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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Resolutions of the Connecticut General Assembly concerning public accounts
Connecticut. General Assembly
January 08, 1784
Volume 17, Pages 118-119

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MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS—1784
RESOLUTIONS OF GEN. ASSEMBLY OF CONN.
(Transmitted by N. C. Delegates in Congress.)

At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut in America, holden by adjournment at New Haven in said State on the 8th of January, 1784.

Whereas, this State during the late contest in support of the Common rights of the United States never set any other limits to their exertions but what were circumscribed by their want of more force to employ in the general defence, and have therefore at their own expense not only defended an extensive Sea Coast of their own very accessible by the British forces, but also have maintained a barrier at Greenwich nearer the principal Possessions of the late enemy than any other on the East side of the River Hudson, which barrier has not only been necessary for the security of the State but the troops stationed there have given protection to great numbers of the Inhabitants of the State of New York, and have acted in subserviency to the views of the Army lying on the East of the Hudson.

And whereas, the defence which this State has given to the harbor of new London, and thereby preventing a lodgement of the enemy in that town, and Gratton has been essentially necessary to prevent the British Ships from enjoying a haven there equally secure at all seasons as any port within the United States, and consequently would have been a most proper object of general attention.

And whereas, notwithstanding the great expence which this State has been at for their own defence unassisted by the troops of the United States or the aid of the neighboring militia, except a small number upon a few particular occasions, this State has very frequently sent out large numbers of their militia for the aid of their neighbors and upon the calls of the Army by which extraordinary excursions and expenses of this State, notwithstanding their Inhabitants have been taxed during the War to the utmost extent of their abilities, yet they find themselves loaded with an immense local debt which imposes such a burthen upon their Inhabitants that they are endeavoring to avoid the weight of it by emigrating in vast numbers into States where the burthen of taxation is much less.

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And whereas, this State have settled with their line of the Army agreeably to what they apprehended the acts of Congress were, up to the 1st of Jan. 1782, and therefore been much disappointed when they were informed that an act of Congress has passed the last Jan. Resolving that the pay of the Army after the first of August, 1780, should be made by the United States only, and therefore find that no provision has been made to enable this State to charge the United States with the payment made to their line within the before mentioned period.

This State therefore from the foregoing premises, conceive that they have an undoubted claim upon the justice of the United States that the expences of defending the harbour of New London and the port of Greenwich be made a charge against the United States. And as the payment made to their line of the army from the first of Aug., 1780, to the 1st of Jan., 1782, has been incurred for the benefit of the United States, it is impossible for the State to doubt but that they will be authorized to charge said payment together with the interest from the time in which it has been made to the United States.

Therefore, it is resolved by this Assembly that his Excellency the Governor of this State write to our Delegates in Congress to move that honorable body that the before mentioned expences, payments & Interest be allowed as a charge against the United States. And that he represent to them that it is the expectation of this State that an attention should be given to their application, and such an answer obtained thereto as this State conceive themselves justly entitled to receive.

A true Copy of Record.

Signed. Geo. Wyllis, Sec'y.