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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --PREFATORY NOTE
The two subjects of greatest importance which occupied the attention of Congress in the year 1778 were finance and foreign affairs. The increasing difficulty of paying the expenses of the war with issues of paper currency, Continental and State, obliged Congress to look to other sources of revenue. The lottery had not been a success, and the receipts at the loan offices were insufficient to meet the growing demands for ready money--demands made inordinately large in appearance by the depreciation of the bills of credit. The Treasury was reorganized, requisitions made upon the States, taxation urged, and foreign loans sought.
The treaties with France opened a new prospect; for they gave the States a standing in international affairs, and suggested more certain methods of obtaining money, ammunition, and joint expeditions with France against the common enemy. The want of accord among the American commissioners in Europe produced unfortunate results in France and in Congress. Silas Deane was recalled, under charges of misapplying the aids received from France, and the spirit of faction was aroused in Congress by the attempt of the Lees to discredit and secure the punishment of this first American representative to a foreign court. What was done was not unconnected with the "cabal" against Washington, a plot which came to an end with the proposed expedition into Canada, to be commanded by Lafayette. The resignation
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of Henry Laurens as President was also caused by these differences among the American commissioners at Paris.
The year was marked by no little discontent expressed by Congress on the military events. Major Generals Charles Lee, Arthur St. Clair, and Philip Schuyler were tried by court-martial, and Lee suffered in reputation beyond any hope of recovery. Against these seeming troubles may be set the reorganization of the Army, carried through by committees of Congress in conferences with Washington and his generals. Various departments were examined into, abuses corrected, and new systems of purchasing and accounting for supplies introduced. The creation of the office of Inspector General marked a decided advance in army discipline. The many reports presented by the Boards of War and Treasury will indicate some of the improvements introduced into the two services. Congress was slowly moving toward executive boards not composed of Members of Congress, and better fitted to perform the important functions essential to maintaining the Army and conducting the war.
The incidents of Thomas Burke's conduct in refusing to obey a call of the House and Timothy Pickering's letter from the Board of War are not without their humorous aspects, while proving the sensitiveness of the House on its dignity.
Worthington Chauncey Ford
Chief of Division of Manuscripts
Editor
Herbert Putnam
Librarian of Congress
December --, 1907
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