Maryland State House

Maryland State House 

Annapolis, Maryland
November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784

100 State Circle 
Annapolis, MD 21401

The Maryland State House was designed by Joseph Horatio Anderson in 1771. Its construction began in 1772 but was not completed until 1779 due to the struggle for Independence.  The building was constructed in red brick Georgian style with a small portico projecting out from the center crowned by a pediment. The State House entrance is accented with two high arched windows that complement the large rectangular windows on both stories lining the façade. A cornice above the windows is topped by another pediment and the sloping roof gives way for a central octagonal drum atop which rests a distinctive dome. The great dome is topped by a balustrade balcony, another octagonal drum and a lantern. The Interior of the Dome, from floor to ceiling, is 113' with the building itself encompassing 120,900 square feet under roof.  It is the oldest American State Capitol still in continuous legislative use. Here on February 2, 1781, the Maryland legislature ratified the Articles of Confederation thus dissolving the old U.S. Continental Congress government. 

Important Events and Key USCA Annapolis Legislation 

• On December 23rd, 1783 the USCA holds a public session accepting George Washington's resignation  as Commander-in-Chief with seven states present.
• On January 14th, 1784 the USCA ratifies the Paris Definitive Treaty of Peace with nine states present. In compliance with the treaty the USCA recommends that the states "provide for the restitution of" confiscated loyalist property.  
• On January 30th, 1784 the USCA grants the necessary Canton ship’s papers to the Empress of China for opening U.S. trade to the Far East.
• On February 3th, 1784 Congress creates a post of undersecretary to revive office for foreign affairs. On March 2nd they elect Henry Remsen under secretary for foreign affairs but deadlock over the appointment of a new US Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
• On March 24th, 1784 Major General Baron Steuben Inspector General resigns and the USCA accepts on April 15, 1784. 
• On April 9th, 1784 King George III accepts the USCA nine state January 14th, 1784 ratification proclamation and ratifies the Definitive Treaty of Peace ending the Revolutionary War.
• On April 23th, 1784 Thomas Jefferson’s Land Ordinance of 1784 is passed as the first step of Northwest Territory settlement under federal jurisdiction.
• May 7th, 1784 the USCA appoints John Jay US Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 
• Committee of States convenes on July 8, 1784 and meets intermittently until August 9, 1784 when it collapses. The chief lesson that comes from  the Committee of the States was that an executive of the plurality was not an effective form of government.  This lesson ultimately resulted in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 creating a separate executive branch of government  in its tripartite system, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America.

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Delegates Serving in the Annapolis USCA Session

Connecticut

• Roger Sherman  Elected: October 9,1783 Annapolis Attendance: January 13 to June 4,1784
• James Wadsworth Elected: October 9,1783 to Annapolis Attendance: January 13 to June 3,1784 

Delaware

• Gunning Bedford, Jr. , Elected: February 1, 1783,   Annapolis Attendance: March 8-13, 1784.
• Eleazer McComb, Elected: February 1, 1783 Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to January 17, 1784.
• James Tilton, Elected: February 1, 1783 Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to March 13, 1784

Georgia

• John Houstoun  Elected: January 9, 1784  Annapolis Attendance: June 30 to August 13, 1784

Maryland

• Jeremiah Townley Chase, Elected: December 9,1783  Annapolis Attendance: December 15, 1783, to March 8, 1784; March 17 to April 5; April 12 to June 4; June 28 to August 9; August 12-19,1784
• Edward Lloyd, Elected: November 26, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: December 13-27, 1783; January 2 to February 6, 1784.
• James McHenry, Elected: November 26, 1783 Annapolis Attendance: December 13-27, 1783; March 27 to April 29; May 31 to June 3; August 10-11, 1784
• Thomas Stone,  Elected: November 26,1783  Annapolis Attendance:  March 26 to June 3,1784

Massachusetts

• Francis Dana,  Elected:  February 11, 1784 Annapolis Attendance:  May 24 to June 4; June 26 to August 10,1784
• Elbridge Gerry, Elected: June 27, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to June 3, 1784.
• Samuel Osgood, Elected: July 9, 1783,   Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to March 1, 1784.
• George Partridge, Elected: June 28, 1783, Annapolis Attendance:  December 13, 1783, to June 3, 1784.

New Hampshire

• Jonathan Blanchard, Elected: December 26, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: March 1 to June 4; June 26 to August 9, 1784
• Abiel Foster, 12-13-1783   Elected: Elected: February 19, 1783  and December 26, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to June 3, 1784

New Jersey

• John Beatty, Elected: November 6, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: January 13 to June 3,1784 
• Samuel Dick Elected: November 6, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: February 25 to June 4, 1784; July 5 to August 11, 1784.
• John Stevens, Elected: November 6, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: May 20 to June 3, 1784

New York

• Charles DeWitt,  Elected: February 3, 1784,  Annapolis Attendance:  March 27 to June 4, 1784
• Ephraim Paine, Elected: February 3, 1784,  Annapolis Attendance:  March 25 to June 3, 1784

North Carolina

• Benjamin Hawkins, Elected: April 25, 1783   Annapolis Attendance:  December 13-20, 1783
• Hugh Williamson, Elected: April 23, 1783  Annapolis Attendance:  December 13, 1783 to May 13, 1784; May 17 to June 3, 1784
• Richard Dobbs Spaight, Elected: May 11, 1783   Annapolis Attendance:   December 13, 1783 to February 13, 1784; February 23 to May 13; May 17 to June 4; June 30 to August 19, 1784

Pennsylvania

• Edward Hand, Elected: November 12, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: December 24, 1783 to February 5, 1784; March 27 to June 4; June 26 to August 19, 1784.
• Thomas Mifflin, Elected: November 12, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to March 8, 1784; March 15-27; April 1 to June 3, 1784.  He served as President during the Annapolis Session.
• John Montgomery, Elected: November 12, 1783,   Annapolis Attendance: January 22 to March 19; March 25 to April 1; April 13 to June 3, 1784.
• Cadwalader Morris, Elected: November 12, 1783,  Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to January 15, 1784,

Rhode Island

•  William Ellery, Elected: May 7, 1783,  Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to June 4, 1784
• David Howell, Elected: May 5, 1784,   Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783, to June 3, 1784

South Carolina

• Jacob Read, Elected: February 12, 1783,  Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783 to June 4, 1784
• Richard Beresford, Elected: March 15, 1783    Annapolis Attendance:  January - 14 to June 3, 1784

Virginia

• Samuel Hardy, Elected: June 6, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: December 13-21, 1783; February 24 to June 4, 1784; June 26 to August 19, 1784.
• Thomas Jefferson, Elected: June 6, 1783, Annapolis Attendance: December 13, 1783 to April 12, 1784. Thomas Jefferson was elected Chairman of the United States in Congress assembled on March 12, 1784  and elected  Chairman again on March, 30 1784 to preside during Thomas Mifflin’s Absence.
• Arthur Lee, Elected: June 6, 1783   Annapolis Attendance:  December 13, 1783 to April 12, 1784; May 5 to June 3, 1784. 
• John Francis Mercer, Elected: June 6, 1783,  Annapolis Attendance:   March 19 to June 3, 1784 
• James Mercer,  Elected: June 6, 1783; June 22, 1784, Annapolis Attendance:   March 19 to June 3, 1784
• James Monroe, Elected: June 6, 1783  Annapolis Attendance:   December 13, 1783 to April 14, 1784; April 23 to June 3, 1784 

Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled Containing  the Proceedings From the Third Day of November, 1783 ti the Third Day of June, 1784 - Volume IX, Published by order of Congress - Philadelphia, Printed by John Dunlap, Printer to the United States in Congress Assembled -- Image Courtesy of Historic.us

Chronology of the Fourth USCA Session

1783 - November 3 Convenes new Congress in Princeton; elects Thomas Mifflin president (elects Daniel Carroll chairman in the president's absence). November 4 Authorizes discharge of the Continental Army- "except 500 men, with proper officers." Adjourns to Annapolis, to reconvene the 26th.

Delegate account of the initial session in Annapolis:

To: William Blount 

Dear sir, Annapolis 28th Novr. 1783 

On the 25th I arrived at this Place, we had adjourned to the 26th but have not yet made a Congress, Virginia alone being here. Yesterday the Delegates were chosen for this State, viz Jas McHenry, Coll. Lloyd, Mr Stone & Mr Chase. Mr Stone who is a Lawyer is said to be a man of considerable abilities mental and Col. Loy'd of the first abilities pecuniary in the State. He appears also to be clever. I left Mr Spaight at Philada. & expect him here on Monday. 

The State House here is certainly an elegant Building. The Room we are to sit in is perhaps the prettyest in America. Be so good as give me a detail of assembly news. The acct. of western Lands in particular. As soon as I have settled at a private Lodging, which I hope will be on to morrow I shall try to connect the Chain of occurrences which have lately been interrupted.... 

Hugh Williamson

Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled Containing  the Proceedings From the Third Day of November, 1783 ti the Third Day of June, 1784 Open to the December 13th, 1783 start of the Annapolis, MD session - -- Image Courtesy of Historic.us 

December 13  -  A number of members met on November 26 according to adjournment, but there not being a sufficient number of states assembled to proceed to business, Congress was adjourned from day to day, till December 13th, 1783, when seven states appearing the following states and members appeared from

New Hampshire,
Mr. Abiel Foster,

Massachusetts,
Mr. Elbridge Gerry,
Mr. Samuel Osgood,
Mr. George Partridge,

Rhode Island,
Mr. William Ellery,
Mr. David Howell,

Pennsylvania,
Mr. Tibetans Mifflin,
Mr. Cadwalader Morris,

Delaware,
Mr. James Tilton,
Mr. Eleazer McComb,

Maryland,
Mr. James McHenry,
Mr. Edward Lloyd,

Virginia,
Mr. Thomas Jefferson,
Mr. Samuel Hardy,
Mr. Arthur Lee,
Mr. James Monroe,

North Carolina,
Mr. Benjamin Hawkins,
Mr. Hugh Williamson,
Mr. Richard Dobbs Spaight,

South Carolina,
Mr. Jacob Read,

Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled Containing  the Proceedings From the Third Day of November, 1783 ti the Third Day of June, 1784 Open to the December 13th to 20th 1783 noting the Treaty of Paris has been received  -  Image courtesy of Historic.us 

December 15 Fails to convene quorum. December 16 Reads foreign dispatches. December 17 Fails to convene quorum. December 22 Holds a public ball for General Washington. December 23 Appeals to unrepresented states to maintain congressional attendance; receives Washington and accepts his resignation as Commander-in-Chief. December 27 Receives report on capital location. December 29

1784 - January 1 Fails to convene quorum. 1784 January 3 Resolves to receive Francis Dana, "relative to his mission to the Court of Russia." January 5 Rejects proposal to nominate knights to the Polish Order of Divine Providence. January 8 Debates Quaker petition for suppression of the slave trade. January 10 Fails to convene quorum. January 14 Ratifies definitive treaty of peace, "nine states being present"; recommends that the states "provide for the restitution of" confiscated loyalist property.  

United States in Congress Assembled  Treaty of Paris Ratification Proclamation signed by President Thomas Mifflin and Secretary Charles Thomson.

Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled Containing  the Proceedings From the Third Day of November, 1783 to the Third Day of June, 1784 Open to the January 14th, 1784 vote on the Treaty of Paris Ratification.  Note that the Journals record that 11 of the 13 States had a total of 23 delegates present during the ratification vote.   The States of New Hampshire and New Jersey did not meet the two Delegate minimum per State mandated by the Articles of Confederation so their State's votes are not counted being marked with a black circle rather than the ay.  The remaining nine States that voted ay on the ratification met the Articles of Confederation State quorum minimum of nine to enact a Treaty.   - -- Image Courtesy of Historic.us 

January 15 Acquiesces in public creditor demand that loan office certificate interest not be subject to depreciation. January 17-20 Fails to convene quorum. January 21 Rejects motion denying Continental jurisdiction in Lusannah admiralty appeal. January 22 Halts plan to dispose of military stores. January 23 Sets date for selecting judges to determine "the private right of soil" in the Wyoming Valley. January 26 Narrows half-pay eligibility rules. January 27-28 Fails to convene quorum. January 30 Grants sea-letters for The Empress of China voyage to Canton.

February 3 Creates post of undersecretary to revive office for foreign affairs. February 4-5 Fails to convene quorum. February 6 Issues brevet promotions for departing foreign officers. February 7-9 Fails to convene quorum. February 10 Plans general treaty with Native American nations of the northern department. February 11 Registers commissions of five French consuls and five vice-consuls. February 12 Fails to convene quorum. February 16-23 Fails to convene quorum. February 24 Postpones debate on garrisoning frontier posts for failure of nine-state representation. February 27 Commends Marquis de la Rouerie; deadlocks over appointment of a secretary for foreign affairs.

March 1 Receives Indiana Company petition; accepts Virginia cession of western land claims; reads western land ordinance report. March 2 Elects Henry Remsen under secretary for foreign affairs; deadlocks over appointment of a secretary. March 4 Elects commissioners to negotiate with the Native Americans. March 5 Debates plans for holding treaty with the Native Americans. March 10 Fails to convene quorum. March 12 Rejects Connecticut protest against half-pay plan. March 13 Rejects Delaware delegate credentials, exceeding three-year limitation. March 16 Bars appointment of aliens to consular and other foreign posts. March 19 Adopts instructions for Native American commissioners. March 22-25 Postpones debate on Lusannah admiralty appeal. March 23 Rejects credentials of Massachusetts delegate Samuel Osgood. March 26 Affirms that in negotiating commercial treaties these United States be considered . . . as one nation, upon the principles of the federal constitution." March 30 Sets quotas and adopts fiscal appeal to the states; rejects motion denying Continental jurisdiction in Lusannah appeal.

April 1-2 Debates report on negotiating commercial treaties. April 5 Adopts appeal to the states on arrears of interest payments on the public debt. April 6 Reads report on maintaining frontier garrisons. April 8 Instructs agent of marine on sale of Continental ships. April 12 Debates public debt. April 14 Debates motion to adjourn from Annapolis to various proposed sites. April 16 Instructs "commissioners for treating with the Native American nations." April 19 Debates western land ordinance; deletes anti-slavery paragraph. April 20-21 Debates western land ordinance. April 23 Debates and passes the western land ordinance. 

Journals of the United States in Congress Assembled Containing  the Proceedings From the Third Day of November, 1783 ti the Third Day of June, 1784 Open to the April 23rd, 1784 Western Land Ordinance    -- Image Courtesy of Historic.us  

April 24 Receives New York memorial concerning the Vermont dispute.[105]April 26 Resolves to adjourn June 3, to reconvene at Trenton October 30; debates capital's location. April 27-28 Debates public debt. April 28 Orders arrest of Henry Carbery, leader of Pennsylvania mutiny. April 29 Exhorts states to complete western land cessions. April 30 Requests states to vest Congress with power to regulate trade "for the term of fifteen years."

May 3 Reaffirms secrecy rule on foreign dispatches; receives French announcement on opening free ports to US trade. May 5 Debates retrenchment of the civil list. May 7 Sets diplomatic salaries; appoints John Jay secretary for foreign affairs. May 11 Adopts instructions for negotiation of commercial treaties. May 12 Resolves to request delivery of frontier posts to US troops. May 15 Debates disqualification of Rhode Island delegates. May 17 Receives announcement of French Minister La Luzerne's intention to return to France. May 18 Orders troops for the protection of Native American commissioners. May 19-24 Debates disqualification of Rhode Island delegates. May 21-22 Fails to convene quorum. May 25-27 Debates garrisoning frontier posts. May 28 Adopts "Ordinance for putting the department of finance into Commission"; reads proposed land ordinance and report on Native American affairs. May 29 Appoints Committee of the States "to sit in the recess of Congress," and adopts resolutions defining its powers and rules. Offers reward for arrest of chevalier de Longchamps for assault on the French consul general, the marquis de Barbe-Marbois. May 31 Debates garrisoning frontier posts.

June 1 Resolves to meet thrice daily until adjournment. June 2 Orders discharge of Continental troops "except 25 privates to guard the stores at Fort Pitt, and 55 to guard the stores at West Point." June 3 Instructs ministers plenipotentiary not to relinquish navigation of the Mississippi; authorizes call of 700 militiamen to protect the northwestern frontiers; elects three treasury commissioners; adjourns "to meet at Trenton on the 30th day of October.

July 5 Committee of the States convenes, adopts rules, meets in 20 regular sessions to August 3. August 4-19 Committee of the States fails to convene quorum, except briefly on August 9, and dissolves amid controversy.November 1 Convenes at Trenton, two states represented.

Capitals of the United States and Colonies of America

Philadelphia	Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774	City Tavern & Carpenter’s Hall
Philadelphia	May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776	Pennsylvania State House
Baltimore	Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777	Henry Fite’s House
Philadelphia	March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777	Pennsylvania State House
Lancaster	September 27, 1777	Lancaster  Court House
York	Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778	York-town Court House
Philadelphia	July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783	College Hall - PA State House
Princeton	June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783	Nassau Hall
Annapolis	Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784	Maryland, State House
Trenton	Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784	French Arms Tavern
New York City	Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788	New York City Hall
New York City	October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789	Walter Livingston House
New York City	March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790	Federal Hall
Philadelphia	December 6,1790 to May 14, 1800	Congress Hall
Washington DC	November 17,1800 to Present	Five US Capitols

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