SATURDAY, FEBY. 8.
Come. of the Whole.
Mr. Mercer revived the subject of retrospective operation; and
after it had been much discussed & the difference elucidated
wch. might happen between apportiong., according to the first
valuation which sd. be made, merely the sums paid on the requisitions
of Congs., & apportiong. the whole Requisitions, consisting
of the sums paid & the deficiencies, which might not be pd. until
some distant day, when a different rule formed under different
circumstances of the States sd. be in force, the assent to the last
question put yesterday was reversed, & there was added to the
preceding question, after "5 years,"—"and shall operate as a
rule for apportioning the sums necessary to be raised for supporting
the public credit & other contingent expenses & for adjusting
all accounts between the U. States & each particular State for
monies paid or articles furnished by them & for no other purpose
whatsoever." On this question there were 6 ays—so it became a
vote of the Come. of the whole.
