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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 year 1783 not only increased the difficulties with which Congress had struggled through the preceding year but also created new embarrassments to intensify the inherent weakness of the Confederation, though the successful termination of the armed conflict was plainly in sight. The political bands which had connected one people with another had been dissolved; but "to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them" required that the expense of the struggle to assume that station should be honorably met. The attention of Congress therefore became absorbed in the ever-pressing problem of devising a practicable plan of providing a revenue and reducing the current expenditures of the General Government. To the latter end committees were appointed in the second week in January to inquire into the administration of the Departments of Finance, War, Foreign Affairs, Post Office, and the Office of Agent of Marine.
A long and at times heated debate upon the various means suggested for raising revenue and supporting the public credit culminated finally in a renewal of the recommendation to the various legislatures to levy an import tax of five per cent for Federal purposes, leaving to the States themselves the appointment of the collecting officers. This recommendation, set forth in the Address to the States of April 26, was a meager result after four months of discussion, yet one that was the limit of the power of Congress.
The resignation of Robert Morris as Superintendent of Finance at the very beginning of the year came as a distinct
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shock to the harassed Congress and served to complicate still further the tangled financial situation. He was prevailed upon to continue in office, however, and the end of the year found him still in charge of the finances.
In March Congress was rudely reminded of the need for action in the matter of pay for the Army by the dangerous spirit boldly displayed in the anonymous Newburgh Addresses, which only the tact and wisdom of the Commander in Chief prevented from becoming an open, armed revolt. Five months later the reality of the Army's unrest was brought home to Congress by the mutinous and insulting conduct of Pennsylvania soldiers at the very door of Congress Hall. For ten years, with the exception of the few months the British held the city, Congress had been in continuous session in Philadelphia and the dilatory attitude of the Pennsylvania authorities in restraining these malcontents aroused deep resentment. Feelings of outraged dignity and sound precaution merged with this resentment into a desire to rebuke Pennsylvania, and the Continental Congress left the city, the last week in June, never to return.
The question of the location of the permanent residence of Congress occupied a fair share of attention from this time on, and, as an unsettled problem, became a legacy to the Government under the present Constitution.
The claims of the various States to the western lands were finally relinquished to the General Government during the year. The matter had been under consideration since 1780 and, in the public domain acquired by these cessions, the United States came into possession of the first tangible asset upon which real Federal power could be built.
In foreign affairs two important treaties were ratified in January. First, the treaty with France, signed July 16, 1782, which stated the exact amounts of the financial advances from France and the periods at which Congress engaged to repay them. Second, the treaty of amity and
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commerce with Holland, which defined for the two nations contraband of war and the right of search on the high seas.
The action of the United States commissioners for negotiating peace in agreeing to the separate article to the preliminary treaty with Great Britain, the knowledge of which was withheld from France, did not influence nor weaken to any noticeable extent her friendship for America, although the news of this proceeding produced a flurry of excited debate in Congress.
The proclamation of the cessation of hostilities was issued by Congress, April 11, 1783, and the definitive treaty of peace was signed at Paris, September 3, but did not reach Congress during the year.
In conference with the Commander in Chief during the last months of the year Congress decided upon a peace footing for the Army. The British evacuated New York at the end of November and on December 23, at Annapolis, the last great scene of the war drama was enacted on the floor of Congress when George Washington resigned his commission as Commander in Chief of the armies. The war was over, the Army disbanded, and independence an accomplished fact. The purpose for which the Congress had been created was fulfilled and the makeshift organization faced the future bereft of the compelling force of resistance to armed aggression that had given life to its measures in the past.
The Journals for 1783 were carried forward to page proof under the editorship of Mr. Hunt, while he was Chief of the Division of Manuscripts. The final work of publication upon these volumes has been performed by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Manuscripts and Miss Emily B. Mitchell, assistant in the Division.
J. C. Fitzpatrick
Assistant Chief, Division of Manuscripts
Herbert Putnam
Librarian of Congress
June, 1992
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