University of Virginia Library

THURSDAY MARCH 20.

An instruction from the Legislature of Virga. to their Delegates
agst. admitting into the Treaty of Peace any stipulation for
restoring confiscated property was laid before Congress.

Also resolutions of the Executive Council of Penna. requesting

the Delegates of that State to endeavour to obtain at least a reasonable
term for making the payment of British debts stipulated
in the preliminary articles lately recd..

These papers were committed to Mr. Osgood, Mr. Mercer &
Mr. Fitzsimmons.

Mr. Dyer whose vote on the [tenth] day of [March] frustrated
the commutation of the half pay made a proposition substantially
the same wch was committed. This seemed to be extorted from
him by the critical state of our affairs, himself personally & his
State being opposed to it.

The Motion of Mr. Hamilton on the Journals,[76] was meant as a
testimony on his part of the insufficiency of the report of the
Come. as to the establishmt of revenues, and as a final trial of the
sense of Congs with respect to the practicability & necessity of a
general revenue equal to the public wants. The debates on it
were chiefly a repetition of those used on former questions
relative to that subject.

Mr. Fitzsimmons on this occasion declared that on mature
reflection he was convinced that a complete general revenue was
unattainable from the States, was impracticable in the hands of
Congress, and that the modified provision reported by the Come.
if established by the States wd restore public credit among ourselves.
He apprehended however that no limited funds wd procure
loans abroad, which wd require funds commensurate to their
duration.

Mr. Higginson described all attempts of Congs to provide for
the public debts out of the mode prescribed by the Confederation,
as nugatory; sd. that the States wd disregard them that the impost
of 5 Pe Ct. had passed in Massts by 2 voices only in the lower, &
one in the upper house; and that the Govr. had never formally
assented to the law; that it was probable this law wd be repealed,

& almost certain that the extensive plans of Congress would be
reprobated.