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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 --TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1783
The committee, consisting of Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton and Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, to whom were referred a motion of Mr Howell [Jonathan] Arnold, for transmitting to the executive of Rhode Island sundry extracts of public letters from Europe, and some subsequent motions thereon; report,
"That in their opinion it would be improper for Congress to concur in the object of that motion, as, with respect to a part of the extracts specified, relating merely to the general growing political importance of these states, the injunction of secrecy being taken off, any member who inclines to communicate them to his State my take copies of them, and more especially as Mr. Howell was furnished with complete copies of letters, from which particular detached sentences axe now requested; and with respect to such extracts as relate to the subject of foreign loans, they are already within the purview of the resolution of the 20th of December last, directing the Secretary for Foreign affairs to transmit to the executive of the State of Rhode Island an authenticated state of the applications for foreign loans, and the result; that the same observation applies to that part of the motion which relates generally to the transmission of the letters
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from our foreign ministers, on the subject of loans not under the injunction of secrecy, with this additional consideration, that such of those letters, as would in fact throw light upon the subject, comprehend many delicate transactions, which it is the duty of Congress, at the present juncture, to conceal: the committee, notwithstanding, are of opinion, that to obviate misrepresentation, it will be advisable to transmit to the executive of the State of Rhode Island, a copy of Mr. Howell's Arnold's motion, and the proceedings thereupon, with a request, that precautions may be taken to prevent their appearing in the public prints."1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 179. The indorsement states "Delivered January 15, 1783. Entered. Read." "Question taken to agree to this report was lost. 4 ayes, 5 noes, one divided. January 14, on motion of Mr. [Jonathan] Arnold, seconded by Mr. [John] Collins, who were yesterday both in the negative, this report was reconsidered, and, being amended, passed."]
On the question,
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
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