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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, FEBRUARY 7, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
The report of the committee, appointed to consider whether any and what measures may be necessary for Congress to adopt, in pursuance of their recommendations to the several states on the 18 April, 1783, being postponed;
And a motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [John Cleves] Symmes, being before Congress, in the words following:
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Whereas, exclusive of the maintenance of the civil list, and the other services of the federal government, it appears, from the documents before Congress, at their late requisition of September, 1785, that the payment of the annual interest of the foreign and domestic debt, will require the sum ofdollars: And whereas it appears, from the requisitions of Congress, since December, 1781, that although the states have been called upon to furnish upwards of seven millions of dollars for these purposes, that not abovehave been paid into the federal treasury, from which failure in the states, the most serious consequences must ensue in lessening the credit, and injuring the national reputation of the Union.
To prevent the evils arising solely from the want of sufficient and permanent funds to defray the expenses of government, and to do justice to its creditors, and to press the indispensable necessity of providing such firm and efficient funds as will enable the United States fully and effectually to comply with all their public engagements, they conceive it their duty again earnestly to call upon the states of New York and Georgia, to take into their immediate consideration the recommendation of the 18 of April, 1783, more especially that part which proposes an investment of the United States, with power to levy, for the use of the said states, certain duties upon goods imported into the said states from any foreign port, island or plantation, and to comply with the same.
In once more bringing this recommendation to their view, it may be necessary to state that there will be due, in the course of the next year, a part of the principal of two of the foreign loans, and afterwards a part of the other loans, agreeable to the stipulations of the same, to be paid annually by instalments, until the whole is extinguished, which must, until that event, proportionally increase the sums called for: That the whole of the domestic debt is not yet liquidated; and that its amount will probably be enlarged beyond its former estimate: That the civil and military government of the United States is reduced as low as its situation will admit: That the treaties necessary for the protection of our commerce from the piratical states of Barbary, the safety of our frontier inhabitants from the savages, and the establishment of magazines in different parts of the Union, may perhaps increase the estimate of the military department; and that the supplies for federal purposes must for some time be greater than they have hitherto been. That the means afforded by the confederation for obtaining money, have been found ineffectual, the experience of the four last years sufficiently proves;
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in which not more than one third of the sum called for has been paid into the common treasury, nor is a more punctual compliance to be expected from the states, until some practicable federal rule is established for ascertaining the quota of each, and the commerce of the Union relieved from its present oppression and embarrassment.
That, to borrow more money would be impolitic, as well as dishonorable, until we were in a capacity to pay the interest due on what had been already loaned us under circumstances the most generous and disinterested. That to emit bills of credit, and procure them a circulation, without establishing permanent and substantial funds for their redemption, is not even to be hoped, when we recollect how much our citizens have suffered from their confidence in the former emissions: That the vacant territory of the United States, obtained by cessions from individual states, has been ordered to be surveyed, and will be disposed of for public securities; that this, however, will produce little, if any, specie, and can only be received as far as it will go, as a fund for extinguishing the domestic debt; but, that as a considerable time must intervene before it can be surveyed and disposed of, no immediate aid is to be drawn from this source: And that, since, therefore, a sufficient sum for the exigencies of government, and the payment of the interest due on the public debt, is not to be expected from any of the means authorised by the Confederation, either of requisition, loan or emission, it follows, that unless some more efficient and productive fund can be discovered, we shall soon be exposed to the greatest national difficulties and disgrace.
While, however, it is in the power of the states to prevent these inconveniencies, and to do justice to their creditors, it is the duty of Congress to urge them to it. They now again present to the view of the states of New York and Georgia, the system which has been so long under reference to their legislatures, as the only one calculated to assert the credit and relieve the distresses of the Union.
In examining the conduct of the several states, they find that all, except New York and Georgia, have, in some degree, complied with the first part of the recommendation, for investing the United States with the power of levying certain duties for their use, on goods imported into the said states from any foreign port, island or plantation. The assent of so large a majority of the states, including some of the most important in commercial and other resources, shews that they were impressed with the necessity and propriety of its motives. They have considered the extension of their commerce, and the
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security of their liberties, as owing to the joint efforts of the whole. Convinced of the importance of the federal government, and that on its existence their political welfare and consequence must depend, they have liberally dedicated to its support a part of the advantages derived from its establishment; nor have they considered this as more than justice to the citizens of those states whose situation renders them dependent upon their imports for supplies. They have, therefore, wisely determined to make the welfare of the Union their first object, reflecting, that in all federal regulations, something must be yielded to aid the whole, and that those who may expect support, must, in their turn, be ready to afford it. How far their example may induce the legislatures of New York and Georgia to adopt the same liberal conduct, is now left to themselves to decide. Congress, however, still hope that these states will not be less mindful of the public welfare, nor less disposed to give vigor and efficacy to a government upon which all must, eventually, depend for the protection and security of the invaluable blessings they enjoy.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of a clerk, with corrections by Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 205.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Charles] Pettit, seconded by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, to fill the first blank with the words and figures 'upwards of 2,400,000;' And on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Melancton] Smith,
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So the question was lost.
On motion, the blank was filled with 2,103,772; and the motion was amended, by inserting, after the words, "domestic debt," the following words, "as far as the latter was then liquidated."
Office Of Secretary Of Congress,
Feby. 7, 1786.
On the letter of 15 Oct., 1785, from count de Beaufort, an inhabitant of Liége in the Austrian Netherlands, proposing on condition that a tract of land from 5 to 10 leagues square is granted to him, to people the same and to establish therein a number of new arts and manufactures.
The Secretary of Congress reports That the same be Passed 9th referred to the consideration of a comee.
Reports of Secretary of Congress No. 180.
On Report of a committee consisting of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [John] Lawrence, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [Pierse] Long to whom were referred two memorials from John Sullivan, Esq., late a Major General in the armies of the United States, recommend it be
Resolved, That in consideration of the particular circumstances of Mr. Sullivan's case and the eminent services he has rendered the United States he be allowed depreciation, and that it be recommended to the state of New Hampshire to settle with him in the same manner as if he had not resigned before the 10th. April, 1780.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 455. According to Thomson's indorsement it was read February 7 and on July 19, 1786, "debated and lost." Roger Alden has indorsed it "passed as on motion for 4000 dols. to be paid Genl. Sullivan Aug. 31st. 1786."
February 7: The memorial of Captain Gustavus Conyngham "for settlement of his account and payment of the balance" was referred to the Board of Treasury to report.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also the following resolve is entered on the same folio that contains the committee report on General Sullivan's memorial: "Resolved, all officers of the Army late in the service of the U.S. who resigned before the 10th of April, 1780, to be entitled to compensation for depreciation as if they had not resigned before the 10th of April, 1780, and that it be recommended to the several States to which said Officers belong to setl. with said Officers accordingly." Also on folio 459, No. 19, V, is: "Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to make good to all the Officers and Soldiers of the Army, who left the service antecedent to the 10th day of April, 1780, their depreciation of pay respectively."
These resolves are undated but appear to belong to the period of the consideration of General Sullivan's memorial.]
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