The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 12

by Unknown

On the 28th of April, Congress were pleased to resolve, that the public service required my continuance in office till arrangements for the reduction of the army could be made, and the engagements taken in consequence, as well as those already taken, should be completed. On the 2d day of May Congress were pleased to pass some further resolutions on the same subject, which I shall shortly have occasion to mention. On the 3d of May I had the honor to entreat of your Excellency, that you would inform Congress that I entertained a proper sense of their assurance of firm support, and in reliance on them should continue my zealous exertions for the service of the United States.

On the 9th of May, having had a conference with the Minister of War, on the resolutions of the 7th and 28th of April and 2d of May, we took the liberty to request, that a committee might be appointed to confer with us on the subject of those resolutions. On the 15th of May, two gentlemen of that committee did us the honor of the conference requested. In which it was stated, as impracticable to make any payment to the army, unless our expenditures were immediately and considerably reduced. The committee, however, being desirous to have the situation of things stated to them in writing, I wrote them a letter on the same day, showing, that on the last day of April we were in advance of our resources, to the amount of six hundred thousand dollars; that our foreign resources were exhausted; that our domestic resources as far as they consisted in sales of public property, were considerably reduced; that as far as they consisted in the produce of taxes they were extremely slender and precarious; that the monthly consumption of the army was at least double the monthly produce of the taxes; that if they were kept longer in the field, they would consume every resource by which the payment could possibly be made or hazarded. And, therefore, that unless the far greater part of our expenses was immediately curtailed, the object Congress had in view by their resolutions of the 2d of May could not possibly be accomplished. This letter was accompanied with the necessary documents to establish the positions contained in it.

On the 26th of May it was resolved, that the Commander in Chief should be instructed to grant furloughs, &c. And this resolution was communicated to me on the 27th. Thus, Sir, from the 9th day of April, when this matter was first proposed, until the 27th day of May, when the final determinations of Congress were made known, my conduct was of necessity suspended.

On the 29th of May I informed the Commander in Chief of my determination to issue notes payable in six months from the date, for three months pay, and explained to him the reasons why I could not make the payment in any other mode. In reply to this, I received on the 5th of June a letter from the General, dated the 3d, which was brought by express and urged the transmission of a part of those notes. I immediately wrote an answer, in which I informed him that on Saturday evening, the 31st of May, the paper arrived from the maker; that on Monday, the 2d of June, it was delivered to the printer; that he had agreed to send the first parcel of notes to me on Friday, the 6th of June; and that as soon as I could sign them they should be delivered to the Paymaster, to be sent forward. On the 7th of June the Paymaster received fifty thousand dollars, on the 9th fifty thousand dollars, and on the 13th one hundred thousand; so that in six days I signed six thousand notes, besides the other business of my office. That paper made on purpose for this business was necessary no man can doubt, or if it could have been doubted the recent attempt to counterfeit these notes is a sufficient proof. That the printing was to take place before the signing must be admitted. The only delay therefore with which I can be chargeable must be in the signing of them, and upon that subject I shall say nothing. If by any means a delay happened after the notes were delivered into the pay office, I presume that the Paymaster General will be able to account for it. I shall only add, that he has received half a million of these notes, as will appear by the enclosed note of the payments number two.

I am also directed, Sir, to report the manner in which I expect to redeem the notes in question. Congress will be pleased to recollect, that the issuing of those notes arose from a proposition made by the General and warmly adopted by them. That although I was very desirous of gratifying the wishes of the army, I had great apprehensions as to the ability of doing it. And that from a view of the scantiness of our resources I felt extreme reluctance in giving my consent. As to the means of redeeming the notes, permit me to refer Congress to the letters which I had the honor of writing to your Excellency on the 17th of March and 1st of May; to my correspondence with the honorable committee of Congress on the 14th and 16th of April, copies whereof are enclosed in the paper number three; and to a circular letter to the States of the 12th of May, of which a copy is enclosed in the paper number four.

Permit me also to refer to the various accounts which have been rendered to Congress of the state of my department; and to these let me add what appears on their own minutes. On the 2d of May they declared it to be their desire, when the reduction of the army should take place, to enable the officers and soldiers to return to their respective homes with convenience and satisfaction; for which purpose it would be indispensable to advance them a part of their pay. They declared further, that there were many other engagements for which the public faith was pledged, and the punctual performance of which was essential to the credit of the United States. And they further declared, that neither of these important objects could be effected without the vigorous exertions of the several States in the collection of taxes. From a conviction of these facts Congress were pleased to call upon the respective States in the most earnest manner, to forward the collection of taxes. As an additional means to accomplish the same end, they were pleased to apply for a further loan of three millions of livres to his Most Christian Majesty. And they resolved, that the Superintendent of Finance be directed to take the necessary arrangements for carrying the views of Congress into execution. And that he be assured of their firm support toward fulfilling the engagements he has already taken, or may take, on the public account during his continuance in office.

Having already so fully stated the situation of my department, I have only to say in answer to the order I have received, that I rely on the firm support of Congress, solemnly pledged to me (for the purpose of inducing my continuance in office) to redeem those notes issued to the army, as well as to fulfil all other engagements which I have taken or may take on the public account.

Before I close this letter, I beg leave to assign my reason for reducing my report to that form. It is because I had rather bear the censure contained in the acts of the 11th of July, however painful, than place on the minutes of Congress anything which may hold up the idea of precipitancy on their part.

With perfect respect, &c.