The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 09
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 09
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
"5. That from the best estimates of the annual revenues, which these
States are capable of affording, there is a balance to be supplied by
credit. The resource of domestic loans is inconsiderable, because
there are, properly speaking, few monied men, and the few there are
can employ their money more profitably otherwise; added to which, the
instability of the currency and the deficiency of funds have impaired
the public credit.
"6. That the patience of the army, from an almost uninterrupted series
of complicated distress, is now nearly exhausted, their wants carried
to an extremity, which has recently had very disagreeable
consequences, and demonstrate, the absolute necessity of speedy
relief, a relief not within the compass of our means. You are too well
acquainted with all their sufferings, for want of clothing, for want
of provisions, for want of pay.
"7. That the people being dissatisfied with the mode of supporting the
war, there is danger to apprehend, that evils actually felt in
prosecuting it may weaken the cause which began it, evils founded not
on immediate sufferings, but on a speculative apprehension of future
sufferings from the loss of their liberties; there is danger that a
commercial and free people, little accustomed to heavy burthens,
pressed by impositions of a new and odious kind, may not make a proper
allowance for the necessity of the conjuncture, and may imagine they
have only exchanged one tyranny for another.
"8. That from all the foregoing considerations result, 1st, the
absolute necessity of an immediate, ample, and efficacious succor of
money, large enough to be a foundation for substantial arrangements of
finance to revive public credit, and give vigor to future operations.
2dly, the vast importance of a decided effort of the allied arms on
this continent the ensuing campaign, to effectuate once for all the
great object of the alliance, the liberty and independence of these
United States. Without the former, we may make a feeble and expiring
effort the next campaign, in all probability the period to our
opposition; with it we should be in a condition to continue the war as
long as the obstinacy of the enemy might require. The first is
essential; both combined, would bring the contest to a glorious issue,
crown the obligations which America already feels to the magnanimity
and generosity of her ally, and render the union perpetual by all the
ties of gratitude and affection, as well as mutual interest, which
alone render it solid and indissoluble.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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