The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a circular letter from CONGRESS, to their CONSTITUENTS,
dated September 16, 1779.

If then neither our ability or inclination to discharge the publick debt,
are justly questionable, let our conduct correspond with this confidence,
and let us rescue our credit from its present imputations. Had the
attention of America to this object been unremitted; had taxes been
seasonably imposed and collected; had proper loans been made; had laws
been passed and executed for punishing those who maliciously endeavoured
to injure the publick credit; had these and many other things equally
necessary been done, and had our currency, notwithstanding all these
efforts, declined to its present degree of depreciation, our case would
indeed have been deplorable. But as these exertions have not been made,
we may yet experience the good effects which naturally result from them.

Our former negligences therefore should now animate us with hope, and
teach us not to despair of removing by vigilance and application the evils
with (unhappiness and inattention have introduced.

It has been already observed that in order to prevent the further
natural depreciation of our bills we have resolved to stop the press, and
to call in on you for supplies by loans and taxes. You are in capacity
to afford them, and are bound by the strongest ties to do it. Leave us
not therefore without supplies, nor let in that flood of evils which would
follow from such a neglect. It would be an event most grateful to our
enemies, and depend upon it they will redouble their artifices and industry
to compass it. Be therefore upon your guard, and examine well the
policy of every measure and the evidence of every report that may be
proposed or mentioned to you before you adopt the one or believe the
other, recollect that it is the price of liberty, the peace and safety of your-
selves and posterity, that now is required; that peace, liberty and safety,
for the attainment and security of which you have so often and so solemnly
declared your readiness to sacrifice your lives and fortunes. The war,
though drawing fast to a successful issue, still rages. Disdain to leave
the whole business of your defence to your Ally. Be mindful that the
brightest prospects may be clouded, and that prudence bids us be prepared
for every event. Provide therefore for continuing your armies in the
field until victory and peace shall lead them home, and avoid the reproach
of permitting the currency to depreciate in your hands, when by yielding
a part to taxes and loans, the whole might have been appreciated and
preserved. Humanity as well as justice makes this demand upon you,
the complaints of ruined widows, and the cries of fatherless children,
whose whole support has been placed in your hands and melted away,
have doubtless reached you—take care that they ascend no higher. Rouse
therefore; strive who shall do most for his country; rekindle that flame of
patriotism which at the mention of disgrace and slavery blazed throughout
America, and animated all her citizens. Determine to finish the contest
as you began it, honestly and gloriously. Let it never be said that
America had no sooner become independent than she became insolvent, or
that her infant glories and growing fame were obscured and tarnished by
broken contracts and violated faith, in the very hour when all the nations
of the earth were admiring and almost adoring the splendour of her rising.