of two thirds of a dollar per one hundred and twelve pounds, on all brown sugars; one dollar on all powdered, lumped, and clayed sugars, other than loaf sugars; one and one third of a dollar per one hundred and twelve pounds, on all loaf sugars; one thirtieth of a dollar per pound on all bohea teas; and one fifteenth of a dollar on all finer India teas. This report, without debate or opposition, was recommitted, to be incorporated with the general plan.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH, AND WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 5TH.

The motion of Mr. HAMILTON, on the Journal, relative to abatement of the quotas of distressed States, was rejected, partly because the principle was disapproved by some, and partly because it was thought improper to be separated from other objects to be recommended to the States. The latter motive produced the motion for postponing, which was lost.

The Committee to whom had been referred the letters of resignation of Mr. Morris reported, as their opinion, that it was not necessary for Congress, immediately, to take any steps thereon. They considered the resignation as conditional, and that, if it should eventually take place at the time designated, there was no necessity for immediate provision to be made.

Mr. BLAND moved "That a committee be appointed to devise the most proper means of arranging the Department of Finance."

This motion produced, on these two days, lengthy

and warm debates; Mr. LEE and Mr. BLAND, on one side, disparaging the administration of Mr. Morris, and throwing oblique censure on his character. They considered his letter as an insult to Congress, and Mr. LEE declared, that the man who had published to all the world such a picture of our national character and finances was unfit to be a Minister of the latter. On the other side, Mr. WILSON and Mr. HAMILTON went into a copious defence and panegyric of Mr. Morris; the ruin in which his resignation, if it should. take place, would involve public credit, and all the operations dependent on it; and the decency, though firmness, of his letters. The former observed, that the declaration of Mr. Morris, that he would not be the minister of injustice, could not be meant to reflect on Congress, because they had declared the funds desired by Mr. Morris to be necessary; and that the friends of the latter could not wish for a more honorable occasion for his retreat from public life, if they did not prefer the public interest to considerations of friendship. Other members were divided as to the propriety of the letters in question. In general, however, they were thought reprehensible; as in general, also, a conviction prevailed of the personal merit and public importance of Mr. Morris. All impartial members foresaw the most alarming consequences from his resignation. The prevailing objection to Mr. BLAND'S motion was, that its avowed object and tendency was to reestablish a board, in place of a single Minister of Finance. Those who apprehended that, ultimately, this might be unavoidable, thought it so objectionable that nothing but the last necessity would justify it. The motion of Mr. BLAND was lost, and

a committee appointed, generally, on the letters of Mr. Morris.55

THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH.

The Committee on Revenue made a report, which was ordered to be printed for each member, and to be taken up on Monday next.

FRIDAY, MARCH 7TH,

Printed copies of the Report above mentioned were delivered to each member, as follows, viz:

1. "Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States, as indispensably necessary to the restoration of public credit, and the punctual and honorable discharge of the public debts, to vest in the United States, in Congress assembled, a power to levy, for the use of the United States, a duty of five per cent. ad valorem, at the time and place of importation, upon all goods, wares and merchandises of foreign growth and manufactures, which may be imported into any of the said States, from any foreign port, island or plantation, except arms, ammunition, clothing, and other articles imported on account of the United States, or any of them; and except wool cards, cotton cards, and wire for making them; and also except salt, during the war.

2. "Also, a like duty of five per cent., ad valorem,

on all prizes and prize goods condemned in the Court of Admiralty of these United States as lawful prize.

3. "Also, to levy a duty of one eighth of a dollar per bushel on all salt, imported as aforesaid, after the war; one fifteenth of a dollar per gallon on all wines; one thirtieth of a dollar per gallon on all rum and brandy; two thirds of a dollar per one hundred and twelve pounds on all brown sugars; one dollar per one hundred and twelve pounds on all powdered, lump, and clayed sugars, other than loaf sugars; one and one third of a dollar per one hundred and twelve pounds on all loaf sugars; one thirtieth of a dollar per pound on all Bohea tea; and one fifteenth of a dollar per pound on all finer India teas, imported as aforesaid, after in addition to the

4. "Provided, that none of the said duties shall be applied to any other purpose than the discharge of the interest, or principal, of the debts which shall have been contracted on the faith of the United States, for supporting the present war, nor be continued for a longer term than twenty-five years and provided, that the collectors of the said duties shall be appointed by the States within which their offices are to be respectively exercised, but when so appointed, shall be amenable to, and removable by, the United States, in Congress assembled, alone; and, in case any State shall not make such appointment within

after notice given for that purpose, the appointment may then be made by the United States, in Congress assembled.

5. "That it be further recommended to the several

States to establish for a like term, not exceeding twenty-five years, and to appropriate to the discharge of the interest and principal of the debts which shall have been contracted on the faith of the United States, for supporting the present war, substantial and effectual revenues, of such a nature as they may respectively judge most convenient, to the amount and in the proportion

of

The said revenues to be collected by persons appointed as aforesaid, but to be carried to the separate credit of the States within which they shall be collected, and be liquidated and adjusted among the States according to the quotas which may from time to time be allotted to them.

6. "That an annual account of the proceeds and application of the aforementioned revenues shall be made out and transmitted to the several States, distinguishing the proceeds of each of the specified articles, and the amount of the whole revenue received from each State.

7. "That none of the preceding resolutions shall take effect until all of them shall be acceded to by every State; after which accession, however, they shall be considered as forming a mutual compact among all the States, and shall be irrevocable by any one or more of them without the concurrence of the whole, or a majority of the United States in Congress assembled.

8. "That, as a further means, as well of hastening the extinguishment of the debts as of establishing the harmony of the United States, it be recommended to