It will be asked, how will the two masses of Continental and of State money have cost the people of the United States seventy-two millions of dollars, when they are to be redeemed now with about six millions?  I answer, that the difference, being sixty-six millions, has been lost on the paper bills separately by the successive holders of them.  Every one through whose hands a bill passed lost on that bill what it lost in value, during the time it was in his hands.  This was a real tax on him; and in this way, the people of the United States actually contributed those sixty-six millions of dollars during the war, and by a mode of taxation the most oppressive of all, because the most unequal of all.

Page 166; bottom line.  Leave out ‘Et c’est une autre economie,’ &c.  The reason of this is, that in 1784, purchases of lands were to be made of the Indians, which were accordingly made.  But in 1785 they did not propose to make any purchase.  The money desired in 1785, five thousand dollars, was probably to pay agents residing among the Indians, or balances of the purchases of 1784.  These purchases will not be made every year; but only at distant intervals, as our settlements are extended:  and it may be regarded as certain, that not a foot of land will ever be taken from the Indians without their own consent.  The sacredness of their rights is felt by all thinking persons in America, as much as in Europe.

Page 170.  Virginia was quotaed the highest of any State in the Union.  But during the war several States appear to have paid more, because they were free from the enemy, whilst Virginia was cruelly ravaged.  The requisition of 1784 was so quotaed on the several States, as to bring up their arrearages; so that, when they should have paid the sums then demanded, all would be on an equal footing.  It is necessary to give a further explanation of this requisition.  The requisitions of one million and two hundred thousand dollars, of eight millions, and two millions, had been made during the war, as an experiment to see whether in that situation the States could furnish the necessary supplies.  It was found they could not.  The money was thereupon obtained by loans in Europe:  and Congress meant by their requisition of 1784, to abandon the requisitions of one million and two hundred thousand dollars, and of two millions, and also one half of the eight millions.  But as all the States almost had made some payments in part of that requisition, they were obliged to retain such a proportion of it as would enable them to call for equal contributions from all the others.

Page 170.  I cannot say how it has happened, that the debt of Connecticut is greater than that of Virginia.  The latter is the richest in productions, and, perhaps, made greater exertions to pay for her supplies in the course of the war.