60 Letters to the Governor and Council

February 8
Red Book
No. 8
Letter 48

States have passed the necessary Laws, the Monies arising from the
Duties are to be applied to their Benefit, exclusive of the remaining
States, unless such States shall pass similar Laws the first Session
after the Events of the War will admit of the assembling their Legis-
latures, and Congress have not the least Doubt of their Compliance
as soon as Circumstances shall put it in their power.
The Necessity of the Duties & Imposts being raised under one
general & uniform Direction is an Idea that will readily suggest
itself.
I am specially directed to urge the Necessity of immediately call-
ing the Assembly, if not already convened, for the Purpose of vest-
ing Congress with the Powers mentioned in the enclosed resolutions
Although it may be improbable any Person not particularly ac-
quainted with the daily Business in Congress should have an ade-
quate Conception of the Difficulties & Embarrassments that arise
for want of some permanent Fund to support the national Credit &
cement more effectually the common Interest of the United States ;
yet, I doubt not, the Wisdom, Knowledge & Penetration of the re-
spective Legislatures will view those Embarrassments as very great.
It ought to be remembered that Loans are not to be obtained
without some permanent Fund established, at least to discharge the
annual Interest punctually, That, in the present Situation of our
Finances, the Army must be in a great Measure immediately sup-
ported by the States separately, in a precarious Manner & perhaps
very unequally: and a Train of Embarrassment too obvious to need
Enumeration, must ensue, which have already been felt in a Degree
& must greatly increase
I have only to add that it will be of Importance to transmit to
Congress the Acts that may be passed in Consequence of the enclosed
resolves as soon as possible.

February 8
Red Book
No. 27
Letter 22

[Sam. Smith, Balt, to Gov. Lee.]

I had the Honor to receive yours p Express at Cedar Point, By
Constant attention I sav'd above 800 B^bbs of the Cato's Cargo altho :
at least 1/3 of the Brig was blown away level with the Keel, nearly
the whole of the flour is now here & on its way up, perhaps the Ves-
sells employ'd by your Excell^y may stop at Anapolis, should they;
your Excell^y will please order them up here that Care may be taken
of the flour, perhaps by repacking it may be made fit to repay M^r
W. Smith with, I shall be glad to have your Excell^ys Directions with
respect to it. The sum sent me was Inadequate to the Expence at-
tending the preservation of the flour you'll please transmit me Three
thousand pounds p first opp^ty sixty one B^bbs of flour has arriv'd here
& will be landed to morrow Morning. The Villainy of the Inhabi-
tants ought not to go unpunish'd, In one Days ride I found near 40
B^bbs that they had plunder'd & stolen, 50 Bb^les from the schooners