic URL: http://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/founders/RNCN-01-01-02-0004-0005 [accessed 10 May 2011] Original source: Constitutional Documents and Records, 1776–1787, Volume I: Constitutional Documents and Records, 1776–1787