Friday, March 5.
State Balances.
Mr. Thomas, from the committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of extinguishing the claims of the United States, for certain balances, which, by the Commissioners appointed to settle the accounts between the United States and the individual States, were reported to be due from several of the States to the United States, made a report, as follows:
That the following balances were, by the said Commissioners, reported to be due from the States hereinafter mentioned, to wit: From the State of New York, two millions seventy-four thousand eight hundred and forty-six dollars; from the State of Pennsylvania, seventy-six thousand seven hundred and nine dollars; from the State of Delaware, six hundred and twelve thousand four hundred and twenty-eight dollars; from the State of Maryland, one hundred and fifty-one thousand six hundred and forty dollars; from the State of Virginia, one hundred thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine dollars; and from the State of North Carolina, five hundred and one thousand and eighty-two dollars.
That, as none of these States has evinced a disposition to pay any part of those balances, except the State of New York, which has been credited on the books of the Treasury for two hundred and twenty-two thousand eight hundred and ten dollars and six cents, for money expended in erecting fortifications, pursuant to an act of Congress, passed the 5th of February, 1799; but as it would be unequal to ask a further payment from that State exclusively, and as it does not appear that any measure of coercion can ever be resorted to, a further continuance of the demands against those States, the justice and equity of which they do not admit, will, in the opinion of the committee, answer no useful purpose; but, on the contrary, is calculated to occasion perpetual irritation and disquiet, as well to the creditor as to the debtor States.
The committee are, therefore, of opinion, that it is expedient to extinguish the claims of the United States for those balances, and for that purpose report a bill, which is herewith submitted.
The report was laid on the table. The bill was twice read, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Wednesday next.