PREVIOUS NEXT NEW SEARCH

A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875

Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26.

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 26.

Link to date-related documents.

Mr. Lee observed to Congress that it appeared from the Newspapers of the day that sundry enormities had been committed by the refugees within the State of Delaware, as it was known that like enormities had been committed on the Shores of the Chesapeak, notwithstanding the pacific professions of the Enemy; that it was probable however that if complaint were to be made to the British Commander at N. York the practice would be restrained. He accordingly moved that a Committee might be appointed to take into consideration the means of restraining such practices. The motion was 2ded. by Mr. Peters. By Mr. Fitzsimmons the motion was viewed as tending to a request of favors from Sr. Guy Carleton. It was apprehended by others that, as Genl. Washington & the commanders of separate armies had been explicitly informed of the sense of Congress on this point, any fresh measures thereon might appear to be a censure on them; and that Congress cd. not ground any measure on the case in question, having no official information relative to it. The motion of Mr. Lee was negatived. But it appearing from the vote to be the desire of many members that some step might be taken by Congress, the motion of Mr. Madison & Mr. Mercer as it stands on the Journal was proposed and agreed to as free from all objections.

A motion was made by Mr. Hamilton to give a brevet commission to Majr. Burnet, aid to Genl. Greene and messenger of the evacuation

Page 913 | Page image

of Charleston, of Lt. Colonel; there being six ayes only the motion was lost. N. H., no, Mr. Lee & Mercer no.

The Committee consisting of Mr. Lee &c. to whom had been referred the motion of Mr. Hamilton recommending to the States to authorize Congress to make abatements in the retrospective apportionment by a valuation of land in favor of States whose ability from year to year had been most impaired by the war; reported that it was inexpedient to agree to such motion because one State (Virgs.) having disagreed to such a measure, on a former reco?endation of Congress, it was not probable that another recommendation would produce any effect; and because the difficulties of making such abatements were greater than the advantages expected from them.

Mr. Lee argued in favor of the report & the reasons on which it was grounded. The Eastern delegates were for leaving the matter open for future determination when an apportionment should be in question.

Mr. Madison said he thought that the principle of the motion was conformable to justice & within the spirit of the Confederation; according to which apportionmts ought [to] have been made from time to time throughout the war according to the existing wealth of each State. But that it would be improper to take up this case separately from other claims of equity which would be put in by other States; that the most likely mode of obtaining the concurrence of the States in any plan wd. be to comprehend in it the equitable interests of all of them; a comprehensive plan of that sort would be the only one that would cut off all sources of future controversy among the States. That as soon as the plan of revenue sd. be prepared for reco?endation to the States it would be proper for Cong. to take into consideration & combine with it every object1 which

[Note 1: 1 He had in view the follows objects: 1. The abatements proposed by Mr. Hamilton 2. A transfer into the common mass of expences of all the separate expences incurred by the States in their particular defence. 3. An acquisition to the U. States of the vacant territory. The plan thus extended would affect the interest of the States as follows, viz. N. Hampshire would approve the establishment of a General revenue, as tending to support the confederacy, to remove causes of future contention, and to secure her trade against separate taxation from the States thro' which it is carried on. She would also approve of a share in the vacant territory. Having never been much Invaded by the enemy her interest would be opposed to abatements, & throwing all the separate expenditures into the common mass. The discharge of the public debts from a common treasury would not be required by her interest, the loans of her citizens being under her proportion. See the statement of them.
Massachusetts is deeply interested in the discharge of the public debts. The expedition to Penobscot alone interests her, as she supposes, in making a common mass of expences; her interest is opposed to abatements; the other objects wd. not peculiarly affect her.
Rhode Island, as a weak State, is interested in a General revenue as tending to support the Confederacy and prevent future contentions, but against it as tending to deprive her of the advantage afforded by her situation of taxing the commerce of the contiguous States. As tending to discharge with certainty the public debts, her proportion of loans interest her rather against it. Having been the seat of the war for a considerable time, she might not perhaps be opposed to abatements on that account. The exertions for her defence having been previously sanctioned, it is presumed in most instances, she would be opposed to making a common mass of expences. In the acquisition of vacant territory she is deeply and anxiously interested.
Connecticut is interested in a general revenue as tending to protect her commerce from separate taxation by N. York & Rhode Island; and somewhat as providing for loan office creditors. Her interest is opposed to abatements, and to a common mass of expences. Since the condemnation of her title to her Western Claims, she may perhaps consider herself as interested in the acquisition of the vacant lands. In other respects, she wd. not be peculiarly affected.
N. York is exceedingly attached to a general revenue as tending to support the confederacy and prevent future contests among the States. Although her Citizens are not lenders beyond the proportion of the States, yet individuals of great weight are deeply interested in provision for public debts. In abatements N. York is also deeply interested. In makg. a common mass also interested, and since the acceptance of her cession, interested in those of other States.
N. Jersey is interested as a smaller State, in a General revenue as tendg. to support the confederacy, and to prevent future contests and to guard her commerce agst. the separate taxation of Pennsylvania and N. Y. The loans of her citizens are not materially dispropertionate. Although this State has been much the theatre of the war, she wd. not perhaps be interested in abatements. Having had a previous sanction for particular expenditures her interest wd. be opposed to a common mass. In the vacant territory, she is deeply and anxiously interested.
Penna. is deeply interested in a general revenue, the loans of her Citizens amounting to more than 1/3 of that branch of the public debt. As far as a general impos; on trade would restrain her from taxing the trade of N. Jersey, it would be against her interest. She is interested against abatements; and against a common mass, her expenditures having been always previously sanctioned. In the vacant territory, she is also interested.
Delaware is interested by her weakness in a general revenue as tending to support the confederacy and future tranquillity of the States; but not materially, by the credits of her Citizens. Her interest is opposed to abatements & to a common mass. To the vacant territory she is firmly attached.
Maryland. Having never been the Seat of war and her Citizens being creditors below her proportion, her interest lies agst. a general revenue, otherwise than as she is interested in common with others in the support of the confederacy & tranquillity of the U.S.; but against abatements, and against a common mass. The vacant lands are a favorite object to her.
Virga. in common with the Southern States as likely to enjoy an opulent and defenceless trade is interested in a general revenue, as tending to secure to her the protection of the confederacy agst. the maritime superiority of the E. States; but agst. it as tending to discharge loan office debts and to deprive her of the occasion of taxing the co??erce of N. Carolina. She is interested in abatements, and essentially so in a common mass, not only her eccentric expenditures being enormous, but many of her necessary ones havg. recd. no previous or subsequent sanction. Her cession of territory would be considered as a sacrifice.
N. Carolina is interested in a general revenue as tending to ensure the protection of the Confederacy agst. the maritime superiority of the E. States and to guard her trade from separate taxation by Virginia and S. Carolina. The loans of her citizens are inconsiderable. In abatements and in a common mass she is essentially interested. In the article of territory, she would have to make a sacrifice.
South Carolina is interested, as a weak & exposed State in a general revenue as tending to secure to her the protection of the confederacy agst. Enemies of every kind, and as providing for the public Creditors, her Citizens being not only loan office Creditors beyond her proportion, but having immense unliquidated demands agst. the U. States. As restraining her power over the commerce of N. Carolina, a general revenue is opposed by her interests. She is also materially interested in abatements, and in a common mass. In the article of territory her sacrifice wd. be inconsiderable.
Georgia as a feeble, an opulent & frontier State is peculiarly interested in a general revenue, as tending to support the confederacy. She is also interested in it somewhat by the credits of her Citizens. In abatements she is also interested, and in a common mass essentially so. In the article of territory she would make an important sacrifice.
To make this plan still more complete for the purpose of removing all present complaints, and all occasions of future contests, it may be proper to include in it a recommendation to the States to rescind the rule of apportioning pecuniary burdens according to the value of land, & to substitute that of numbers, reckoning two slaves as equal to one freeman.

This it is to be observed is only the list of loan office debts. The unliquidated debts and liquidated debts of other denominations due to individuals will vary inexpressibly the relative quantum of credits of the several States. It is to be further observed that this only shews the original credits, transfers having been constant; heretofore they have flowed into Pa. Other States may hereafter have an influx. [Note in MS.]]

Page 914 | Page image

might facilitate its progress, & form a complete provision for the tranquillity of the U. States. The question on Mr. Hamilton's motion was postponed.

Page 915 | Page image

The letter from Mr. Morris requesting that the injunction of secrecy might be withdrawn from his preceding letter signifying to Congress his purpose of resigning, was committed to [Rutledge, Gorham and Wolcott.]

Page 916 | Page image

PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR

PREVIOUS NEXT NEW SEARCH