TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Finance, July 18th, 1783.
Sir,
I would sooner have replied to the Act of Congress of the 11th instant, if I had not been prevented by other business, which required immediate attention. The Act recites a representation to Congress, that certain parts of the army retired on furlough have not received the pay, &c. I will not contest the truth of this representation. But when I come to state such facts as are within my knowledge, I shall appeal to the candor of Congress how far that representation will warrant a censure against me.
I am directed to complete without delay the same payment to the officers and soldiers of the Massachusetts line which were ordered to be paid to the army at large. Congress will be pleased to observe, that they have passed no particular order to which the above resolution can refer. The general Acts which relate to paying our army from the authority on which the payment alluded to was made. Supposing, however, that by the resolution is meant three months' pay, in notes payable at six months from the date; I must take liberty to remind Congress, that completing the payment to any part of the army is not the business of my department, but of the Paymaster General. All which can depend on me, is to put those notes into his hands when called for, and this has been done as fast as was possible.
I am directed to report the reasons why the troops lately furloughed did not receive a part of their pay previous thereto. Not being able, Sir, to make so full report on this subject as I could wish, I have written a letter to the Paymaster General, of which the enclosure, number one, is a copy. The answer to this letter shall be transmitted as soon as received. The facts relating to that matter which are within my knowledge are the following.
On the 9th day of April last, a committee of Congress did me the honor to call, for the purpose of consulting on certain propositions contained in a letter from the Commander in Chief to an honorable member from Virginia. One of these propositions was to make the army three months' pay previous to their disbandment. My reply was, an acknowledgement that the claim was very reasonable, a declaration that I doubted of the practicability, and a prayer to be indulged with time for consideration. On the 14th of April I wrote a letter to that committee, in which I had the honor to inform them, that three months' pay amounted, according to the estimates, to seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. That to supply so large a sum was utterly impracticable, or indeed to obtain any considerable part. That the most which could be done was to risk a large paper anticipation. That to render the arrangements for that purpose effectual in an official point of view would be a work of time. That the period of my official existence was nearly arrived; that disbanding the army in a manner satisfactory to them and the country was doubtless desirable. That I believed it to be practicable, although extremely difficult, and that I should be ready at all times to give my advice and assistance to those who might be charged with that delicate and perilous undertaking.
On the 22d of April, Congress were pleased to appoint a committee to confer with me relative to my continuance in office. I told that honorable committee, that the late advices from Europe gave a new complexion to our affairs, and prayed some further time for the receipt of intelligence. On the 24th of April, I had the honor to inform the committee, that if Congress thought my assistance essential toward completing such payment to the army as might be agreed on, &c. I would consent to a further continuance in office for that purpose; but prayed to be excused from that service if Congress could otherwise accomplish their views.