University of Virginia Library

FRIDAY, JANY. 31.

The instruction to the Va. delegates from that State relative to
tobo. exported to N. Y., under passport from the Secy. of Congress
was referred to a Committee. Mr. Fitzsimmons moved that the
information received from sd. State of its inability to contribute
more than—towards the requisitions of Congress, sd. be
also committed. Mr. Bland saw no reason for such commitment.
Mr. Ghoram was in favr. of it. He thought such a resolution
from Va. was of the most serious import; especially if compared
with her withdrawal of her assent to the Impost. He said with
much earnestness, that if one State should be connived at in such
defaults others would think themselves entitled to a like indulgence.
Massts., he was sure had a better title to it than Va.. He
said the former had expended immense sums in recruiting her
line, which composed almost the whole Northn. Army; that
1,200,000 £ (dollar at 6s) had been laid out; & that without this
sum the army would have been disbanded.

Mr. Fitzsimmons abetting the animadversions on Virga., took
notice that of—Dollars reqd. by Congress from her for the
year 1782, she had paid the paltry sum only of 35,000 Drs. and was
notwithstanding endeavouring to play off from further contributions.
—The com̃itment took place without opposition.

The sub-committee, consisting of Mr. Madison, Mr. Carroll &
Mr. Wilson had this morning a conference with the Superintendt.
of Finance on the best mode of estimating the value of land
through the U. S. The Superintendt. was no less puzzled on the
subject than the Committee had been. He thought some essay

ought to be made for executing the Confederation, if it sd. be
practicable, & if not to let the impracticability appear to the States.
He concurred with the sub committee also in opinion that it would
be improper to refer the valuation to the States, as mutual suspicions
of partiality, if not a real partiality, would render the result
a source of discontent; and that even if Congs. should expressly
reserve to themselves a right of revising & rejecting it, such a
right could not be exercised without giving extreme offence to
the suspected party. To guard agst. these difficulties it was finally
agreed, & the Sub committee accordingly reported to the G Comittee,

"That it is expedient to require of the Several States a return
of all surveyed & granted land within each of them; and that in
such return the land be distinguished into occupied & unoccupied.

"That it also was expedient to appoint one Commissr. for each
State who should be empowered to proceed without loss of time
into the several States; & to estimate the value of the lands
therein according to the returns above mentioned, & to such instructions
as should from time to time be given him for that
purpose."

This report was hurried in to the Grand Com̃itee for two reasons;
1st., it was found that Mr. Rutledge, Mr. Bland, & several
others relied so much on a valuation on land, and connected it so
essentially with measures for restoring public credit that an extreme
backwardness on their part affected all these measures,
whilst the valuation of land was left out. A 2d. reason was that the
Sub-Committee were afraid that suspicions might arise of intentional
delay, in order to confine the attention of Congs. to general
funds as affording the only prospect of relief.

The Grand Committee for like reasons were equally impatient
to make a report to Congress; and accordingly after a short consultation
the question was taken whether the above report of the
Sub-come., or the report referred to them sd. be preferred. In
favor of the 1st. were Mr. Wilson, Mr. Carrol, Mr. Madison, Mr.
Elmore, Mr. Hamilton. In favor of the 2d. were Mr. Arnold,
Mr. Dyer, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Ghoram, Mr. Rutledge & Mr. Gilman.
So the latter was immediately handed in to Congress, &

referred to a committee of the whole into which they immediately
resolved themselves.

A motion was made by Mr. Bland, 2ded. by Mr. Madison, that
this report sd be taken up in preference to the subject of General
funds. Mr. Wilson opposed it as irregular & inconvenient to
break in on an unfinished subject; and supposed that as some
further experiment must be intended than merely a discussion of
the subject in Congress, before the subject of Genl. funds would be
seriously resumed, he thought it unadvisable to interrupt the latter.

Mr. Madison answered that the object was not to retard the
latter business but to remove an obstacle to it, that as the two
subjects were in some degree connected as means of restoring
public credit, & inseparably connected in the minds of many
members, it was but reasonable to admit one as well as the other
to a share of attention; that if a valuation of land sd. be found on
mature deliberation to be as efficacious a remedy as was by some
supposed, it wd. be proper at least to combine it with the other
expedient, or perhaps to substitute it altogether; if the contrary
should become apparent, its patrons wd. join the more cordially
in the object of a general revenue.

Mr. Hamilton concurred in these ideas & wished the valuation
to be taken up in order that its impracticability & futility might
become manifest. The motion passed in the Affirmative, & the
report was taken up.

The phraseology was made more correct in several instances.

A motion was made by Mr. Boudinot 2ded. by Mr. Elseworth to
strike out the clause requiring a return of "the names of the
owners," as well the quantity of land. Mr. Elseworth also
contended for a less specific return of the parcels of land. The
objection agst. the clause were that it would be extremely troublesome
& equally useless. Mr. Bland thought these specific returns
wd. be a check on frauds & the suspicion of them. Mr. Williamson
was of the same opinion, as were also Mr. Lee, Mr. Ghoram,
& Mr. Ramsay.[44] The motion was withdrawn by Mr. Boudinot.

SATURDAY & MONDAY. No Congress.