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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 --THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1777
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee to whom were referred the letter from G. Bryan, Esqr. ∥the vice president of Pensylvania,∥ and the letters from Fort Pitt, which is as follows, viz.:
That an inroad has been made on the western frontiers of Virginia and Pensylvania, by some savage tribes of Indians, wherein a number of helpless people have been cruelly massacred, and the peaceable inhabitants driven from their homes and reduced to great distress:
That from a number of papers styled proclamations,1 under the hand and seal of Henry Hamilton, lieutenant governor of Fort Detroit, left by the Indians where they committed their murders, and of which there is one now in the possession of your committee, as well as from other information and circumstances, it appears that these savages have been instigated by British agents and emissaries, and particularly by the said H. Hamilton, to this barbarous and murderous war.
[Note 1: 1 One of these proclamations, dated Detroit, June 24, 1777, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, folio 427. It was sent by the Delawares to George Morgan in March, 1778.]
Your committee apprehend, that so long as that post continues to be garrisoned by British troops who are restrained by no laws of humanity from using every means to accomplish their purpose of subjugating these states, those frontiers will be incessantly exposed to the barbarous ravages of the Indian tribes under their influence.
That by means of the said agents and emissaries a dangerous spirit of disaffection has been excited and fomented among some worthless and evil-disposed persons on the said frontiers, who, lost to all sentiments
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of virtue, honor, or regard for their country, have been induced to aid our remorseless enemy.
That the Shawanese and Delaware Indians continue well affected and disposed to preserve the league of peace and amity entered into with us; for which reason they are threatened with an attack by their hostile neighbours who have invaded us, and are at the same time exposed to danger from the attempts of ill-disposed or ill-advised persons among ourselves.
Your committee therefore are of opinion, that for the safety and security of the frontiers, as well as to preserve the public faith of these United States, plighted to our Indian allies, speedy and effectual measures ought to be taken to suppress the spirit of disaffection among our own deluded people, to repel and put a stop to the hostile invasions of our enemies, to protect our Indian allies, and confirm them in their good disposition, and to remove, if possible, the cause from whence all the evils in that quarter arise. For which purpose your committee submit the following resolutions,
Resolved, That three commissioners be appointed to repair, without delay, to Fort Pitt; that they be instructed to investigate the rise, progress, and extent of the disaffection in that quarter, and take measures for suppressing the same, and bringing the deluded people to a sense of their duty:
That the said commissioners be invested with full power to suspend for misconduct any officers in the service of the United States employed in that quarter, and appoint others in their room, and to confine, in safe custody, all such officers against whom they shall. have satisfactory proof of being offenders against the rights and liberties of America:
That the said commissioners be directed to cultivate the friendship of the Shawanese and Delawares, and prevent our people from committing any outrages against them:
That they be empowered to engage as many of the Delaware and Shawanese warriors in the service of the United States as they judge convenient:
That they be empowered and directed, for effectually checking the progress of the enemy, to concert with Brigadier General Hand a plan of carrying the war into the enemy's country, and cause the same to be executed with all convenient despatch:
And in order to prevent such barbarous incursions for the future, that the said commissioners be empowered to cause the operations of
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the war to be extended against the British garrison at Detroit and its dependencies, provided the reduction of that fortress can, in their opinion, be effected at this season of the year, and the whole can be accomplished by a force not exceeding two thousand men, exclusive of Indian auxiliaries:
That it be earnestly recommended to the legislative powers of Virginia and Pensylvania, to invest the commissioners with every necessary authority over their respective militias, to empower them to arrest and commit for trial such of their respective inhabitants on the western frontiers as shall appear to have been concerned in any conspiracy or plot against the United States; and otherwise to afford the said commissioners such assistance as shall be necessary to prosecute with vigour the measures that they may adopt in consequence of these resolutions.
Upon the question put,
Resolved, That Congress agree to the report of the committee.
Resolved, That General Washington be requested to send Colonel William Crawford to Pittsburg, to take command, under Brigadier General Hand, of the continental troops and militia in the western department.
The committee appointed to enquire into the conduct of Colonel G. Morgan, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the case of Colonel G. Morgan be included in the business referred to the consideration of the commissioners who are to be appointed for various purposes on the western frontiers: that, in the mean while, Colonel Morgan be restored to the appointment of agent for Indian affairs, and that he be appointed deputy commissary general of purchases in the western district.
A letter, of this day, from Alexander Gillon, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
Congress proceeded to the election of commissioners to proceed to Fort Pitt, and the ballots being taken, Colonel
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Samuel Washington, Mr. Gabriel Jones, and Colonel Joseph Reed, were declared to be elected.
Upon declaring the election.
It was moved, whether Colonel J. Reed, being elected by ballot, not being nominated to the office before the balloting was gone into, is elected agreeable to the usage and practice of this house ? And on the question put,
Resolved in the negative.
Colonel Reed being then nominated, Congress proceeded to a new election, and the ballots being taken, Colonel Joseph Reed was elected.
Resolved, That the hour of two P. M. be fixed on for the time of adjourning.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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