ilitia to serve a
twelve-month, from the States of North and South Carolina and
Virginia. But South Carolina, being very weak in her population of
whites, may be excused from the draught, on condition of furnishing
the black battalions. The two others may furnish about three thousand
five hundred men, and be exempted, on that account, from sending any
succor to this army. The States to the northward of Virginia, will be
fully able to give competent supplies to the army here; and it will
require all the force and exertions of the three States I have
mentioned, to withstand the storm which has arisen, and is increasing
in the South.

"The troops draughted, must be thrown into battalions, and officered
in the best possible manner. The best supernumerary officers may be
made use of as far as they will go. If arms are wanted for their
troops, and no better way of supplying them is to be found, we should
endeavor to levy a contribution of arms upon the militia at large.
Extraordinary exigencies demand extraordinary means. I fear this
Southern business will become a very _grave_ one.

"With the truest respect and esteem, I am, sir, your most obedient
servant,

Alexander Hamilton."

[48] The resolutions of Congress were as follows:

"_Resolved_, That it be recommended to the States of South Carolina
and Georgia, if they shall think the same expedient, to take measures
immediately for raising three thousand able-bodied negroes.

"That the said negroes be formed into separate corps, as battalions,
according to the arrangements adopted for the main army, to be
commanded by white commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

"That the commissioned officers be appointed by the said States.

"That the non-commissioned officers may, if the said States
respectively shall think proper, be taken from among the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the continental battalions
of the said States respectively.

"That the Governors of the said States, together with the commanding
officer of the Southern army, be empowered to incorporate the several
continental battalions of their States with each other respectively,
agreeably to the arrangement of the army, as established by the
resolutions of May 27, 1778; and to appoint such of the supernumerary