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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 3, 1786.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
Office Of Secretary Of Congress,
Jany. 4, 1786.
In obedience to the orders of Congress, the Secretary of Congress reports:
That the revenue system of 18th. April, 1783, consists of two parts--
1st. A recommendation to the States to invest the United States in Congress assembled with a power to levy for the use of the United States, certain duties upon goods imported into the said States from any foreign port, Island, or plantation to be applied to the discharge of the Interest and principal of the debts contracted on the faith of the United States, agreeably to the resolution of 16th. Decr., 1782, and not to be continued for a longer term than 25 years. The Collectors of the duties to be appointed by the States respectively, but when appointed, to be amenable to, and removeable by the United States in Congress assembled alone. And in case any State shall not make such appointment within one month after notice given for that purpose, the appointment may be made by the United States in Congress assembled.
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With this part of the Act the following States have complied:
Rhode Island, in the session of their legislature in the spring of 1785, passed an Act for levying the duties pointed out by Congress, but have therein enacted that the Collectors shall be appointed by and amenable to the General Assembly, and that of the money arising from the duties a certain sum, viz. 8,000 dollars, shall be appropriated in their treasury for the payment of the Interest of that State's proportion of the foreign debt of the United States, and paid to the order of Congress, and that the surplus of the duties and the amount of other taxes ordered by the said Act, shall be appropriated to the payment of the Interest of the internal debt of the United States due within that State. This Act to take effect, when the other States in the Union agree to the said Impost to the acceptation of Congress, and have provided other adequate funds for compleating their quota of 1,500,000 dollars, according to the requisition of Congress of 18th. April, 1783; but with this proviso and upon this express condition, "that no duties shall be collected upon articles imported into any State upon which the said duties have been paid in any other State and that no duty shall be imposed by any one State upon the citizens of another State, either upon imported Articles having paid the duties aforesaid, or upon any articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States."
The State of Maryland in June, 1782, pursuant to Acts of Congress of 3d. and 7th. Feby., 1781, passed "an Act to authorise the United States in Congress assembled to impose and levy a duty of five per cent on imported foreign goods, and on all prizes and prize goods for the payment of the debts contracted by Congress during the war." And in the November Session, 1784, their legislature passed a supplement to the aforementioned Act, whereby it should "take effect as soon as 12 States, including that State, vested Congress with similar powers." But it does not appear that they have passed any Act pursuant to the recommendation of Congress of 18th. April, 1783.
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Delaware it is said has passed an Act conformable to the recommendation above mentioned; but no official information thereof has yet been transmitted to this office or to the board of Treasury.
The second part of the revenue system of 18th. April, 1783, consists of a recommendation to the several States to establish for a term limited to 25 years, and to appropriate to the discharge of the Interest and principal of the debts contracted on the faith of the United States for supporting the war substantial and effectual revenues of such nature as they may judge most convenient for supplying their respective proportions of 1,500,000 dollars annually, exclusive of the aforementioned duties. With this part of the Act the following States have complied
Rhode Island in the Act above mentioned has enacted that a tax of one spanish silver milled dollar upon every hundred Acres of land within that State, upon every male poll in the State of 21 Years of Age, and upon every horse or mare of two years old and upwards, shall be annually laid, levied, and collected, and that the amount thereof shall be appropriated to the payment of the Interest of the internal debt of the United States due within that State, with the proviso, and on the condition above set forth.
The Act of the 18th. April, 1783, also recommends to the States an Alteration in the 8th. of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union for ascertaining with more convenience and certainty the proportions to be supplied by the States respectively to the common treasury. And the several States are advised to authorise their respective delegates to subscribe and ratify the same as part of the said instrument of Union, in the words therein mentioned.
With this part of the Act, the following States have complied:
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By the Act of the 30th. April, 1784, it is recommended to the Legislatures of the several States to vest the United States in Congress assembled with power--
In pursuance of this Act--
New Hampshire has invested Congress for 15 years with full power to regulate the trade of the United States, as they may judge best calculated to promote the weal and prosperity thereof, the fees, profits, and emoluments arising from their regulations to be appropriated to the sole use of discharging public debts. (See Act 22d. June, 1785).
Massachusetts has passed a law in the terms of the recommendation 1st. July, 1784.
Rhode Island has empowered their delegates to agree to and ratify any Article empowering the United States in Congress assembled to regulate, restrain, or prohibit the importation of all foreign goods in any but American Vessels (see Act passed in Feby. Session, 1785); and by an additional Act passed Octr., 1785, the Delegates are empowered to regulate the trade and commerce of the respective States and Citizens thereof with each other and to regulate, restrain, and prohibit the importation of all foreign goods in American vessels for 25 years.
New York has passed an Act in the terms of the recommendation 4th. April, 1785.
Ordered, That the above report be printed for the use of the members.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Roger Alden, except the date line and the final order, which are in Thompson's writing, is in Reports of the Secretary of Congress, No. 180.]
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On the petition of John David Woelper, late a captain in the service of the United States, representing that there is a balance due to him from the United States for monies which he advanced in the recruiting service from Novr., 1776, to May, 1777.
The Secretary of Congress reports--
That by the account exhibited by the petitioner it appears that in June, 1778, his claim was audited and adjusted by Mr. M. Clarkson the Auditor for Army Accounts and the sum found due was paid him in continental Money.
That the tendency of his petition is to have a new settlement and to have an allowance made him for the depreciation of the continental Money.
That in all applications of a similar nature the Committees of Congress have uniformly reported against a revisal of settled accots.
The Secretary therefore reports
Agreed to.
That the petition be filed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Reports of the Secretary of Congress, No. 180.]
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