该年11月时，美国决定在马里兰州市政厅召开批准会议，但是许多代表却无法及时到达。到了1月12日，13个州里只有7个州派遣代表出席。时间已经不够了，其他州的代表都在哪里呢？

由于邦联条款的松散约束力，大陆会议没有足够的权力来强制要求各州代表参加会议。到了1月13日，批准会议还需要更多的代表才能开会。最后，南卡罗莱纳州的代表李察．布瑞司福德 (Richard Beresford) 抱病前来参加会议。当他到达会场时，就立即开始投票。在1784年1月14日，条约被批准通过。美国正式成为独立的国家。
 
A ratifying convention was scheduled at the Maryland State House in November, but many of the delegates did not arrive right away. By January 12, only seven of the 13 states had sent their representatives. Time was running short; where were the other delegates?

Operating under the weak Articles of Confederation, the Continental Congress lacked the power to enforce attendance at the convention. On January 13, the convention needed one more delegate. Finally, South Carolina Representative Richard Beresford, who was ill, traveled to Maryland. As soon as he arrived, the vote was taken, and on January 14, 1784, the treaty was ratified. The United States was officially an independent nation.

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