| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia; and from New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster; from Connecticut, Mr. [Joseph Platt] Cook, and from South Carolina, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney.
Mr. [John] Jay, a delegate for the State of New York, attended, and took his seat, his credentials having been previously laid before Congress.
Mr. Rufus King, a delegate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read. Mr. Elbridge Gerry, another delegate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, attended, and took his seat, his credentials having been previously laid before Congress.
Page 662 | Page image
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency John Hancock Esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To all unto whom these presents shall comeGreeting
Whereas the General Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid did on the third day of November instant agreeable to the Constitution of the said Commonwealth appoint the Honorable Rufus King Esquire a Delegate to represent this Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States of America.
Now therefore Know Ye that I do by these presents, and in pursuance of the said appointment Commission the said Rufus King Esquire to represent this Commonwealth in Congress and vest him with all & singular the powers & authorities to the said Office or place of Delegate belonging by virtue of the Constitution of this Commonwealth and the appointment aforesaid. And the said Rufus King Esquire is hereby required to observe the Instructions, which from time to time shall be given to him by the General Court of this Commonwealth.
In Testimony whereof I have caused the Public Seal of this Commonwealth aforesaid to be hereunto affixed. Witness John Hancock Esquire Governor as aforesaid.
Dated at Boston the third day of November Ao. Dl. 1784 and in the Ninth Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
John Hancock.
By His Excellency's Command,
John Avery Junr. Secretary.1
[Note 1: 1 This is copied from Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, Record of Credentials p. 113. It was not entered in the Journal, and the original Commission was returned to Mr. King, as shown by the indorsement on the following certificate, which is filed with the Massachusetts Credentials of Delegates:
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office Boston Decr. 30th. 1784
This may certify that on the third day of November last the Honble Rufus King Esq. was elected, by joint ballot of both Houses of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth as a Delegate to represent said Commonwealth in the United States in Congress Assembled in manner prescribed by the Constitution.
Joan Avery jun. Secretary.]
This being the day assigned for the appearance of the states of Massachusetts and New York, by their lawful agents, in
Page 663 | Page image
pursuance of the notice transmitted to them, agreeably to the resolution of the 3d day of June last,
With the consent, and at the request of, the delegates of the states of Massachusetts and New York,
Resolved, That farther day be given, and that Wednesday next be assigned for the appearance of the said states.1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, according to the indorsement, the petition of William Finnie was referred to Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [John] Vining and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 286. According to Committee Book, No. 186, a report was made December 17.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |