[244] An act passed by the legislature of Massachusetts, November 9, 1784, suspended judgment for interest on British debts, until Congress should have put a construction upon the Treaty declaring that it was due. An act of the State of New York, of July 12, 1782, restrained the collection of debts due to persons within the enemy's lines. Pennsylvania, soon after the peace, passed a law restraining the levy of executions. Virginia, at the time of the peace, had existing laws inhibiting the recovery of British debts. South Carolina had made land a good payment, in place of money. (See Mr. Jay's Report.) [245] Passed March 17, 1783. Secret Journals, IV. 267. [246] Passed May 12, 1784, after the Treaty had been ratified. Secret Journals, IV. 269-274. [247] This happened in New York, in a case under the "Trespass Act," where a suit was brought in the Mayor's Court of the City of New York, "to recover the rents of property held by the defendant under an order of Sir Henry Clinton." Hamilton, in the defence of this case, contended, with great power, that the act was a violation of the Treaty, and the court sustained his position. But the legislature passed resolves, declaring the decision to be subversive of law and good order, and recommending the appointing power "to appoint such persons Mayor and Recorder of New York as will govern themselves by the known law of the land." Life of Hamilton, II. 244, 245. [248] Mr. John Adams was sent as the first Minister of the United States to the Court of St. James's in 1785. He received this reply to a memorial which he addressed to the British government, on the subject of the Western posts, in February, 1786. Secret Journals, IV. 187. [249] Secret Journals, IV. 209. [250] March 21, 1787. [251] New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina passed such acts. [252] Pitkin's History of the United States, II. 198. [253] Marshall's Life of Washington, V. 67, 68. CHAPTER III. 1786-1787. NO SECURITY AFFORDED BY THE CONFEDERATION TO THE STATE GOVERNMENTS.--SHAYS'S REBELLION IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND ITS KINDRED DISTURBANCES.