provements thereon. Experiments made, however, since the date of that instrument, for the purposes of ordinary taxation, had induced doubts as to the practicability of this rule of apportionment; yet Congress thought it their duty to give it fair trial, and recommended to the several states on the 17th of February, 1783, to furnish an account of their lands, buildings and number of inhabitants, whereon they might proceed to estimate their respective quotas: but apprehending that the incompetence of the rule would immediately shew itself, and desirous that no time should be unnecessarily lost, they followed it with another recommendation of the 18th of April, 1783, to substitute in lieu of that article in the Confederation, another, which should make the Number of inhabitants, under certain modifications, the measure of contribution for each State. Both these propositions are still under reference to the several legislatures; the latter accompanied by the earnest wishes and preference of Congress, under full conviction that it will be found in event as equal, more satisfactory, and more easy of execution: The former only pressed if the other should be rejected. The committee are informed, that the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pensylvania and South Carolina, have acceded to the alteration proposed; but have no evidence that the other states have as yet decided thereon. As it is necessary that the one or the other measure should be immediately resorted to, they are of opinion, it should be recommended to the legislatures which have not yet decided between them, to come to decision at their next meeting. In order to present to the eye a general view of the several existing requisitions, and of the payments made under them, the committee has subjoined them in the form of a table, wherein the first column enumerates the states; the second the apportionment of the 1,200,000 dollars; the third that of the eight millions; the fourth that of the two millions; the fifth the sums paid by the several states in part of their respective quotas to the last day of the year 1783; and the sixth the sums now required to make up one half of their respective quotas of the eight millions, expressed in dollars, tenths and hundredths of dollars. [A Table of the several existing Requisitions, and of the Payments made under them.] 1, 200, 0008, 000, 0002, 000, 0001, 486, 511. 712, 670, 987. 89 Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report. On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [Roger] Sherman and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance be, and he hereby is directed to take order for the payment of three hundred and thirty-three dollars and one-third of a dollar, to the guardian of Hugh Mercer, son of the late General Mercer, for one year's education and board.1 The Committee consisting of Mr [James] McHenry, M [Jacob] Read and M [Jeremiah Townley] Chase to whom was referred the account of Mr George Mann of the City of Annapolis tavern keeper for a public entertainment given by order of the United States in 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Jefferson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 57. The motion, in the writing of Jefferson, is on folio 59. It was seconded [David] Howell. Congress assembled to the Commander in chief on the 22o of December, 1783-Report: That the entertainment was given to a very numerous assemblage of guests was exceedingly plentiful and the provisions and liquors good in their kind. The Committee are therefore of opinion that an order do issue in favour of the said Mr George Mann for the sum of six hundred and sixty four dollars and 3 of a Dollar in full of his said account.1 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1784. Congress assembled: Present, eleven states as yesterday. The committee, consisting of Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [John] Montgomery and Mr. [Thomas] Stone, to whom it was referred to take order upon the report of a committee of the 23 day of April instant, on the motion of Mr. [Jacob] Read of the 16 day of March last, Report, That in virtue of the said order of the United States in Congress assembled, your committee took measures, and have caused Henry Carbery, late a captain in the Pensylvania line of Continental troops, in the said report mentioned, to be arrested and brought before the honorable Robert Goldsborough, one of the judges of the general court of the state of Maryland, for examination, and to be proceeded against according to law and justice. Your committee have caused to be laid before the said Judge, all such proofs and evidences of the nature and circumstances of the crime charged against the said Henry Carbery, as were on the files or in the possession of Congress. And your committee informed the said judge, that it was the sense of the United States in Congress assembled, that the said Henry Carbery, who is a fugitive from justice, ought to be tried according to the laws of Pensylvania, in which state the offence charged against 1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 3. The indorsement states that it was referred on this day, with the account, to the Superintendent of finance to take order. "Copies transmitted Accot enclosed deliva M: Mann May the 13, 1784." him was committed, and to the laws of which State he is amenable. Your committee recommend that the executive of the state of Maryland, be requested to take proper measures for the delivery of the body of the said Henry Carbery, to the executive of the state of Pensylvania, or their order, that he may be dealt with according to law. Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report. Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the grand Committee, appointed to report the arrearages of interest, &c. and the paragraph respecting facilities as entered on the journal of the 5 of April, being amended as to the proportions therein expressed, so as to correspond with the report agreed to and passed yesterday. A motion was made by Mr. [Jacob] Read, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Stone, to refer the said paragraph as amended, to the Superintendant of finance to report; and on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Jacob] Read, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, no. Partridge, Rhode Island, Mr. Ellery, Connecticut, no no Maryland, } no Hardy, ay no North Carolina, Mr. Spaight, South Carolina, Mr. Read, The paragraph being further amended, to read as follows: It remained lastly to consider, whether no facilities might be given to the payment of these sums by the several states. The committee observed, that of the purposes for which money is wanting, about three-fourths can be answered by nothing but money itself; but that the other fourth, consisting of interest on our domestic debt, may be effected by procuring a discount of the demand in the hands of the holders; an operation which will be shorter, and less impoverishing to the state. And however in times of greater plenty, the accuracy of fiscal administration might require all transactions to be in actual money, at the treasury itself; yet till our constituents shall have had some respite from their late difficulties, it behoves us to prefer their easement. The committee are therefore of opinion, that the several legislatures may be admitted so to model the collection of the sums now called for, that the three-fourths of any sum being paid in actual money, the other fourth may be discharged by procuring discounts of interest with our domestic creditors; always taking care that the collection of money shall proceed at least in threefold proportion with the operations of discount. And to ascertain the evidences of discount which shall be receivable in lieu of money, the holders of loan office certificates shall be at liberty to carry them to the office from which they issued; and the holders of certificates of other liquidated debts of the United States, to carry the same to the loan office of that state wherein the debt was contracted, and to have the interest due thereon, settled and certified to the last day of the year 1782: for which interest, the loan officer shall give a certificate in such form and under such cautions and instructions, as the Superintendant of finance shall transmit to him; which certificates of interest being parted with by the holder of the principal, shall be deemed evidence that he has received satisfaction |