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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Mr. Benjamin Huntington, a delegate for Connecticut, attended and took his seat in Congress.
Mr. T[imothy] Matlack, a delegate for Pensylvania, attended, when the credentials of the delegates of that State were read, as follows:
His Excellency the President and Council of the State of [SEAL] Pennsylvania To all to whom these presents shall come send Greeting
Whereas the General Assembly of Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have elected Jared Ingersoll
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and Timothy Matlack Esquires in addition to John Armstrong, James Searle, James McClean and Frederick A. Muhlenburgh Esquires to represent the said State in Congress and hath made the same known to us: These are therefore to certify, that the said Jared Ingersoll and Timothy Matlack Esquires are added to the said John Armstrong, James Searle, James McClean and Frederick A. Muhlenburgh Esquires to represent the Freemen of the State of Pennsylvania in the Congress of the United States of America.
Given under the Hand of His Excellency Joseph Reed Esquire, President and the Seal of the State at Philadelphia this first day of June A. D. 1780.
Jos: Reed
President
Attest
T. Matlack
Secy1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania, Credentials of Delegates.]
A petition of George Dentzle was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The delegates for South Carolina laid before Congress a letter, of 30 April, to them from Governor Rutledge, which was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Francis] Kinloch, Mr. [Thomas] Burke and Mr. [James] Madison.
The following gentlemen were put in nomination for commissioners of the chambers of accounts:
Mr. Joseph Bullock, by Mr. [James] Searle;
Mr. Jonathan Burrall and Mr. John Nicholson, by Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Charles Thomson, secretary, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in his favour, for twenty thousand dollars, on account of his salary.
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That on the application of Charles Lee, secretary to the Board of Treasury, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in his favour, for ten thousand dollars, on account of his salary.
That on the application of Messrs. [George] Walton, [Edward] Telfair and [William] Few, delegates for the State of Georgia, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in their favour, for thirty thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 321.]
A memorial of Gabriel Ogden was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated June 1, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 279.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report from the Board of War on the letter, of 27 May, from Governor Clinton, and the letter, of 28 May, from President Weare, was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a post be established at Shoheken, in the county of Ulster, in the State of New York, and maintained at the expence of the United States.
That the said garrison be under the particular direction and superintendance of his excellency Governor Clinton, subject however to the orders of the Commander in Chief of the continental army.
That if the number of troops necessary to garrison this post cannot be conveniently spared out of those already voted by Congress, for the defence of the frontiers of the State of New York, Congress approve the employing from time to time, at the expence of the United States, such number of militia as may be sufficient for that purpose; so as that the whole employed in this service do not exceed one hundred and fifty men, with a proper proportion of officers.
Resolved, That the president and council of the State of New Hampshire be authorised to embody and maintain, at the expence of the United States, any number of men not
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exceeding two hundred and fifty rank and file, with a proportionable number of officers, to assist in guarding the frontiers of the said State.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal. The report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 375.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 27 May, from General Washington, and who were directed to confer thereon with a committee of the general assembly and supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania, reported the result of their conference, and the measures pursuing by the said State: Whereupon,
The Committee to whom was referred Gen.l Washington's letter of the 27th May, and who were directed to confer thereon With a Com.ee of the general assembly and the supreme executive Council of Pennsylvania Report
That they have had a conference on the same with a Committee of the Supreme Executive Council and General Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania, who inform your Committee that nothing will be wanting in the power of this State to furnish men, money and provisions for the public service especially on the present emergency. That with regard to men, orders have just gone forth for every company of militia in the State to furnish two each, which will amount to about twelve hundred, and which are to join the Continental army, except so many of them as may be found necessary to oppose the Indian incursions on the frontiers of the State. That orders are also just gone forth to the Superintendants and Collectors of the taxes in the most pressing terms to furnish an immediate supply of money for the publick service, and that other methods will be taken to raise money if found necessary.
That with regard to provisions Col. Blaine the Comm.y Gen.l has orders to receive money from any of their County Treasurers for an immediate purchase of meat, and is gone into the country to direct the application of it. and that should he fail of purchasing such meat as he should find suitable for the army, authority will be given to seize the same, tho' it was not expected that any large supply of Beef could be found in this State. That the Purchasers under the State were now furnished with money, and there was reason to believe
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they would succeed in the purchase of the articles required of the State by the Resolution of the 25th of Feb.y last, to which much attention would be given
The Conferees on the part of this State also urged the necessity of some effectual measures being taken to keep up the Embargo in the State of Delaware, as necessary to facilitate the supply from this State.
Your Committee beg leave to report as a further mean of facilitating extra supplies from this and other States the following Resolution:
Resolved, That the supplies which any of the states shall, upon requisition for that purpose, furnish of articles not required from them by the resolution of the 25 day of February last, or to a greater amount than is required by the said resolution, shall be credited to them in a future requisition of specific supplies from the several states, or in lieu of the like value of other articles, which such states are already called on to furnish, or, at the election of the State, shall be paid for, with interest at six per cent. as fast as money can be procured for that purpose.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution is transcribed in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed the 13th of April, 1780. The report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio x283. It is indorsed by Charles Thomson: "Read June 1, 1780, and passed the same day"]
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane,
Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of Congress be given to the legislature and to the president and supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania, for their ready attention to the matters which the Committee of Conference laid before them, and the satisfactory measures they have taken in consequence thereof.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter, of 16 May, from Governor Livingston, respecting John Hopper; and thereupon,
Resolved, That his excellency Governor Livingston, be informed, in answer to his letter of the 16 May, that sundry
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applications have heretofore been made to Congress for relief in cases that are not distinguishable from the case of John Hopper, mentioned in his letter aforesaid, and many cases exist to which the principle advanced by his excellency will apply; but Congress, though deeply affected by their calamities, have not yet found it expedient to enter into a consideration of measures for the particular relief of such sufferers; nor is it probable that the inevitable exigencies of the war will permit Congress to enter into such consideration until peace shall be restored to the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 587.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on sundry papers, respecting the New Hampshire grants, and some time being spent thereon,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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