should be augmented; but it appeared, on discussion, and some calculations, that the temptation to smuggling would be rendered too strong, and the revenue thereby diminished. Mr. BLAND proposed, that, instead of a duty on the gallon, an ad-valorem duty should be laid on wine; and this idea, after some loose discussion, was agreed to, few of the members interesting themselves therein, and some of them having previously retired from Congress.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH.

A motion was made by Mr. WOLCOTT and Mr. DYER to refer the half-pay to the States, little differing from the late motion of Mr. GILMAN, except that it specified five years' whole pay as the proper ground of composition with the officers of the respective lines. On this proposition the arguments used for and against Mr. GILMAN's motion were recapitulated. It was negatived, Connecticut alone answering in the affirmative, and no division being called for.

On the question to agree to the Report for a commutation of five years' whole pay, there being seven ayes only, it was considered whether this was an appropriation, or a new ascertainment of a sum of money necessary for the public service. Some were of opinion, at first, that it did not fall under that description, viz: of an appropriation. Finally, the contrary opinion was deemed, almost safest, as well as the most accurate. tion was, whether seven or nine votes

unanimously, Another Another ques

were to decide

doubts; whether seven or nine were requisite on any question. Some were of opinion that the Secretary ought to make an entry according to his own judgment, and that that entry should stand unless altered by a positive instruction from Congress. To this it was objected, that it would make the Secretary the sovereign in many cases, since a reversal of his entry would be impossible, whatever that entry might be; that, particularly, he might enter seven votes to be affirmative on a question where nine were necessary, and if supported in it by a few States it would be irrevocable. It was said, by others, that the safest rule would be to require nine votes to decide, in all cases of doubt, whether nine or seven were necessary. To this it was objected, that one or two States, and in any situation six States, might, by raising doubts, stop seven from acting in any case which they disapproved. Fortunately, on the case in question, there were nine States of opinion that nine were requisite; so the difficulty was got over for the present.

On a reconsideration of the question whether the duty on wine should be on the quantity or on the value, the mode reported by the Committee was reinstated, and the whole report recommitted, to be included with the five per cent., ad valorem, in an act of recommendation to the States.

MONDAY, MARCH 3RD.

The Committee on revenues reported, in addition to the former articles recommended by them, a duty VOL. I.-24

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 onefifteenth 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 re-establish 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, gene

rally, on the letters of Mr. Morris."

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 merchandizes 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,