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CHAPTER X.

Proceedings of Congress on receiving Intelligence of the Surrender of the British Army at Yorktown - Washington, urges energetic Preparations for another Campaign - Recommendation warmly seconded by Mr. Madison Congress makes further Calls for

Troops and Money on the States - Frequent Disregard of these Requisitions - Necessity of invigorating the Federal Authority enforced by Washington - Proposition to invest Congress with coercive Power Views of Mr. Madison on the Subject- Colonel Hamilton brings forward a Project, in a Communication addressed by him to a Member of Congress - Remarks on his SchemePolicy of completing the Ratification of the Articles of Confederation, rather than attempt, in the Midst of War, the Introduction of a new System-Congress applies to the States for Power to levy Duties on Foreign Imports - Mr. Madison zealously sustains the Application His Letter on the Subject.

CONGRESS, on the 24th of October, 1781, received official intelligence of the capitulation of Yorktown, in a letter from the commander-inchief; and, at two o'clock of the same day, went in procession to the Dutch Lutheran Church, "to return thanks to Almighty God for crowning the allied arms of the United States and France with success by the surrender of the whole British army under Earl Cornwallis." A

few days afterwards, upon the report of a committee appointed to consider the most proper mode of doing honor to the actors in so splendid an achievement, the thanks of Congress were voted, in the warmest terms, to General Washington, Count Rochambeau, and Count de Grasse, not omitting the officers and soldiers under their command.

It was further resolved that "the United States in Congress assembled will cause to be erected at York, in Virginia, a marble column, adorned with emblems of the alliance between the United States and his Most Christian Majesty, and inscribed with a succinct narrative" of the great event; an event which must render that spot forever memorable on the pages of history. But no monumental structure has yet risen to mark it to the eyes of the inquiring patriot or stranger; and a solemn pledge of the national faith to the glorious past of our annals, - a debt which no change or lapse of time can cancel, remains still unfulfilled.

General Washington, in writing to Congress on the 26th of October, for the purpose of transmitting complete returns of the prisoners, arms, and stores surrendered at York, and also of informing them what disposition of his forces he had determined to make for the remainder of the season, availed himself of the occasion to express to that body, with great earnestness, his opinion of the course which wisdom and pru

RETURN OF WASHINGTON TO THE NORTH. 297

dence demanded in preparing for another campaign.

66

Unacquainted," said he, "with the state of politics between Congress and the courts of Europe respecting future negotiations, whatever our prospects from that quarter may be, I cannot justify myself to my own mind without urging Congress, in the warmest terms, to make every arrangement for an early and efficacious campaign, the ensuing year, that may be found necessary. Arguments, I flatter myself, need not be adduced to impress on Congress the high importance of this idea. Whatever may be the events of the coming winter or ensuing summer, an effectual and early preparation for military operations will put us upon the most respectable footing either for war or negotiation; while relaxation will place us in a disreputable situation in point of peaceful prospects, and will certainly expose us to the most disgraceful disasters in case of the continuance of the hostile disposition of our enemies."

Returning to reassume his position in the North, the commander-in-chief arrived in Philadelphia the evening of the 26th of November. On the 28th, he was formally received by Congress; and in the address of the President on that occasion, congratulating him on the glorious success of the allied arms in Virginia, he was assured that "it was the fixed purpose of Congress to draw every advantage from the event

by exhorting the States, in the strongest terms, to the most vigorous and timely exertions."

Mr. Madison, in writing to Judge Pendleton the day preceding this public reception of the General by Congress, says:

"Your favor of the 19th instant came to hand yesterday. On the same evening arrived our illustrious General, returning to his position on the North River. We shall probably, however, have his company here for some days at least, where he will be able to give Congress very seasonable aid in settling the military establishment for the next year; about which there is some diversity of opinion. Whatever the total requisition of men may be on the States, I cannot but wish that Virginia may take effectual measures for bringing into the field her proportion of men."

Writing to the same friend as early as the 2d of October, 1781, in anticipation of the auspicious close of the operation then pending against the enemy at York, he evinced how deeply his mind was penetrated with the necessity of unrelaxed military preparations, on the part of America, to secure the great boon of peace and national independence.

"We have received," said he, "some communications from Europe, relative to the general state of its affairs. They all centre in three important points. The first is, the obstinacy of Great Britain, the second, the fidelity of our ally, and the

MEASURES OF CONGRESS.

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third, the absolute necessity of vigorous and systematic preparations for war on our part, in order to insure a speedy, as well as favorable peace. The wisdom of the legislature of Virginia will, I flatter myself, not only prevent an illusion from the present brilliant prospects, but take advantage of the military ardor and sanguine hopes of the people to recruit their line for the

war."

These views finally prevailed in the deliberations of Congress. On the 10th of December, it was resolved, with a view to the exigencies of another campaign, to complete the different corps of the army to the full extent of the establishment fixed for the service of the past year; and "the legislatures of the several States were to be called upon, in the most pressing manner, to have their respective quotas of the land forces in the field by the first day of March next," and to provide for vacancies, which might thereafter occur, by new enlistments for three years or during the war. It had already been resolved to States for the sum of eight millions of dollars in specie, for the fiscal service of the ensuing year, to be paid in equal quarterly instalments, the first payment to be made into the treasury on the first day of April next.2

call upon the

Experience, however, had unfortunately shown that the requisitions of Congress and the com

1 Journals of Congress, vol. III. p. 700.

2 Idem, under dates of October 30 and November 2, 1781.

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