Letters to the Council. 481

And they are confident that the Citizens of these States are not more
desirous to be informed of their Affairs than they are ready and
willing to afford the most vigorous assistance. It is unnecessary to
mention our Embarrassments, they are known to you; to the means
of relieving them we wish your Attention.
The whole of the Monies due on the Quotas of Taxes to the first
of March last are become of immediate and indispensible Necessity.
Numerous Debts have accumulated on the Public Departments and
Justice requires they should be forthwith discharged. Large Sums
are also requisite for the Purposes of Transportation and to continue
the Purchases of Supplies for the Army until the states are prepared
to furnish them. On these Quotas Draughts are now making and
must continue to be made to the whole amount; nor can a Doubt
be admitted of their being punctually answered. If any State
should be unprepared, if the Collections are incomplete, not a
Moment is to lost. Delay will be Disappointment and may involve
Consequences too interesting, too fatal to be hazarded. Should the
public Opportunity through Languor and Inattention be retarded and
Stopped, should those Exertions which have hitherto rendered this
contest conspicuous to the World, be intermitted, The fairest Pros-
pects and most promising occasion may be irretrievably lost. Urge
therefore the instant Execution of every Measure which has been
adopted, and the speedy adoption of such as yet remain to be taken.
The specifick Supplies required by the Resolutions of the 25^th of
February last will forthwith become Matter of equal Urgency and
Importance. These must be relied on in future as the principal, not
to say the only resource from which the Army is to be supported,
From the obvious propriety of adopting the Mode there described
as best suited to the Case and Convenience of the respective States,
As Making a just Apportionment of the Burthens of the War, and as
necessary for correcting Abuses in the Expenditure of Public Money,
Congress have received the fullest Confidence that the Measure will
be approved and successful and by seasonably and amply providing
for the Army enable them to act and cooperate as Circumstances may
require with Vigour and Decision through the ensuing Campaign.
The Resources of our Country even after a five years obstinate
and wasting war are still abundant, and in Articles the most essential
scarcely impaired. The Spirit of the People is free to produce
them, all that is wanting is an established Medium of Negotiation
to be applied in effecting it. Such we are firmly Persuaded will be
secured by a proper Attention to the Resolution of the 18^th of March
last, from which as the Object is not confined to the Purchase of
public Supplies only, but extends to the various Transactions of the
Community the most extensive Benefit may be justly expected.
The Crisis calls for Exertion, much is to be done in a little Time,
and every Motive that can stimulate the mind of Man presents itself
3i

Red Book

No. 7