Papers of John Adams, volume 21
The amendment reported by the committee of the Senate to the Bill relative to the Balances due to the Creditor States is in itself so important, and particularly so interesting to the State of New york, that I feel great reluctance to be absent while the same is under Discussion;1 but a sudden indisposition in my family compels me to return to Newyork. I hope to be again in my Place on Monday or Tuesday next—
May I be permitted sir, through you, to request the Senate to 289 suspend a Decision upon this subject for a few Days? the unexpected Absence of my Colleague, occasioned by an afflicting Event in his family, may be deemed an additional apology for my asking this Indulgence—
With great Respect / I am &c
RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “The Vice President
&ca.”; endorsed: “Mr King 20. May / 1794.”
As president of the Senate, JA often
handled these routine queries about absences. King’s request came at a
particularly sensitive moment in the session. Since passing the Funding
Act on 4 Aug. 1790, Congress had struggled to implement the
long-promised settlement of state debts. By 23 June 1793, a board of
commissioners sorted out the final figures. Massachusetts, Connecticut,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Georgia
stood to profit. The remaining states were debtors of the United States;
King’s constituency of New York owed $2,074,846. There is no indication
that JA adhered to King’s request (vol. 20:xxi; Hamilton, Papers
, 20:474).
I now do myself the honor of transmitting to the senate,
the abstract of vexations and spoliations of our commerce, which was
required by their resolution of the 13th. day of
March last. The volume sent will shew, that such a business could not be
immediately completed. Indeed, sir, I was compelled, by the burthen of
business daily depending and arising in the office, to engage a gentleman of
the law, to assist me in preparing the abstract.
Permit me to remark, that the documents, which have been forwarded to me, are in many instances so imperfect, as to render it impossible to make such regular statements, as I wished.
I ought at the same time to observe, that on the second day of march 1794, when I wrote my letter to the President of the United States, the cases of complaint against the British were thirty two; against the French twenty six; against the Spanish ten; and against the Dutch one.1 The propriety therefore of what that letter Contains, will not be determined by the great list, which has been exhibited since; nor will it be supposed, that I ever have undertaken, or do now undertake to vouch for a single fact; having made and being able to make, no inquiry beyond the allegations of the parties interested.
The abstract would have been drawn in the first instance; had it not been intended to endeavour to settle the business by 290 representations to the foreign courts. Unless the senate deems, that the papers be retained here, it is probable, that many of them will be sent abroad.
I have the honor, sir, to be / with very great respect / yr. mo. ob. serv.
RC (DNA:RG 46, Records of the U.S.
Senate); internal address: “The Vice-President / of the United States; /
and / President of the Senate.”; docketed: “Legis: 1st: Sess: 3d:
Cong: / Communication / to the Vice President / from the Secretary of /
State, accompanying / an abstract of vexa- / tions and spoliations / of
our commerce. / May 20th: / 1794.”
Shortly after he entered office on 2 Jan., Randolph
observed that he had “found a large volume of complaints, which the
notification had collected, against severities on our trade, various in
their kind and degree” and that he expected that “every day would
increase the catalogue.” He collated the claims for George Washington on
2 March, and the president transmitted Randolph’s report and various
supporting documents to Congress on 5 March (Washington, Papers,
Presidential Series
, 15:311, 315, 331–332).