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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 --MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1781
A letter, of 6, from General Washington, was read.
A letter, of this day, from the honble the Minister of France, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The Washington letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 431; it is printed in theWritings of Washington (Ford), IX, 93. A translation of the French letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 341; another translation is printed in theDiplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, (Wharton) IV, 232.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three.
The members, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
A petition from Thomas Bates was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This petition is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, I, folio 230.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of 4th notwithstanding.
A memorial from Morgan Lewis was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three.
Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.
The committee to whom was referred the letter from E. Blaine, and the report of the Board of Treasury on the letter
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from J. Pierce, delivered in a draught of a letter to the states, which was agreed to as follows:
Sir: A circular address to the respective states, of the 9th day of November last, communicated a requisition of Congress for the service of the current year. This act, and the system of the 18th of March,for improving [respecting] our finances, include the principal means [which their present powers have enabled Congress to adopt] for prosecuting the warand they are of such vast moment, that, under Providence, the public safety rests upon their efficiency: measures so deeply interesting not only demand the unremitted attention and vigorous support of the legislatures; but Congress ought to be informed of their progress with the utmost precision. Both are necessary to the public credit, to the success of our military operations, to the very existence of our armies. By our act of the 21 of October, the state agents are directed to transmit to the Commander in Chief, and to the commissary general, respectively, monthly returns of all supplies which shall be drawn into their hands, specifying the articles and the magazines where they shall be deposited. It is equally incumbent on the state treasurers to make similar returns to the Board of Treasury of all the taxes which shall be brought into their respective offices, and of the issues of the new emissions. These are regulations which cannot be dispensed with, and it is recommended to the legislatures to enjoin them under such penalties as will enforce a prompt and punctual obedience.
Besides those supplies for the current year, which cannot be anticipated without the utmost danger, the pay in arrear to the army demands your most serious consideration. The honor of government and military order and discipline depend on its regular discharge. Nor was a fund sufficient for this and other purposes neglected; for had the requisitions for taxes prior to the act of the 18 of March been
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productive; had the warrants on the state treasuries for the balances of those taxes, drawn so long ago as the first of July, been satisfied, a complaint of this nature could not have existed,but when there remains at this moment a deficiency of no less than 42,499.38421/90 dollars it will readily be accounted for.
We are not unapprized of the embarrassments attending the collection of taxes from the credit given on commissaries' and quartermasters' certificates for the support of the army; but it is manifest that Congress could not provide a remedy.We had ceased [It was found expedient to discontinue] the emission of paper money,to comply with what was conceived to be the sense of the people, and froma want of confidence in the public credit our [various causes, the public] necessities were not relieved by loans, at the same time that theexpedient [measure] was embraced of extinguishing those certificates in the taxes. Hence the treasury has beenwithout destitute of supply, almost every resource being cut off at the same instant. In vain have we endeavoured to obtain a knowledge of the amount of those certificates, or how far they have been reduced; and they continue to obstruct every plan whichcan be [hath been] devised for restoring public credit and supporting the war. This is a subject to which the authority of the legislatures alone is competent, and it will become their wisdom and their zeal for the public service to give it the fullest investigation.
In the mean time, an immediate provision for the pay of the army is indispensably necessary. We need not dwell upon the injustice or the probable effects of a delay, they are obvious and alarming: and we earnestly call upon the several states to devise prompt and efficient means for remitting to the paymaster general, [on warrants to be issued in his favour,] the respective quotas assigned to them by the
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enclosed estimate.With this measure is connected the very existence of the army.1
[Note 1: 1 This sentence struck out, is in the writing of James Mitchell Varnum.]
The necessity of great and spirited exertions becomes every day more evident.2 While the cruel policy of our enemies raisesour universal indignation and abhorrence, it admonishes us that no time is to be lost in rescuing our bleeding country from desolation, and establishing its independence on the basis of an honorable and permanent peace. However great may be the burthens which we are called upon to sustain, let us remember that they are the price of liberty, and that they have been common to every people who have dared to struggle for social happiness againstthe hand of violence and oppression. Let us reflect on our solemn engagements, to devote our lives and our fortunes to the best of causes: and we shall find that we cannot be destitute of resources. Let us review the past miseries of a lingering war, and the danger of its further protraction, and we shall seize the golden opportunity of cooperating with our generous ally, by every possible effort to render the approaching campaign glorious and decisive. If we are unable in this stage of the conflictwhen we enjoy the prospect of its happy conclusion tomaintain our cause defend ourselves by annual taxes; can we hesitate to interpose our responsibility, or to contribute a portion of our capitals? Will a people whose fortitude and patriotism have excited the admiration of Europe, languish at the bright dawn of triumph, and endanger the public happiness by a selfish parsimony? While Congress entertain just sentimentsof the zeal of their constituentsfor the best of causes there can be no place for such humiliating apprehensions. On the contrary, we shall look with confidence for a liberal compliance with every requisition which the public exigencies dictate. Experience has pointed out the dangers to which we have been exposed by a want of punctuality in
[Note 2: 2 From this point the entries in the Journal are in George Bond's writing.]
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former supplies, and we are persuaded that those dangers will, for the future, be carefully prevented.
For our own part we have left nothing unessayed to render the operations of the war more vigorous and successful. We have [applied] for naval succours from abroad: if we no longer continue unfortunate in the importation, we shall not want a competent supply of cloathing, arms and ammunition. We are once more attempting a foreign loan of specie: we have pointed out and required the aids of men, provisions and money, which in every event must be produced from our own internal resources. We have strenuously urged upon the states a punctual compliance, on their part, with those requisitions. With the states whohave the power alone have authority to execute; with an enlightened people, who know how to estimate the blessings for which we contend, it remains to give the measures which we have recommended their full and seasonable effect.
The estimate referred to:
Estimate of the sums necessary to be forwarded by the respective states, from Pensylvania to New Hampshire, inclusive, for the immediate pay of the army composed of the lines of those states. Total 879,342 Dollars.
The above is calculated on six months' pay in specie value; one half of which to be advanced without the least delay, and the remainder by the 1st of April next.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, except the portions in brackets, which are in Samuel Huntington s writing, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 301.
Here Charles Thomson resumes the entries.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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