"I make these observations, not that I imagine your Excellency can want motives to continue your influence in the path of moderation; but merely to show why I cannot myself enter into the views of coercion which some gentlemen entertain; for I confess, could force avail, I should almost wish to see it employed. I have an indifferent opinion of the honesty of this country, and ill forebodings of its future system."1

General Washington, in a letter to Colonel Hamilton of the 4th of April, gives the coup de grâce, in the following emphatic terms, to every idea of making the army an instrument, in the hands of the civil creditors and their patrons, to carry through a favorite scheme of finance:

"I will now, in strict confidence, mention a matter which may be useful for you to be informed of. It is that some men (and men (and leading ones too) in this army are beginning to entertain suspicions that Congress, or some members of it, regardless of their past sufferings and present distress, maugre the justice which is due to them, and the returns which a grateful people should make to men who certainly have contributed more than any other class to the establishment of national independency,-[wish to make] use of them as puppets to establish continental funds; and that rather than not succeed in this measure, or weaken their ground, they would make a sacrifice of the army and all its interests. 1 See letter in Ham. Hist. Am. Rep. vol. II. p. 498.

INFLEXIBILITY OF WASHINGTON.

407

"I have two reasons for mentioning this matter to you. The one is, that the army (considering the irritable state it is in, its sufferings, and composition) is a dangerous instrument to play with; the other, that every possible means consistent with their own views, (which are certainly moderate,) should be essayed to get it disbanded without delay. I might add a third; it is that the financier is suspected to be at the bottom of the scheme."

" 1

By the inflexible firmness and stern integrity of Washington, proof alike against seduction and surprise, the country and the army were delivered from the dangers which impended over both.

It is deeply to be regretted that even a shade of dissatisfaction, at such a moment, should have rested upon the conduct of one who had rendered such important services to the cause of American independence as Robert Morris, the superintendent of finance. A letter of conditional resignation, which had been recently addressed by him to Congress, was interpreted by many as a menace to intimidate, that body and the States. into the adoption of certain plans for the benefit of the public creditors; and it detracted, for a time, from the consideration he had so justly enjoyed.

Mr. Madison was one of those who had, in the main, zealously sustained Mr. Morris's administra

1 See letter in Ham. Hist. Am. Rep. vol. II. pp. 449, 450.

tion; and warmly vindicated him from the assaults of two of his colleagues, Mr. Lee and Mr. Bland.' But when, on the reading of his conditional resignation in Congress, a motion was made, first to commit it, and then to assign a day for its consideration, as if with the wish of inducing Mr. Morris to withdraw it, Mr. Madison firmly declared that, "however anxious might be their wishes, or alarming their apprehensions, Congress could not condescend to solicit Mr. Morris, even if there were a prospect of the solicitation being successful."" Happily for his fame, no less than for the interests of the country, circumstances occurred which prevented his resignation from then taking effect.

1 Madison Debates, vol. I. pp. tween him and committee of Con137, 138.

2 Idem, pp. 274, 275.

gress, on the 28th of April, 1783, in Journals of Congress, vol. IV.

3 See report of interview be- p. 216.

CHAPTER XIV.

Efforts of Congress to establish a System of general Revenue - Result of Application to the States for Power to levy ImpostsRhode Island refuses - Virginia, after granting, repeals her Grant - Mr. Madison annoyed and embarrassed by the Opposition of his State Determines, nevertheless, to pursue the Convictions of his own Judgment in Favor of a System of general Revenue Delivers his Views in an able and patriotic Speech - Moves a Modification of the Proposition before Congress - His Modification adopted - Subject referred to a select Committee, of which he was a Member - His Views in the Committee - Report made in Conformity to them- Outline of the Report-Finally adopted by Congress, with slight Variations - Mr. Madison Chairman of Committee to prepare an Address to the States in Support of the Plan agreed to-Luminous and eloquent Address drawn by him, and adopted by Congress Sketch of it-Colonel Hamilton op

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posed to the Plan submitted by Congress to the States - Reasons of his Opposition- General Washington, in his Circular Letter to the States, warmly commends the Address, and urges them to adopt the Plan submitted by Congress Distinctive Features of political Systems of Hamilton and Madison begin to disclose themselves - Reception of Revenue Plan by Legislature of Virginia - Note on Accusations against Mr. Madison by Biographer of Colonel Hamilton.

Ir now remained for Congress to devise and mature some reliable system of revenue that

would enable them to meet the national engagements, as well as to provide for the current wants of the public service. This had become an object of the highest importance, not merely to the honor, but to the very existence of the nation. Requisitions upon the States having long since proved a wholly unreliable resource, Congress, by their resolution of the 3d of February, 1781, which we have already had occasion to refer to, appealed to the several States to grant them the power to levy, for the use of the United States, a uniform duty of five per cent. upon all foreign merchandise imported into the country.

This application had been acceded to by all of the States except Rhode Island, who persisted in refusing, and Georgia, who had not yet definitively acted upon the subject. Virginia, who had promptly passed an act in full conformity. with the application of Congress, afterwards suspended the operation of her act, until all the other States should notify their compliance. While Congress was endeavouring, by renewed remonstrances, to urge their application upon the non-complying States, Rhode Island especially, information was received that Virginia had at length wholly repealed her act of compliance.

There was no person to whom this intelligence could have been more painful than Mr. Madison. We have seen how early, and with how much earnestness of duty and conviction, he espoused