with. And this question is answered by a bare inspection of the Act.
Your Excellency will pardon me for mentioning, that the report and
resolution considered conjunctively, rather convey the idea of a
permission to hold my office than anything else. I had declared to the
committee, and here again repeat, that a longer continuance would be
extremely disagreeable to me, and that nothing but the particular
circumstances already mentioned, could induce my consent. I must add,
that under the resolution in its present form I cannot stay. I shall
detain your Excellency no longer than to mention, that I am sensible
some other man may still suppose that I am only desirous of obtaining
from Congress some more particular resolutions. To obviate such
disingenuous remarks, it is my humble request that no further question
be made on my subject. If, Sir, I have rendered any services, and if
those services have merited any return, I shall ask no other reward
than a compliance with this request.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Finance, May 3d, 1783.
Sir,
Upon consideration of the Act of Congress, of the 28th of April[15]
and 2d instant, I have determined to comply with their views. But I
pray it may be understood, that my continuance in office is limited to
the particular object of fulfilling my present engagements, and those
which the necessity of our affairs may compel me to form. Let me
entreat your Excellency to inform Congress, that I entertain a proper
sense of their assurance of firm support, and that in a reliance on it
I shall continue my zealous exertions for the service of the United
States.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
[15] Requesting Mr Morris's continuance in office.
* * * * *
TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.
Office of Finance, May 6th, 1783.
Sir,
I do myself the honor to enclose to your Excellency the copy of an Act
of Congress of the 2d instant. I shall in consequence thereof address
some special despatches to Dr Franklin, by a packet boat, which I will
communicate to your Excellency, and pray you to write to your Court on
the subject of them.
In the meantime, I beg leave to mention to you, Sir, that if, (as I am
informed,) the administration of your army have more money in this
country than they have immediate occasion for, it would greatly
facilitate my operations to be possessed of it. What I have to propose
on the subject is, that whatever sum may be paid to me here, should be
deducted from the three millions mentioned in the enclosed resolution,
and be repaid from the amount of the existing requisitions on the
States. But that if this arrangement should not be agreeable to the
Court, then that it be paid in France or here, immediately after I
shall have been made acquainted with his Majesty's pleasure, and in
such way as shall be most agreeable to your Court.
I present this matter to you, Sir, quite naked of arguments, to
enforce the request. I am sure, that you will do what you conceive to
be right; you know our situation, and I presume that you are
acquainted with the orders given to your administration.
With great respect, I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
CIRCULAR TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATES.
Office of Finance, May 12th, 1783.
Sir,
I do myself the honor to enclose to your Excellency, Acts of Congress
of the 28th of April and 2d instant, together with a copy of my
letters in answer. Permit me to assure you, Sir, that nothing would
have induced me to continue in office, but a view of the public
distresses. These distresses are much greater than can easily be
conceived. I am not ignorant that attempts are made to infuse the
pernicious idea that foreign aid is easily attainable, and that of the
moneys already obtained a considerable part remains unappropriated. If
such attempts were injurious only to my reputation, I should be
entirely silent; but they are calculated to prevent exertions, and are
therefore injurious to the public service. I most seriously assure
you, that I do not expect success in the application to France,
directed by the Act of the 2d instant, although my earnest endeavors
shall not be wanting.
If, however, it should prove successful, we shall only be enabled to
draw resource from it at a future period, and the amount is to be
replaced from the produce of existing requisitions on the States. With
respect to the moneys, which have already been obtained abroad, I will
not pretend to say what lights those gentlemen may have, who speak on
the subject in a decisive tone, but I candidly acknowledge, that I
have never yet been able to obtain a clear statement of them, which is
the reason why no account of those moneys have yet been laid before
the public. Those who know the confusion in our domestic transactions,
from which we are just beginning to be extricated, will not be
surprised that foreign transactions dependent on them should also be
deranged. Neither can it be expected that in the midst of war the
accounts could be so soon adjusted and transmitted as could be wished.
I have written to obtain them, and a commissioner is employed in
adjusting them. From the best statement and estimate which I have, I
can assure you, that what remains at my disposition is extremely
small.
Your Excellency is doubtless informed, that at the close of last year,
there was an anticipation on the public credit to the amount of above
four hundred thousand dollars. This anticipation amounts to a greater
sum now than it did then, and a very considerable addition must be
made at the disbanding of the army. My mere assertion might, I am
sensible, be drawn into doubt, but, Sir, there is evidence sufficient
to convince every considerate man. The expenses of 1782 were above
twentytwo hundred thousand dollars; those of 1783 are greater, by a
month's pay made to the army, and by extending the contract for
rations. Near five months of this year are already expired. One
month's pay of the army is above two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, according to the establishment, and although the army is not
completed to its establishment, yet the deficiency, being in private
sentinels, will not form a great deduction.
The conclusion from what I have stated is clear and irresistible;
there is no reliance but on the energy of the States, and it is on
that reliance that I rest for the affairs of my department. I shall
not add anything to what is said in the resolutions of Congress, as
inducements for, or to stimulate exertions, because I cannot suppose
that the voice or the word of an individual servant will meet an
attention which is not paid to the representation of the whole empire,
expressed in its solemn Acts, and on the most urgent occasion, where
wisdom, justice, and gratitude combine to enforce the requisition.
I am, Dear Sir, yours, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO THOMAS BARCLAY, AGENT FOR SETTLING THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS IN EUROPE.
Office of Finance, May 12th, 1783.
Sir,
I have received from you many letters, which I beg leave to
acknowledge.
The bills drawn by order of Congress at a long sight on their
Ministers, as well in Spain and Holland as in France, have involved
the affairs of my Department in a labyrinth of confusion, from which I
cannot extricate them, and I very much fear that many of these bills
will have been twice paid. I know not what has been done respecting
them, and only know, that ever since I entered into office they have
not only plagued and perplexed me, but they have invariably consumed
the resources on which I have formed a reliance. I have now determined
to refer them all to Mr Grand for payment, but according to such
arrangements as you shall take. You will be pleased, therefore, to
consult with Dr Franklin, Mr Adams, Mr Laurens, and Mr Jay, to whom I
write on the subject, as you will see by the enclosed letters.
I enclose you an account from the treasury of what bills have been
drawn on those gentlemen, and I am to request, that you will obtain as
soon as possible an account of the payments made on them, as also of
those which are still due, and take measures to have them paid by
drafts for the purpose, if necessary, on Mr Grand, and provide against
the double payments, which I fear. I have already ordered funds into
Mr Grand's hands. Some I expect from you. As the credit I gave you has
not been used, that alone furnishes a part, and I expect there will be
considerable balances from the sales of the Alliance's prizes, of
which I am daily expecting your accounts, &c. You will also, I
suppose, have recovered the insurance you made, to the amount of forty
thousand florins, which will be something. Every aid which you can
bestow is necessary, for I fear those bills will plunge him into great
difficulties, and the protest of any public bills, particularly any
which I should draw, would reduce our affairs here to infinite
distress.
I am also to request of you, that you will cause as soon as possible
all the accounts of the clothing, arms, and other supplies to be
liquidated and transmitted, so that they may be properly adjusted
here; for at present, that business is in a state of extreme
confusion.
I am, Sir, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO B. FRANKLIN.
Office of Finance, May 12th, 1783.
Sir,
The bills drawn by Congress in their necessities press very heavily
upon me, and one of the greatest among many evils attending them is
the confusion in which they have involved the affairs of my
Department. I have not yet been able to learn how many of these bills
have been paid nor how many remain due; neither am I without my fears,
that some of them have received double payment.
To bring at length some little degree of order into this chaos, after
waiting till now for fuller light and information, I write on the
subject to Mr Adams and Mr Jay, and send Mr Barclay, to whom I also
write, a copy of the enclosed accounts, directing him to consult with
your Excellency, and with them to transmit me an account of the bills
paid, and of those remaining due, and to take measures for preventing
double payments. The enclosed accounts will inform you, that of the
bills drawn for interest and those for carrying on the current
service, which have gone forward through the Loan Offices, amount, the
first to one million six hundred and eightyfour thousand two hundred
and seventyeight dollars; equal to eight millions four hundred and
twentyone thousand three hundred and ninety livres; and the second to
two hundred and eightysix thousand seven hundred and thirtythree and
one third dollars; equal to one million four hundred and thirtythree
thousand six hundred and sixtysix livres, six sous, and eight deniers.
Let me entreat you, Sir, to forward these views as much as possible,
for you will, I am sure, be sensible how necessary it is for me to
know the exact state of our pecuniary affairs, lest on the one hand I
should risk the public credit by an excess of drafts, or on the other
leave their moneys unemployed, while they experience severe distress
from the want.
I am, Sir, with perfect respect, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO A COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.
Office of Finance, May 15th, 1783.
Gentlemen,
In consequence of the conversation which passed between us this
morning, I shall give you the best information in my power as to the
state of my Department and the resources I can command.
You have in the enclosed paper an account of receipts and expenditures
from the commencement of the year to the end of the last month; by
which it appears, that there is an advance on credit to the amount of
near six hundred thousand dollars, exclusive of what may appear in Mr
Swanwick's accounts for the month of April. A large sum is also due on
General Greene's drafts, and the contractors are to be paid in this
month for the supplies of January last. At the end of this month,
therefore, that anticipation must necessarily be much increased, as
will appear from the slightest reflection after what is to be said of
our resources.
These are either foreign or domestic. As to the first, I enclose the
copy of the last letter I have received from Mr Grand, and I have to
add to what is contained in that letter, that the day it was received,
my drafts on him, over and above those mentioned in it, amounted to
three millions forty thousand two hundred and seventyeight livres. I
have directed, therefore, Mr Barclay to pay over to Mr Grand any
moneys, which may be in his possession, and I have directed Messrs
Willink & Co. of Amsterdam to do the same, after deducting what may be
necessary to pay the interest of their loan falling due the 1st of
June next. But as I have no accounts of how much has been borrowed
since the end of January, and as all which had been borrowed before
was disposed of, I cannot determine how far they can come in aid of Mr
Grand. Neither can I tell until the receipt of his accounts what aid
he may stand in need of. In these circumstances I am obliged to leave
about eighteen hundred thousand livres (which remain of a sum placed
in the hands of Messrs Le Couteulx for answering drafts intended
through Havana,) to answer any deficiency of other funds to pay my
drafts on Mr Grand. These then, Gentlemen, are all the foreign
resources, except what the French Court may advance on the late
resolutions of Congress, and you will see by the enclosed translation
of a letter from the Minister of France, what little hope is to be
entertained from that quarter.
Our domestic resources are twofold. First, certain goods and other
property, such as horses, wagons, &c. These latter will produce very
little, and the former are, by the peace, very much reduced in value,
and from the nature of the goods themselves they are chiefly
unsaleable. Very little reliance, therefore, can be placed on this
first dependence. The amount I cannot possibly ascertain, for I do not
yet know, and cannot until the opening of them now in hand shall be
completed, the kinds, quality and situation. Some are damaged, those
which were deemed most saleable have been tried at vendue, and went
under the first cost, and much the greater part will certainly not
sell at a fourth of their value.
The only remaining resource is in the taxes, and what they may amount
to, it is impossible to tell. But you have enclosed an account of what
they yielded the four first months of this year, and you will see from
thence, that if all expense had ceased on the first day of this month,
the anticipations already made would not have been absorbed by the
same rate of taxation in eight months more.
Now then, Gentlemen, you will please to consider, that if your army is
kept together they will consume as much in one month as the taxes will
produce in two, and probably much more; to make them three months' pay
will require I suppose at least six hundred thousand dollars, and
every day they continue in the field lessens the practicability of
sending them home satisfied. The anticipations of revenue are
threefold, two of which appear as to their effects in the public
accounts, and one very considerable one, though it produces great
relief, is not seen. It consists in the drawing of bills on me for the
public service by different persons and at different usances. I
imagine that these amount at the present moment to one hundred
thousand dollars. The other anticipations consist in loans from the
bank on the issuing of my own notes. As to the first of these it is
limited in its nature by the capital of the bank, which being small
will not admit of great deductions, and it depends much upon
circumstances, whether the bank will go to the extent which they may
go. If they find the revenues increasing and the expenses diminishing,
they will, but otherwise, they certainly will not. As to the notes I
issue, and which form the greatest part of my anticipations, these
have also a certain limit, to exceed which would be fatal. I must not
so extend that circulation, as that I shall be unable to pay them when
presented, for that would totally destroy their credit, and, of
course, their utility.
If anything of this sort should take place before the army are
disbanded, you will see at once that they could be fed no longer, and
must of course disband themselves. I will not dwell on the
consequences, but I will draw one clear conclusion, which you have,
doubtless, by this time anticipated, viz. that unless they are
disbanded immediately, the means of paying them, even with paper, will
be gone. And this sentiment I have not delivered to you, but to a
former committee, as well as to many individual members of Congress.
But when I speak of disbanding the army, I beg to be understood as
meaning to reserve a sufficient garrison for West Point; and on this
subject I pray to be indulged in a view of our political and military
situation as far as relates to this capital object of my department.
And first, as to our political situation, I conceive that we are at
peace. It is true, that the definitive treaty is not, that we know of,
completed; but it is equally true, that all the other belligerent
powers have been disarming for mouths past, and I presume they are at
least as well acquainted with the state of things as we are. To
express doubts of the sincerity of Britain on this subject is, I know,
a fashionable, but in my opinion a very foolish language. We have the
best evidence of their sincerity, which the nature of things will
admit, for we know they are unable to carry on the war, and we see and
feel, that they are passing every act, and doing everything in their
power to conciliate our affections. Expressions of doubts as to their
sincerity, if intended to foster enmity against them, will fail of the
effect and produce the direct contrary, for everybody will soon learn
to consider them as unjustly suspected, and their Ministers will take
care to inculcate and enforce the sentiment.
As to our military situation some of the troops in the southern States
have already mutinied, the principal part of them are ordered away,
and since the Floridas are ceded to Spain it follows, that those
troops which may remain in the southern States will have to operate
against the Spaniards if they operate at all. So that every man,
except those under the General's immediate command and the little
garrison of Fort Pitt, are in fact disbanded to every purpose but that
of expense.
The prisoners are some of them going, and the rest gone into New York,
so that in a few days the enemy will be able to do everything which
they could do if the greater part of our army were gone home. For they
could not take West Point if it is properly garrisoned, and they could
ravage the country in spite of our army when theirs shall be all
collected.
Our situation, therefore, seems to be this. We are keeping up an army
at a great expense, and very much against their inclinations for a
mere punctilio, and by that means incapacitating ourselves from
performing what they begin to consider as a kind of engagement taken
with them. I shall detain you no longer on this subject, but must
repeat one observation, which is, that unless the far greater part of
our expenses be immediately curtailed, the object Congress had in
view by their resolutions of the 2d instant, cannot possibly be
accomplished.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.[16]
[16] _May 13th._ Mr Gorham and Mr Hamilton, two members of a
committee of Congress for conferring with the Secretary of War,
the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and myself, relative to
disbanding the army, met this morning. I opened the business, and
stated very fully the necessity of disbanding the army, in order
to get clear of an expense, which our resources are unequal to,
and which cannot be supported many months at any rate, but which,
if continued any longer, will consume the only means now left for
making a payment to the army when disbanded. The gentlemen of the
committee seemed perfectly satisfied of the necessity of
disbanding the army on principles of economy, but opposed to it on
principles of policy, in which the Secretary of Foreign Affairs
joins with them. The Secretary at War said little, and I related
an observation which he had made to me a few days before in favor
of disbanding the army directly, viz.; that they would not
continue in the field under their present enlistments, if the war
were to break out again; but that in such a case we must begin
entirely anew. The conclusion of the conference is, that I am to
state the reasons resulting from the situation of our finances,
which induce an immediate disbanding of the army, in writing to
the committee. _Diary._
* * * * *
TO MAJOR GENERAL GREENE.
Office of Finance, May 16th, 1783.
Sir,
Your bills on me fall very heavy, and I am in hourly apprehensions of
being unable to pay them. You will see, therefore, that it is utterly
impossible to send money for your military chest. I hope, however, and
expect, that the sales of the public property will provide you more
money than you stand in need of. I know not what orders the Secretary
at War may give, but if they be agreeable to my wishes, they will
contain an absolute dismission of all the troops in your quarter, for
I can see no use in keeping them together.
The attacks made upon you, might reconcile me to those which I
experience, for they show that no conduct, however just, can possibly
escape censure. It is far easier to be faultless than blameless, and
the experience I have had in this way leads me to a total disregard of
all things, so far as conduct is to be determined. But I must at the
same time acknowledge, that I cannot help feeling indignation whenever
they are made. They are for the most part mere ebullition of low
malice, and if rightly understood contain the most indisputable
acknowledgement of merit. Let this reflection console you for what you
have already experienced and what may yet be behind.
I thank you for the sentiments you express in my favor. You will have
seen, that contrary to every private interest and sentiment I have
agreed to a longer continuation in office. And you may rest assured,
that nothing but a view of the public necessities should have induced
me still longer to bear up under the burden. Not because I regard the
calumnies I meet with, for although they excite my feelings they shall
not influence my conduct, but because I do not think those measures
are pursued, which are calculated for the happiness of this country,
and I do not wish to participate in any others.
There are many persons in the Southern States, who think the measures
of Congress and of their servants are directed to the particular good
of Pennsylvania, and more who pretend to think so. It is a little
history of human weakness and I might say meanness, the manner in
which antipathies have been imbibed and propagated with respect to my
department. One sample will show the texture of the whole piece. While
I was in advance, not only my credit but every shilling of my own
money, and all which I could obtain from my friends, to support the
important expedition against Yorktown, much offence was taken that I
did not minister relief to the officers taken prisoners at Charleston.
I felt their distresses as sincerely as any man could do, but it was
impossible to afford relief.
Before I close the letter, I must again repeat my solicitude on the
score of your bills, which are coming in upon me so fast, that the
means of paying them must, I fear, be deficient. Take care, therefore,
to draw as little and at as long sight as possible.
I am, Sir, your most obedient, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO B. FRANKLIN.
Office of Finance, May 26th, 1783.
Sir,
I have now before me your letters of the 14th and 23d of December,
which are the last I have received. Enclosed you have a letter from me
to the Minister of France, with his answer of the 14th of March, on
the subject of the delay which happened in transmitting his
despatches. You will see by these, that Lieutenant Barney was not to
blame.
Your bills in favor of M. de Lauzun have not yet appeared, or they
should have been duly honored. That gentleman has since left the
country, and therefore it is possible that the bills may not come.