“...Congress took into consideration the report. . . . in a resolution of Congress of the 10th of September last, and the same being read and debated by paragraphs, was agreed to, as follows:
“Pursued by the injustice and the vengeance of the King and Parliament Great Britain, these United States have been compelled to engage in a bloody and expensive war. Amidst much great every distress that they have yet experienced may befal them, it will be their consolation to appeal to Heaven for the rectitude of their measures; since they have her influence they have had recourse to arms, not from ambition or the lust of power, but to resist actual invasion and boundless rapine, and to secure to themselves and to their Posterity the common rights and privileges of human nature: the blessings of freedom and safety that they have had recourse to arms.
“Aided by venal foreigners and domestic traitors, the war has been prosecuted by our implacable foes with their utmost force and vigour, and aggravated by more than savage barbarity.
“Congress, nevertheless, supported by the virtue, patriotism and good faith of their constituents have hitherto raised all the necessary supplies on the publick credit confidence of their fellow citizens, without burthening them with taxes or pecuniary contributions, have hitherto raised all the necessary supplies on the public faith For these purposes....”
“...To this cause, conspiring with the arts and practices of our open and secret enemies, the shameful avidity of too many of our professed friends, and the scarcity of foreign commodities are we to ascribe the depreciation of our currency: the consequences to be apprehended are equally obvious and alarming.1 They tend to the depravity of morals,--decay of public virtue,--a precarious supply for the war,--debasement of the public faith,--injustice to individuals, and the destruction of the honour, safety, and independence of the United States. Loudly, therefore, are we called upon to provide a seasonable and effectual remedy against those dangerous evils.
[Note 1: 1 The original report read as follows:
"If the Depravity of Morals, if the Extinction of publick Virtue, if the Supplies for carrying on the War, if the Interests of Individuals, if the preservation of the publick Faith and the Honour, Safety and Independance of the United States, are Objects, which are worthy of our Concern, we are loudly, &c."]
“To maintain our fleets and armies, large sums have been emitted in continental bills of credit, and the same expedient method has been adopted embraced by the respective states to answer the demands of their internal governments their internal wants. By these exertions expedients, our paper currency, notwithstanding the settled solid basis on which it is founded, is multiplied beyond the rules of good policy. No truth being more evident, than that where the quantity of money of any quality or denomination exceeds what is useful as a medium of commerce, its comparative value must be proportionably reduced. To this cause, conspiring with the arts and practices of our open and secret enemies, the shameful avidity of too many of our professed friends, and the scarcity of foreign commodities are we to ascribe the depreciation of our currency: the consequences to be apprehended are equally obvious and alarming.1 They tend to the depravity of morals,--decay of public virtue,--a precarious supply for the war,--debasement of the public faith,--injustice to individuals, and the destruction of the honour, safety, and independence of the United States. Loudly, therefore, are we called upon to provide a seasonable and effectual remedy against those dangerous evils.
[Note 1: 1 The original report read as follows:
"If the Depravity of Morals, if the Extinction of publick Virtue, if the Supplies for carrying on the War, if the Interests of Individuals, if the preservation of the publick Faith and the Honour, Safety and Independance of the United States, are Objects, which are worthy of our Concern, we are loudly, &c."]
“Blessed be God, they are not unavoidable irremediable.2 The means of repressing them are still in our own power. Let the virtuous patriots of America reflect on the inestimable value of the prize for which we are contending. Hitherto spared from taxes, let them now with a cheerful heart contribute according to their circumstances. Let the sordid wretches, who shrink from danger and personal service, and meanly prefer their own inglorious2 ease and emolument to the good of their country, be despised, and their ill-gotten wealth be abhorred as a curse disgrace. Let the extortioner and oppressor be
[Note 22: 2 This word was inserted by Henry Laurens.]
punished; the secret traitor dragged to light; the necessities of the army attended to and relieved; and the quantity of money in circulation be reduced; and we shall soon see the public credit fully established, and with the continuance of the divine favour, a glorious termination of the present arduous conflict....”
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