o emit money, but even to call in what they
had already emitted. But this inference would perhaps be rather too
strong. No such idea has been formerly advanced by Congress, and
therefore the States, not having had due notice, might conceive the
determination at this late period to be inequitable.

On the whole, therefore, it may be proper to estimate the sums paid by
them according to the rule already noticed, especially as the method
of redeeming the old continental money formerly adopted, will, if
pursued, work some degree of equality. For it will create a demand for
the old money in those States, which, by the amount of their own
emissions, have expelled it from themselves and forced it upon their
neighbors. There must, however, be a distinction made in the advances
of the several States; much of them has been for the pay and support
of the militia, and much of that for the private defence of particular
States, and of that again a part has frequently been unnecessary. To
go, at this late period, into a close investigation of the subject, is
impracticable, and perhaps dangerous. Neither would it answer any
valuable purpose. Some general rule, therefore, must be adopted, and
propriety seems to require, that credit should be given only for those
expenditures on militia, which were previously authorised and required
by express resolutions of Congress. With respect to all other
articles, there is also to be noted a distinction between those which
were furnished by the several States previously to the 22d of
November, 1777, when the first demand of money was made, and those
made subsequently to that period. I would propose that the former, as
also the militia expenses not expressly authorised as above mentioned,
should be taken together into one account, and the specie value of the
whole estimated. That the amount of both, throughout America, should
be apportioned by the same standard with the other expenses. And that
the several actual expenditures of each State should be settled and
liquidated with its proportional part of the whole, and the several
balances carried to their respective debits and credits in the general
accounts. These balances should bear interest at six per cent to the
18th of March, 1780. Thus, suppose the whole of those expenses should
amount to one million of dollars, and that the State A be held to pay
nine, and the State B ten parts out of every hundred; the State A
would be accountable for ninety