course between these States that in the final adjustment of Accounts for the Supplies or Contributions of the States respectively towards the common expences in the course of the War, equitable allowances should be made in favour of those States parts of which have been at different periods in possession of the Enemy.

AND, WHEREAS, the Strict application of the rule prescribed by the 8th Article of the Confederation as declared by the Resolution of the 17th of February would operate greatly to the prejudice of such States, and to the Calamities of War add an undue proportion of the public burthen;

RESOLVED. That Congress will in the application of the said rule make such abatements in favour of the said States, as from a full consideration of Circumstances, as shall appear to them just and equitable for the time the said parts of the said States may have been in possession of the Enemy."

On the question to agree to the foregoing Motion the Yeas and Nays being required by Mr. Hamilton:

Extract from the Minutes, Geo. Bond, Dept. Secy.

So it passed in the negative.

[No. 4953.]

Messrs. Floyd and Hamilton Report to Governor Clinton Recent Congressional Proceedings Bearing Upon Equalization of State Taxation for the Support of the Federal Government.

Philadelphia March 5th, 1783.

Sir, Mr. Hamilton having transmitted your Excellency the late

proceedings of Congress for Carrying the 8th Article of the Con

federation into execution by which the Legislature will see the part we Acted in this affair. They will not be at a Loss for our motives; and we hope will not disapprove them. Our opposition to the first plan proposed was founded principally on the Consideration that it left the Interested partys Judge in their own Cause, might have produced great injustice and inequality and would in all probability have excited great Jealousies between the Respective States. We Dissented from the Second plan chiefly because we did not perceive that it afforded sufficient data to make the valuations upon and because it applied the 8th Article of the Confederation in Such a manner as would have produced great Injustice to the State of New York, and others in similar circumstances by Charging us with our proportion of the past Contributions of the States, according to our future ability when the Valuation shall be made.

After this plan was Resolved upon; we Introduced a motion to Call a Second time upon the different States to vest Congress with a power of making equitable abatements agreeable to the Resolution of the 20th Feby. 1781.

This was committed and an unfavourable Report made, which together with the Original motion was postponed.

We renewed the motion in a something different form, which has been negatived by a Large majority. We have the honour to enclose the motion and the Votes upon it. Different motives operated in the Dismission. Many were opposed to the principle, and others wished to postpone till this matter with many others could be taken up on a general plan.

Your Excellencys Letter by Mr. Shattuck has been read in Congress and with the papers accompanying it Committed to the same Committee which has before them, the Remonstrance from

Chittenden. We need not assure you that we shall pay all the attention in our power to a matter so Interesting to the State, which however we are obliged to see postponed to the Consideration of funds for Restoring the Credit of the United States, which now Occupies the first Attention of Congress.

We are, Sir, with the Greatest Respect your Excellencys most Obedt. and humble Servts,

Wm. Floyd

Alex Hamilton.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 4963.]

Robert Morris Authorizes the Paymaster-General to Settle Army Accounts with the Several States.

Office of Finance 15th March 1783

Sir, By an Act of the United States in Congress Assembled of the twenty fifth of January last, it is Resolved that the several States be called upon to compleat without Delay the Settlements with their respective Lines of the Army up to the first Day of August 1780, and that the Superintendent of Finance be directed to take such measures as shall appear to him most proper for effecting the Settlement from that Period.

Among the various Modes of doing this Business which have been suggested the appointing you to perform it, was one and I have preferred it for the following Reasons:

First, Because it will spare the necessity of appointing new Officers for the Purpose which is by no means agreable to me when it can be avoided.

Secondly, Because more of the necessary Materials are already in your Possession than in that of any other Person.

Thirdly, Because the access to public offices and official Returns is already open to you from the Confidential Nature of your Department.

Fourthly, Because you have hitherto been accurate in your own Accounts. Fifthly, Because I have Reason to confide in your Integrity, and Sixthly, Because on conferring with the Comptroller of the Treasury he conceived your appointment to be the most eligible Mode. It was for these Reasons that I was induced to make you the offer which you have verbally assured me you would accept. Having, therefore, considered as well of the Mode of doing the Business as of the Person by whom it was to be done, I do hereby Authorize, empower and instruct you to proceed with all proper dispatch to the settlement of the Accounts of the arrearages of Pay due to the Army, subsequently to the first day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty. In the Course of this Business you will attend to the following objects:

First, To call all those to account who have been entrusted with public Money for the Recruiting Service or for Pay and make due Return to the Treasury of Balances due to the United States.

Secondly, To settle and determine the Sums due to the Officers of the Army respectively for their Arrearages of Pay in old Money to the 1st of August 1780 and for Arrearages of Subsistence from 1st June 1778 to the 1st August 1780 reducing the Money received on Account to real Value according to the actual Depreciation at the Time and place of Payment.

Thirdly, To settle and determine the Balances due to every Ocer and Soldier for the Time which elapsed between the 1st of August 1780 and the 1st of January 1782 and also the like Balances for the Year 1782.

Fourthly, You will take care that your Books shall show in one View the whole Pay of the Army and the aggregate Sum of Advances and of Balances still due for which purpose you will make Regimental Settlements as far as Circumstances will permit.

Fifthly, You will take care to have the Regimental Accounts certified by the Paymasters and officers commanding the Regiments whenever it can be done. Jou will check these again by the Musters whenever you can obtain them, and finally you will check them by the general Returns of the Army.

Sixthly, You will take care also to Carry to the Debit of the Several Accounts, all Advances either of Money or Property, made by the several States or from the Public Departments. I shall apply to the several States to transmit you accounts of their advances and you will be pleased to ca'l on all public officers in the several Departments for the same Purpose in Virtue of this your Appointment. Seventhly, You will from Time to Time transmit the Accounts to the Treasury to be entered of Record so that proper Certificates may be Issued if necessary.

You will consider, Sir, that on this Occasion you are entrusted with the Property of your Country and with the Claims of a worthy and Valuable Part of your fellow Citizens. A sense of this Duty will I hope and believe actuate and inspire your Conduct so as to merit the Applause of the Wise and Virtuous. Before you enter on the Duties you will make Oath before a Civil Magistrate "That you will well and faithfully, according to the best of your Skill and Understanding, without Fear, Favor, Partiality or Affection, do your Duty as the Commissioner appointed by the Superintendent of the Finances of the United States, to settle the Accounts of the Army and to determine the Balances due to the Officers and Soldiers respectively" and you will return me a Certificate of the taking of this Oath. I am, Sir, Your most obedient & humble Servant Pay Master General.

(Robt. Morris).

[No. 4965.]

Governor Clinton Receives the Articles of Peace from Colonel Floyd-England's Solicitude for the Loyalists.

Philadelphia, March 17th, 1783.

Dear Sir, Since writing to your Excellency by the last post in which I mentioned the Arrival of our packet from France with Dispatches, and amongst other things the Articles to be Inserted in the Treaty for a General Peace (when that shall take place) as agreed to, and signed on the part of our Commissions and