In  the  spring  of  1783  the  Congress  discussed
the  question  of  laying  an  impost  duty  for  the
restoration  of  the  public  credit. Finally,  on
April  18, 1782,  it  was  voted  "  that  it  be  recom-
mended to  the  several  states  as  indispensably
necessary  to  the  restoration  of  public  credit,
and  to  the  punctual  and  honorable  discharge
of  the  public  debts,  to  invest  the  United  States,
in  Congress  assembled,  with  power  to  levy  for
the  use  of  the  United  States"  certain  duties
named  upon  certain  goods  imported  from  any
foreign  port. Under  the  provisions  of  the  Arti-
cles of  Confederation  (which  see),  the  unani-
mous consent  of  the  states  was  necessary  to  con-
fer this  power  upon  the  Congress. This  was  the
first  attempt  to  lay  such  duties  for  revenue. The
necessity  was  obvious,  and  all  the  states  except
Rhode  Island  and  Georgia  agreed  to  an  o^  vo-
loreni  duty  of  five  per  cent,  upon  all  goods  ex-
cepting spirituous  liquors,  wines,  teas,  pepper,
sngars,  molasses,  cocoa,  and  coffee,  on  which  spe-
cific duties  were  laid. The  Assembly  gave,  as
a  reason  for  it«  refnsal,  the  inequality  of  snch  a
tax,  bearing  harder  on  the  commercial  sta,tes,
and  the  inexpediency  and  danger  of  intrusting
its  collection  to  Federal  officers,  nnknown  and
not  acconutable  to  the  state  governments. A
committee  of  the  Congress,  with  Alexander
Hamilton,  a  delegate  from  New  York,  as  chair-
man, was  appointed  to  lay  the  proposition  be-
fore the  sevei-al  states  and  to  urge  their  acqui-
escence. They  sent  it  forth  with  an  eloquent
address,  which  appealed  to  the  patriotism  of  the
people. The  measure  was  approved  by  the  lead-
ing men  of  the  country,  and  all  the  states  but
two  were  willing  to  give  Congress  the  desired
power. "  It  is  money,  not  power,  that  ought  to
be  the  object,"  they  said. "  The  former  wiU  pay
our  debts,  the  latter  may  destroy  our  liberties."

First  Indian  Government  established  in
New  England. In  1647  the  General  Court  of
Massachusetts  organized  the  Natict  Indians  at
Xonantnm  (see  Missiotis  to  the  Indians)  into  a  po-
litical community,  where  a  court  of  jurisdiction
was  established. An  order  was  passed  that  one
or  more  of  the  magistrates  at  Boston  should,
once  a  quarter,  keep  a  court  at  Nonantum,  and
determine  all  cases,  civil  and  criminal,  that
might  arise  among  the  Indians. 