The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 12
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 12
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
I have received your favors of the 24th and 27th of June. The conduct
of the States is very alarming, and has given me much serious
apprehension. A want of knowledge or of zeal among those who compose
the several Legislatures, produces misfortunes which their
constituents must feel, although they do not themselves appear to be
aware of them. Had permanent funds been established on which to borrow
money, in all human probability our credit would have been such, as
that a considerable part of every year's expenditure might have been
obtained in that way. The advantages of such a measure are self
evident. If we suppose the states at war possessed of equal force and
resources, the one of them enjoying credit, which the other wants, the
efforts would be so unequal, that the nation in credit might compel
her antagonist to ask peace in a very short period.
In America we have disdained to profit by experience, and therefore
are reduced to the sad necessity of bearing the whole burden of the
war at the present moment, when least able to bear it. Still, however,
I had hoped, by making anticipations on the taxes, to lay a foundation
for more extensive credit; and at length to recover that useful
confidence, which has been too carelessly squandered away. But in
fixing the first stone of this useful edifice, I am disappointed by
finding that after taxes are laid, and in the moment when I expect to
feel the benefits, the collection is postponed unto a future day. I
shall not dwell longer on this disagreeable topic. I deeply feel and
sincerely lament the consequences, which you may rely on it are far
more pernicious even in the article of expense than any person is
aware of; besides other things which are of equal, and may perhaps, be
of greater importance.
I find by examining the sums I have drawn on you for, that you can
find no great difficulty in making the payments by sales of the bills.
I would advise you, immediately on the receipt of this, to employ a
good broker to sell all the bills you have, at a price to be fixed
between you, leaving it optional in the party, to pay either specie,
bank notes, or my notes, and give from a week to a fortnight credit to
good hands. The price will, I suppose, be high if sold in this
manner, and you will doubtless obtain a preference in the sales over
others. When you open this business it must be transacted speedily by
letting your broker make the sales, and take the promisory notes from
the parties. The effects of this plan will be as follows; people
knowing that the notes are at a discount, will readily, I suppose,
make purchases on such conditions; and if they do, you will thereby
raise them to par, and command a considerable sum in specie, for I
know there are very few now in your country, and therefore when they
come to be bought up and looked for, their value will rise; and I
presume that taxation will then come in to aid their farther
circulation.
I am, Sir, with great respect, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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