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[The United States in Congress Assembled to the Legislatures of
the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Rhode Island
and Providence plantations, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina & Georgia.]
We are happy to observe that the present year hath been dis-
tinguished by the reduction of a powerful british Garrison in Vir-
ginia and that our Arms have also been prosperous in other Parts
of the United States. But to infer that our inexorable foe is subdued
beyond recovery may be attended with ruinious consequences. These
events will yield but momentary advantages unless supported by
vigorous measures in future.
From an assurance that Peace is best attained by preparations for
War and that in the Cabinet of Negotiations those Arguments carry
with them the greatest weight which are enforced not only with a
retrospect of important Victories but by a well grounded prospect
of future successes we have called upon you for Eight Millions of
Dollars and for your respective deficiencies of the Military estab-
lishment.
Seven years have nearly passed since the Sword was first un-
sheathed. The sums expended in so long a Period, in a just and
necessary War, must appear moderate, nor can this demand for
pecuniary Aid be deemed exorbitant by those who compute the
extent of Public exigencies and the proportion of the requisition
to the abilities of the States.
Suppose not that funds exist for our relief beyond the limits of
these States. As the Possession of the Citizen constitute our Natural
resources and from a sense of their sufficiency the Standard of War
was erected against Great Britain, so on them alone we now rely.
But even if Loans were attainable their Amount would be nearly
commensurate with our ability & inclination to repay and by nothing
can both be more satisfactorily evidenced than by a generous ex-
ertion amidst the Languor of Public Credit.
Arguing from the former dilatoriness of supplies the enemy after
having abandoned serious expectations of Conquest by Arms antici-
pate it in imagination from the dissolution of our Public Credit.
They can not however deny the firmness of the basis on which it
may be placed; when they survey the wide limits of this confederate
Country, the fruitfulness of its soil & the industry of its People.
But the want of money is not the only source of our difficulties,
nor do the Enemy gather Consolation from the State of our finances
alone. We are distressed by the thinness of our Battalion, so vul-
nerable does the boldness of navigation render the very bosom of
these States so dispersed in some facts is the population and so rapid
an Enemy in transportation that they seize and exhaust large dis-
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December 17
Red Book
No. 9
Letter 106
[Signed,
"John
Hanson,
Presidt, By
order of
Congress
Phila-
delphia"]
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