The low state of public credit, for the want of solid funds to support it, had induced the United States in Congress, to call for an impost of five per cent on all goods imported, and on all prizes and prize goods, to be granted for the payment of the principal and interest of the debts contracted, or which might be contracted, during the present war. Some of the States had complied with this demand. The two more Southern States were in such disorder, that a compliance from them could not reasonably be expected; neither was it relied on, as you doubtless have remarked, on reading the resolutions of the 3d of February upon that subject, which must have reached you before this day. On the 27th of July, therefore, I wrote a letter to the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina. I have the pleasure to inform you, that the States of New York, Delaware, and North Carolina, have since complied with the demand of Congress, and I am convinced that they will, in the laudable step, be speedily followed by the other States. In the mean time, we must patiently wait the event. Such things require time, and since we cannot command obedience, we must stay for the assent of conviction.
On the 6th of August, I wrote a letter to the President of Congress, enclosing those already mentioned. On this letter it is necessary to say nothing more, than that it met with the approbation of the several members, who have, I believe, written such letters to their respective States as I desired.
My letter of the 15th of September, to the Governor of Massachusetts, was, as your Excellency will perceive, although the settlement of past accounts is mentioned in it, written in answer to his of the 23d of August, in which he tells me, that he will lay the business of the impost law candidly before the Legislature, but thinks it will go heavily through. I shall add nothing here to what is said in that letter.
My letter of the 20th of September to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, was written so particularly, in consequence of the authorities they had confided by their resolutions. I wrote to you respecting these resolutions, and my plans founded on them, the 21st of July, and I just mention here, by the way, that this plan has not been in any degree executed, for reasons not necessary to be at present enlarged upon. My letter to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, with the enclosures referred to in it as accounts of which I send you copies, will need no explanation, unless it be to mention that this State had issued one hundred thousand pounds, secured with interest on certain lands near the city, which is now nearly paid by the sales of these lands, and five hundred thousand pounds more not bearing interest, which was funded upon the Land Office, the dues to which were estimated at a much larger sum. I have sent this letter, as also my private letter of the 16th of October, to Governor Nelson, merely that you may be well apprized of the incessant attention, which is paid here to call forth our own resources. I might have added many other letters to particular States on particular occasions, but I dare say you will find this letter sufficiently voluminous.