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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 --WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1783
Congress took into consideration a proposition reported by the committee of the whole, in the words following: "That it is the opinion of Congress that the establishment of permanent and adequate funds on taxes or duties, which shall operate generally and on the whole in just proportion throughout the United States, and to be collected under the authority of the U. S. in Congress assembled are indispensably
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necessary towards doing complete justice to the public creditors, for restoring public credit, and for providing for the future exigencies of the war."1
[Note 1: 1 The original resolution, in the writing of Yames Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 99. The following, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, undated, is in No. 31, folio 337:
"That it is the opinion of Congress that complete justice cannot be done to the creditors of the United States, nor the restoration of public credit be effected, nor the future exigencies of the war provided for, but by the establishment of permanent and adequate hinds to operate generally throughout the United States, to be collected by Congress."]
On the question to agree to this proposition, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Wilson,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Congress was then resolved into a Committee of the Whole, to consider farther the means of restoring and supporting public credit, and of obtaining from the states substantial funds for funding the whole debt of the United States, and after some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr.
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[Daniel] Carroll reported, that the committee have considered the subjects referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again to-morrow:
Ordered, That leave be granted.
[Report of the Committee of the Whole House]
That the subject of the 5 per Cent, duty be now taken into consideration agreed.
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[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Daniel Carroll, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 79. It is undated.
On February 13, as the indorsement indicates, was read a letter of the same date, from the Assistant Secretary at War, inclosing papers relating to the inspection of cloathing and necessaries for the British prisoners of war, and to the seizure, by citizens of Pennsylvania, of certain supplies imported in the ship Amazon and intended for the prisoners. The letter is in No. 149, II, folio 229, and was referred to Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham and Mr. [Arthur] Lee. See post February 20.
The inclosures, including the report of the Commissioners appointed under resolution of Congress January 24, are on folios 233, 243--289.
The following undated resolution, in the writing of Nathaniel Gorham, is on folio 241:
"Resolved, That the laws of any individual State contravening the Confoederal corn, pact are null and void; that the seizure of goods, by citizens of Pennsylvania, protected by the Passport of the Commander in Chief, was a violation of the Articles of Union.
Resolved, therefore, That the State of Pennsylvania be requested to employ the troops military forces of the State effectual measures in restoring the goods now in possession ofbut condemned under the laws of the State and protected by a passport from the Commander in Chief to the British prisoners; and that the Secretary of War be directed to consult with the State, and make use of any Continental force which may be required and deemed necessary by the State for this purpose."]
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