WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26тн.

Mr. LEE observed to Congress, that it appeared from the newspapers of the day, that sundry enormities had been committed by the refugees within the State of Delaware, as it was known that like enormities had been committed on the shores of the Chesapeake, notwithstanding the pacific professions of the enemy; that it was probable, however, that if complaint were to be made to the British Commander at New York, the practice would be restrained. He accordingly moved, that a committee might be appointed to take into consideration the means of restraining such practices. The motion. was seconded by Mr. PETERS. By Mr. FITZSIMMONS, the motion was viewed as tending to a request of favors from Sir Guy Carleton. It was apprehended by others, that, as General Washington and the commanders of separate armies had been explicitly informed of the sense of Congress on this point, any fresh measures thereon might appear to be a censure on them; and that Congress could not ground any measure on the case in question, having no official information relative to it. The motion of Mr. LEE was negatived; but it appearing, from the vote, to be the desire of many members that some step might be taken by Congress, the motion of Mr. MADISON and Mr. MERCER, as it stands on the Journal, was proposed and agreed to, as free from all objections.

A motion was made by Mr. HAMILTON, to give a brevet commission to Major Burnet, aid to General

Greene, and messenger of the evacuation of Charleston, of Lieutenant-Colonel; there being six ayes only, the motion was lost; New Hampshire, no; Mr. LEE and Mr. MERCER, no.

The Committee, consisting of Mr. LEE, &c., to whom had been referred the motion of Mr. HAMILTON, recommending to the States to authorize Congress to make abatements in the retrospective apportionment, by a valuation of land in favor of States whose ability, from year to year, had been most impaired by the war, reported, that it was inexpedient to agree to such motion, because one State (Virginia) having disagreed to such a measure on a former recommendation to Congress, it was not probable that another recommendation would produce any effect; and because the difficulties of making such abatements were greater than the advantages expected from them.

Mr. LEE argued in favor of the Report, and the reasons on which it was grounded. The Eastern Delegations were for leaving the matter open for future determination, when an apportionment should be in question.

Mr. MADISON said, he thought that the principle of the motion was conformable to justice, and within the spirit of the Confederation; according to which apportionments ought to have been made from time to time, throughout the war, according to the existing wealth of each State. But that it would be improper to take up this case separately from other claims of equity, which would be put in by other States; that the most likely mode of obtaining the concurrence of the States in any plan, would be to

comprehend in it the equitable interests of all of them; a comprehensive plan of that sort would be the only one that would cut off all sources of future controversy among the States. That as soon as the plan of revenue should be prepared for recommendation to the States, it would be proper for Congress to take into consideration, and combine with it, every object which might facilitate its progress, and for a complete provision for the tranquillity of the United States. The question on Mr. HAMILTON's motion was postponed.

*

* He had in view the following objects: First the abatements proposed by Mr. HAMILTON. Second, a transfer, into the common mass of expenses, of all the separate expenses incurred by the States in their particular defence. Third, an acquisition to the United States of the vacant territory. The plan thus extended would affect the interest of the States as follows, viz: New Hampshire would approve the establishment of a general revenue, as tending to support the Confederacy, to remove causes of future contention, and to secure her trade against separate taxation from the States through which it is carried on. She would also approve of a share in the vacant territory. Having never been much invaded by the enemy, her interest would be opposed to the abatements, and throwing all the separate expenditures into the common The discharge of the public debts from the common treasury would not be required by her interest, the loans of her citizens being under her proportion. See the statement of them.

mass.

Massachusetts is deeply interested in the discharge of the public debts. The expedition to Penobscot alone interests her, she supposes, in making a common mass of expenses; her interest is opposed to abatements; the other would not peculiarly affect her.

Rhode Island, as a weak State, is interested in a general revenue, as tending to support the Confederacy, and prevent future contentions; but against it, as tending to deprive her of the advantage afforded by her situation of taxing the commerce of the contiguous States. As tending to discharge, with certainty, the public debts, her proportion of loans interest her rather against it. Having been the seat of war for a considerable time, she might not, perhaps, be opposed to abatements on that account. The exertions for her defence having been previously sanctioned, it is presumed, in most instances, she would be opposed to making a common mass of expenses. In the acquisition of vacant territory, she is deeply and anxiously interested.

Connecticut is interested in a general revenue, as tending to protect her commerce from separate taxation from New York and Rhode Island, and

The letter from Mr. Morris requesting that the injunction of secrecy might be withdrawn from his preceding letter, signifying to Congress his purpose of resigning, was committed.

somewhat as providing for loan-office creditors. Her interest is opposed to abatements, and to a common mass of expenses. Since the condemnation of her title to her Western claims, she may, perhaps, consider herself as interested in the acquisition of the vacant lands. In other respects, she would not be peculiarly affected.

New York is exceedingly attached to a general revenue, as tending to support the Confederacy, and prevent future contests among the States. Although her citizens are not lenders beyond the proportion of the State, yet individuals of great weight are deeply interested in provision for public debts. In abatements, New York is also deeply interested. In making a common mass, also, interested; and since the acceptance of her cession, interested in those of other States.

New Jersey is interested, as a smaller State, in a general revenue, as tending to support the Confederacy, and to prevent future contests, and to guard her commerce against the separate taxation of Pennsylvania and New York. The loans of her citizens are not materially disproportionate. Although this State has been much the theatre of the war, she would not, perhaps, be interested in abatements. Having had a previous sanction for particular expenditures, her interest would be opposed to a common mass. In the vacant territory, she is deeply and anxiously interested.

Pennsylvania is deeply interested in a general revenue, the loans of her citizens amounting to more than one-third of that branch of the public debt. As far as a general impost on trade would restrain her from taxing the trade of New Jersey, it would be against her interest. She is interested against abatements, and against a common mass, her expenditures having been always previously sanctioned. In the vacant territory, she is also interested. Delaware is interested, by her weakness, in a general revenue, as tending to support the Confederacy and future tranquillity of the States; but, materially, by the credits of her citizens. Her interest is opposed to abatements, and to a common mass. To the vacant territory, she is firmly attached.

Maryland having never been the seat of war; and her citizens being credit. ors below her proportion, her interest lies against a general revenue, otherwise than as she is interested, in common with others, in the support of the Confederacy and tranquillity of the United States; but against abatements, and against a common mass. The vacant lands are a favorite object to her. Virginia, in common with the Southern States, as likely to enjoy an opulent and defenceless trade, is interested in a general revenue, as tending to secure to her the protection of the Confederacy against the maritime superiority of the Eastern States; but against it, as tending to discharge loan office debts, and to deprive her of the occasion of taxing North Carolina. She is deeply interested in abatements, and essentially so in a common mass; not only her

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH.

On the Report of the Committee on Mr. Morris's letter, the injunction of secrecy was taken off without dissent or observation.

eccentric expenditures being enormous, but many of her necessary ones having received no previous or subsequent sanction. Her cession of territory would be considered as a sacrifice.

North Carolina is interested in a general revenue, as tending to ensure the protection of the Confederacy against the maritime superior ty of the Eastern States, and to guard her trade from separate taxation by Virginia and South Carolina. The loans of her citizens are inconsiderable. In abatements, and in a common mass, she is essentially interested. In the article of territory, she would have to make a sacrifice.

South Carolina is interested, as a weak and exposed State, in a general revenue, as tending to secure to her the protection of the Confederacy against enemies of every kind; and, as providing for the public creditors, her citizens being not only loan-office creditors beyond her proportion, but having immense unliquidated demands against the United States. As restraining her power over the commerce of North Carolina, a general revenue is opposed to her interests. She is also materially interested in abatements, and in a common mass. In the article of territory, her sacrifice would be inconsiderable. Georgia, as a feeble and opulent frontier State, is peculiarly interested in a general revenue, as tending to support the Confederacy. She is also interested in it somewhat by the creditors of her citizens. In abatements she is also interested, and in a common mass essentially so. In the article of territory, she would make an important sacrifice.

To make this plan still more complete, for the purpose of removing all present complaints, and all occasions of future contests, it may be proper to include in it a recommendation to the States to rescind the rule of apportioning pecuniary burdens according to the value of the land, and to substitute that of numbers, reckoning two slaves as equal to one freeman.

This, it is to be observed, is only the list of loan-office debts. The unliquidated debts, and liquidated debts of other denominations due to individuals,