FRIDAY, DECR. 20TH.
A motion was made by Mr. Hamilton for revising the requisitions
of the preceding and present years, in order to reduce them
more within the faculties of the States. In support of the motion
it was urged that the exorbitancy of the demands produced a despair
of fulfilling them which benumbed the efforts for that purpose.
On the other side it was alledged that a relaxation of the
demand would be followed by a relaxation of the efforts; that
unless other resources were substituted, either the States would be
deluded by such a measure into false expectations, or, in case the
truth sd. be disclosed to prevent that effect, that the Enemy wd.
be encouraged to persevere in the war agst. us. The motion meeting
with little patronage it was withdrawn.
The report of the committee on the motion of Mr. Hamilton
proposed that the Secy. of Congress should transmit to the Executive
of Rhode Island the several acts of Congress with a state of
foreign loans. The object of the committee was that in case Rho:
Island should abet or not resent the misconduct of their Representative,
as wd. most likely be the event, Congress should commit
themselves as little as possible in the mode of referring it to
that State. When the Report came under consideration it was
observed, that the Presidt. had always transmitted acts of Congress
to the Executives of the States, and that such a change on
the present occasion might afford a pretext if not excite a disposition
in Rho: Island not to vindicate the honor of Congress. The
matter was compromised by substituting the Secy. of F. A. who
ex officio, corresponds with the Governors &c. within whose department
the facts to be transmitted as to foreign loans, lay. No
motion or vote opposed the report as it passed.
