As settlers will always readily know in which of the states they are, for the states are to be named as well as numbered, when a number of settlers shall have planted themselves in any particular state, either on their petition, or the order of Congress, they are to hold a general meeting of all the free males, and to chose, out of all the constitutions of the present thirteen states, one constitution, and to adopt the laws of such state also, which are to be subject to alterations by their ordinary legislature. They are also, in this first and general meeting, to divide the state into counties or towns, for the choice of their legislature; and this government is to be originated among them. From this period they are to be subject to pay a quota of taxes by the same rule as the other states, and they are to have a setting member in Congress, with a right of debating but not of voting. This is the first stage. After the settlers in any such state shall consist of souls, the free males shall have a right to call a convention, and to form a constitution for themselves, which is to be permanent, of the republican form, and agreeable to the spirit of the Confederation. This is the second stage. After the settlers in any such state shall consist of a number of souls equal to the least numerous of the thirteen original states, such state shall be admitted as a member in full of the Federal Union, and vote as well as debate, on subscribing to the Articles of Confederation. The committee have also agreed to report that the new states be laid off under the following express stipulations or perpetual covenants betwixt them and the present states: 1. They shall always remain within the United States and be considered as part thereof. 2. They shall assume on themselves a proportional part of the national debt at the time, and be bound, in due time, to subscribe to all the Articles of Confederation, as they may then be, and to become members of the Federal Union. 3. After the year 1800, there shall be no slavery in any of the said states, no involuntary servitude other than as punishment for crimes. 4. No citizen thereof shall hold any hereditary title, nor shall any person holding such title, or order, be capable of becoming a citizen of any such state without a previous renunciation thereof. About the most eligible mode of disposing of these lands, there are varirious opinions. It has been the custom of the southern states to issue warrants from a land office. The person taking the warrant has to look for unlocated lands to cover with his warrant, of which he makes a return. In this way the good land is looked out and seized on first, and land of little value and in all shapes, left in the hands of the public. But this, I am told, soon rises in value, and is bought by the holders of the adjacent good lands, in their own defence. In the eastern states as you well know, the custom has been to sell a township by bonds, or certain lots taken flush, good and bad together, and to pass out settlements in compact columns. The measure to be finally adopted on this head must be the result of mutual concession; and what they will be remains quite uncertain. Whether our general land-office ought to be opened-one in each state-is a question undecided, there being different opinions among the members present. But the prices of the land is the chief question, after all. If the liberties of this country are preserved, it will, in my humble opinion, be done by paying and not by funding the national debt. I am, therefore, of opinion with those who are for making the most of what we have to carry to market. I find the public creditors are very apprehensive that Congress will set a high price on their lands. We are told of the immense tracts of land the particular states have to dispose of, and of the lands at the disposal of the British crown adjoining their water boundary, which it will be their interest not only to give away, but to hire people to settle on, in order to preserve their fur trade. A Major General, a few days ago, told me that he did not think our land would fetch us above an eighth of a dollar per acre. I replied by asking if his conscience would let him take eighty thousand acres of that land for his commutation only, (for it would come to so much nearly,) when no nation, not even the British, ever gave any general officer more than a colonel's half-pay. Some are of opinion, that it would be policy to throw all our western country into a bank and sell it out as bank stock; the stockholders to choose a company of directors, and to make the most of their property. But in my opinion, this would be of too great magnitude to be effected in this country. It might be more practicable in an ancient and wealthy country, such as England or France. Such was the Mississippi scheme in France, which paid the public debt, though it ruined individuals. A motion has been referred to a grand committee for a requisition on the states to pay interest on the public debt. Another motion has also been referred to the same committee for the expenses of the current year. The committee have not yet reported, but have agreed to require of the states 1. The balance of arrearages of interest due the 1st of January, 1783, after deducting the requisition of the 4th of September, 1782-which balance is in dollars, The committee has written to Mr. Morris to inform them how much out of the existing requisitions on the states, after satisfying all the remaining uses thereof, may be applied to the use of the above requisitions, in order to lessen them. The states are to be called on in the most earnest man ner to comply with all the requisitions heretofore made. These measures are thought indispensably necessary to be adopted for the support of public credit, while the states are deliberating on the measures recommended in the resolutions of April 18th, 1783. It may be observed that the estimates for this year are formed on a supposition that the reductions, which have been lately reported by a committee on the civil debt, will be adopted; but no decisive step can be taken in any money matters until nine states shall be present and agree therein. This is an event, which we wait for with the greatest impatience. You will please to let Mr. John Brown see this letter, and inform him that I have conferred with the Massachusetts gentlemen on the regulation of the weights and coins; they discover a cheerfulness in joining in some measures, but what those measures are to be we have not agreed. I propose soon to write him at large on the subjects of his long and very interesting letter. You will readily excuse me for not enlarging, as I cannot tell you anything besides what you will class under the head of conjectures and prophecies. Pray write me in full your mind on the points touched on in this letter and any others you please. Please to give my regards to all friends, and to believe me to be in all events as heretofore, Dear Sir, your sincere friend and very humble servant, DAVID HOWELL. P. S.-I am at loss to account for the stoppage of my newspapers from Providence. I have received but one since at this place. DAVID HOWELL TO DEPUTY GOV. Bowen. ANNAPOLIS, March 12th, 1784. SIR-Agreeably to my expectations expressed in my last letter, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Delaware have lately arrived; and ten states are now represented in Congress. New York, Maryland and Georgia are the only delinquent states, and the two former of these are daily expected. An estimate for a new requisition on the states is prepared by a grand committee, and will be soon reported to Congress. This requisition will provide for interest on the domestic debt to the first day of the present year; on the foreign debt, to the first day of the year, 1785, for the expenses of the civil list, &c. of the present year, and for Mr. Morris's anticipations and all pur arrearages of unfunded debts, as the phrase is; and will amount to about four and a half millions of dollars. It is proposed to call for this sum, as part of the requisition of November 2d, 1781, for eight millions. This sum being added to the payments made on that requisition, December 31, 1783, amounts to six millions dollars, or three-quarters thereof; so that all these poses can be answered, and two millions of that requisition, as well as the requisition of October 18, 1782, for two millions more, remain untouched, and subject to future appropriation; and what is paid will answer the public demands till betwixt 1786 and 1787. I have the satisfaction to enclose copy of the final acceptance of the Virginia cession of claims to lands northwest of the river Ohio, in paper No. 1. The printed paper No. 2, contains a report of a committee appointed to prepare a plan for the temporary government of the western territory. As this is a subject of great magnitude, it might, perhaps, be useful to suffer copies of this report to be dispersed, and as it is not probable that it will be soon acted upon, there will be opportunity for your delegates to profit by the remarks and strictures of their friends. For my own part, I can say with great truth, that I wish to be informed of the sentiments of my friends, and to govern myself in all material points by the voice of my constituents. That nothing might remain unattempted on the part of Congress to obtain further cessions of western claims, as well as to turn those already obtained to the best advantage, I have thought it my duty to make the two following motions: 1st. That a committee be appointed to consider and report what further measures are proper, on the part of Congress, in order to obtain further cessions of claims to western territory. 2d. That a committee be appointed to devise and report the most eligible means of disposing of such part of the western country as may be obtained of the natives by the proposed treaty; and the regulations for opening a land-office. These committees are appointed, but have not yet reported. Five commissionars, namely:- General Greene, of our State; General Clarke, of Virginia; General Butler, of Pennsylvania; General Walcot, of Connecticut, and Mr. Stephen Higginson, late a delegate in Congress of Massachusetts, are appointed to hold and conclude treaty of peace with the Indians, under the instructions transmitted in my last letter. These commissioners are to meet at New York, on the 10th of next month, to form their arrangements and to proceed on the business as soon as possible. Great reliance is made on General Greene, on the part especially of the circumscribed states, who are interested in obtaining large cessions of the Indians. I hope those who have influence with the General will use it to induce him to accept this appointment. It is honorable, if not lucrative. Many honorable gentlemen were in competition for it. The committee for reducing the civil list have reported a reduction of about twenty thousand dollars per annum, at present, and others to take place at a future day. This report has not been acted upon. So many members of Congress (I am sorry to say) have friends to serve, or expect appointments themselves in the civil list, as ministers, secretaries, consuls or vice consuls abroad; or as ministers, secretaries, collectors, receivers, or commissioners at home; that it is a difficult thing to prevent augmenting the civil list, and next to impossible to reduce it. I say that this has been the case in former Congresses, (I mean to guard against reflecting on the present,) and it may be the case in future. I have never enjoyed a better state of health for so long a time in any period of my life, than I have, through the Divine blessing, since I left home. Had the states met punctually at the time of adjournment to this place, the public business might have been finished by this time. It is now going on very well, and I hope Congress will adjourn by May, at the farthest, for the summer season. Please to give my dutiful respects to the honorable the General Assembly, and assure them of my best endeavors to serve them. With the most perfect consideration, I have the honor to be, sir, DAVID HOWELL. P. S.-I have also enclosed a paper, No. 3, containing extracts from letters from Dr. Franklin, which I wish to have laid also before the General Assembly. SIR: WILLIAM ELLERY TO DEPUTY Gov. BOWEN. ANNAPOLIS, April 10th, 1784. I have taken the liberty to draw upon you in favor of Mr. Joseph West, now of Baltimore, but formerly of our State, for one hundred dollars, which I trust will be punctually paid, as he hath been so kind as to advance me that sum, and the credit of the government is pledged for the payment of it. As this bill will not be sufficient to pay my expenses and take me home, I shall be obliged soon to draw for the whole of the grant made me the last session of Assembly, and I could wish that the treasurer might be desired to retain money enough in his hands to satisfy my bills, when they |