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[Sam Huntington, President, In Congress, Philadelphia to His
Excellency Gov Lee]
(Circular) Sir Congress have received authentic information
that his most Christian Majesty is preparing to send a powerful
naval & land force to some part of the continent of North America.
This force generously calculated either to produce a diversion in
our favour, or to forward the operation of our arms by being directed
to the same object, may either by our exertions be made the means
of delivering our country in the course of the campaign from the
ravages of war, or being rendered ineffectual thro' our supineness
serve only to sully the reputation of our arms, to defeat the benevo-
lent intention of our great ally & to disgrace our confederacy in the
eyes of all Europe.
Every State that reflects upon the depreciation of the currency
and their own deficiency in the payment of their taxes must neces-
sarily conclude that the treasury is exhausted. The military de-
partments are at a stand for want of money to put them in motion.
Congress have no resources but in your spirit & virtue upon these
they confidently rely. You know the value of the prize for which
you contend, nor need you be informed how much you are inter-
ested in a speedy termination of this distressing & expensive war.
But as the smallest disappointment in the requisitions they make
may be attended with most serious consequences, they have endeav-
oured to limit their demands as not to exceed your power to comply
with them.
The sum for which you are called upon by the within resolution
they flatter themselves you will furnish to the treasury by the
fifteenth of June at farthest without neglecting to discharge the
orders that have been drawn upon you for the whole of which you
will receive credit on your account of taxes due on the first of March
last.
As this money is absolutely necessary to put the army in motion
independent of the purchase of provisions, we trust you will by no
means remit your attention to the forwarding your quota of sup-
plies, which the present exigency renders more requisite than ever.
It may not be improper to suggest to you, that if a strict and im-
mediate collection of taxes shall be insufficient to procure the neces-
sary sums within the time limited, it may perhaps be more speedily
obtained by loans.
Congress for the greater dispatch have thought it expedient to
appoint a committee to assist the commander in chief in drawing
out supplies. As their powers will be inadequate to the purposes
of their appointment, unless they shall derive their force from the
States to whom they will be under the necessity of applying, They
most earnestly request you if you should find it inconvenient to
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May 19
Red Book
No. 7
Letter No. 37
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