I find upon examination, that the recommendation of Congress of the 3d of February last, for laying an impost of five per cent on goods imported, and a like impost of five per cent on prizes and prize goods, has not been complied with by your State. The object which Congress had in view when they issued this recommendation was of the utmost importance, and every day gives it an additional weight and magnitude. Whether these States are able to support the annual expenses of the war by their annual revenue, and whether it would be prudent and wise to draw forth such revenue, are questions which may hereafter be agitated, considered, and answered. For the present it is sufficient to observe, that no methods have hitherto been adopted to produce a revenue by any means adequate to the current expenses. The public debt, therefore, is large and increasing. The faith of the United States is pledged to the public creditors. At every new loan it must be pledged anew, and an appeal is now made to the States individually, to support the public faith so solemnly pledged. If they do, it is possible that public credit may be restored, if not our enemies will draw from thence strong arguments in favor of what they have so often asserted, that we are unworthy of confidence, that our union is a rope of sand, that the people are weary of Congress, and that the respective States are determined to reject its authority. I fear that a mere verbal contradiction of these assertions will have but little effect. No words will induce men to risk their property upon the security of a nominal union. Your Excellency will be able at once to determine whether that union is more than nominal, in which any part shall refuse to be bound for the debts of the whole, or to contribute to the general defence. I must be permitted, however, to observe, that in matters of public credit long delay is equivalent to direct refusal.