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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1780
A letter, of 20th, from C. Camp, speaker of the house of assembly;1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 557.]
And one, of the 20th, from Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, were read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 553.]
The committee to whom was referred the note from the hon. the Minister of France, brought in a report, which was read; and thereupon,
The Committee appointed to consider and report upon the memorial of the Minister of France, and the motion made by M. Livingston for drawing out the military resources of the United States. Humbly submit the following Resolutions.
Resolved, That the Minister of France be informed that Congress have used every means in their power to fulfil their engagements of January last: that they have apportioned the quotas of the several states, and called upon them most earnestly to compleat the same; that the surrender of Charlestown, and the diversion of our force to the southern department, together with the heavy loss sustained by fatigue and desertion in a long and toilsome march, have for the present considerably weakened the main army; that Congress have endeavoured to replace these deficiencies by demanding large additional supplies of recruits and militia from the middle and eastern states, to take the field by the first of July;
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that their requests have been frequently reiterated in the strongest terms: that they have reason to believe that many of them are making great efforts to comply with their demand; and that they are not without well grounded expectations that the importance of the occasion will awaken all to the most vigorous exertions; that Congress have demanded from each State immediate information of the measures they have adopted in consequence of their requisitions; that they hope to be thereby enabled more fully to satisfy the wishes of the Minister of France, relative to the matters contained in his memorial; that they do full justice to the solicitude of the Minister of France, for the advancement of the mutual interests of his most Christian Majesty and these United States, and see with pleasure, in the warmth with which he urges measures evidently calculated for the immediate advantage of these states, the intimacy of the union between the allied powers.
And whereas Congress did, in behalf of the United States, assure his most Christian Majesty, by their act of 31st January last, that they would bring into the field twenty five thousand men, exclusive of officers, and at the same time solicit a naval force to co-operate against the common enemy; and whereas advice has been received from the Court of France, that his most Christian Majesty, in compliance With the solicitations of Congress, hath not only directed a considerable naval force to repair to North America, but hath subjoined thereto a respectable body of land forces; and whereas Congress in consequence of their engagements by their act of February last, did call on the several states to compleat their quota of troops to the establishment mentioned in the said act; which quota they have since, from the disaster at Charlestown, found it necessary to increase, and have accordingly approved the requisitions of their committee at head quarters; and whereas none of the states,
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whose battalions were deficient, have yet sent on their recruits to compleat the same, nor afforded any assurances that the requisitions of Congress, and their committee, will be complied with; and whereas the execution of the above requisitions will be extremely hazardous and expensive, unless the farther demands of Congress and their committee, for provision, are punctually complied with; therefore,
Resolved, That the said states be requested explicitly, and without the least delay, to inform Congress how far they may rely upon their furnishing the several supplies of men, money and provisions called for by Congress or their committee at head quarters.
And whereas the legislatures of many of the United States are not now convened, though earnestly requested by Congress to continue their sessions, or to vest in some persons such powers as would enable them on the requisition of Congress or their committee, to draw forth the military resources of the State; and whereas Congress are not fully informed whether their magistrates are so empowered:
Resolved, That the supreme executive magistrate in each State, where the legislature is not now convened, be requested immediately to inform Congress what measures they have taken, or are empowered to take, in compliance with the above requisitions of Congress, in order that Congress, whose duty it is, may provide that effectual measures be taken that every State in the union contribute their quota to the common defence.
Resolved, That the executive magistrate of every State be requested to correspond weekly with the committee of Congress at head quarters, advising them of the measures actually taken from time to time in pursuance of the above recited requisitions of Congress and their committee.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal. The report, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 319. The resolutions were transcribed in the Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed the 13th of April, 1780, folio 7.]
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Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the letter of 23d. May from P. Henry, Esq., late governor of Virginia, directed to the delegates of that State, wherein they inform "that from the said letter and other papers laid before them, as well as from the information of Mr. George Anderson, the person mentioned in the said letter, they find that Mr. Arnold Henry Dohrman, merchant of Lisbon, hath from the commencement of the present war manifested a warm and steady attachment to the cause and interests of the United States; that he hath expended large sums of money in carrying into practice schemes projected by him for assisting them with cloathing and warlike stores, as well as in supplying great numbers of American prisoners carried into the ports of the Kingdom of Portugal, with money and all other necessaries for their comfortable subsistance while there, and for their return to their own country by such routs as they preferred: that from the great wealth and influence and the favourable dispositions of the said Arnold Henry Dohrman, many benefits might be derived to these states by enabling him to be more publickly and extensively useful under the sanction of authority from Congress; that the committee are assured the said Mr. Dohrman wishes for no salary or emolument for his services, but simply a repayment of his advances, when it shall be most convenient: Whereupon,
Resolved, That Arnold Henry Dohrman, of the city of Lisbon, merchant, be appointed agent for the United States, in the kingdom of Portugal, for the transaction of such affairs of the said States as may be committed to his direction.
And whereas an intercourse and protection in the ports and barbours of the kingdom of Portugal would be of essential
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advantage to the ships and subjects of these States, and every means ought to be used to obtain such privilege:
Resolved, That the Minister Plenipotentiary of these States at the Court of Madrid be instructed to make application in such mode as he in his discretion may think most advisable for ascertaining the dispositions of the Court of Portugal, and to inform Congress whether any advantageous" connection can be formed with that power, and what privileges, if any, can be obtained for the subjects and ships of these States.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Ordered, That such parts of the letter from Mr. Henry, and of the consequent communications as respect naval and commercial affairs, be referred to the Board of Admiralty and to the Committee of Commerce respectively.
A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read, informing, "that a number of patriotic persons have formed a plan for the establishment of a bank, whose object is the public service; that the directors have applied to that Board to represent to Congress the desire of the company, that a committee of this body may be appointed to confer with the inspectors and directors on the subject to morrow morning: Whereupon,2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 119.]
Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed for the purpose above mentioned:
The members chosen, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [James] Duane, and Mr. [John Morin] Scott.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the papers relative to loan office certificates, and having made some progress therein,
Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow, and that the House meet at nine o'Clock.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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