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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
A letter, of 31 March, from John Carter, at Williamsburg; one, of the 3d inst. from B. Harrison, deputy pay master general in Virginia, with his monthly account; one, of the 6th, from Major General Conway, at Albany; and one, of the 20th, from General Washington, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Carter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 147; that of Conway is in No. 159, folio 469, and that of Washington in No. 152, V, folio 511.]
Ordered, That the letter from Mr. Harrison, with the account enclosed, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Ordered, That the Marine Committee take into consideration the state of the river defence of Delaware, and the measures which they may judge best and proper for defending that river above Philadelphia.
A letter, of the 21, from the Board of War, was read, wherein they inform, that in pursuance of the resolution of the 18th, they have enquired into the armourer's department, under Thomas Butler, and are convinced that no advantage will arise to the states from a continuance of the persons now engaged in that business; for which reason they have dismissed Mr. Butler, the former public armourer, and appointed William Henry, Esq. of
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Lancaster, superintendent of arms and military accoutrements:
Resolved, That Congress approve the proceedings of the Board of War, and confirm their appointment.
Ordered, That Thomas Butler, late armourer, immediately render his accounts, and settle with the auditors of accounts at the Board of Treasury.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 13.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That 10,000 dollars be advanced to Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance, to enable Colonel Davis, of Carlisle, to pay off a number of wagons hired some time ago, by the direction of that Board, to bring cloathing from North Carolina to Virginia; the said pay master to be accountable:
That 1,012 dollars be paid to Colonel Timothy Pickering, in discharge of the draught of William Palfrey, pay master general, dated 29th January last, on the treasurer, in favor of the said Colonel T. Pickering; the pay master general to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 241.]
Whereas persuasion and influence, the example of the deluded and wicked, the fear of danger, or the calamities of war, may have induced some of the subjects of these states to join, aid or abet the British forces in America, and though now desirous of returning to their duty, and anxiously wishing to be received and re-united to their country, they may be deterred by the fear of punishment; and whereas the people of these states are ever more ready to reclaim than to abandon, to mitigate than to increase the horrors of war; to pardon than to punish offenders:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislatures of the several states to pass laws, or to the executive authority
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of each State, if invested with sufficient power, to issue proclamations, offering pardon, with such exceptions and under such limitations and restrictions as the several states shall think expedient, to such of their inhabitants or subjects, who have levied war against any of these states, or who have adhered to, aided or abetted the enemy, and who shall surrender themselves to any civil or military officer of any of these states, and shall return to the State to which they may belong, before the 10th day of June next: and it is recommended to the good and faithful citizens of these states to receive such returning penitents with compassion and mercy, and to forgive and bury in oblivion their past failings and transgressions.
Ordered, That 500 copies in English and 200 in German be printed, and that General Washington be desired to take such measures as he shall deem most effectual for circulating the foregoing recommendations amongst the American levies in the enemy's army.
A motion was made to re-consider the order of yesterday for publishing the report of the committee, so far as relates to the immediate publication of the last paragraph but one in the said report;
And the yeas and nays being required,
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So it passed in the negative.
Resolved, That the governor and council of the State of Maryland be requested immediately to embody three hundred militia of the eastern shore of that State under active and spirited officers, and to order them to march with two field pieces and a proper number of artillerists into the Delaware State, there to execute such orders as they may receive from a committee of Congress specially appointed for this purpose:
That three members be appointed a committee to give proper instructions to the officer commanding on this expedition:
That the said committee be further authorized to devise and carry into execution the most effectual measures for enquiring into, detecting and defeating all disaffections, conspiracies and insurrections on that neck of land comprehended betwixt the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, and that they apply to the governments of the States of Maryland and Virginia, and to the State of Delaware, if the committee shall think necessary, for the purposes above mentioned; and it is earnestly recommended to the said governments to give every assistance in their power to the said committee:
That a copy of Brigadier Smallwood's letter of the 17 April, be transmitted to the governor and council of Maryland, and that they be requested to take immediate and
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adequate measures for the security of the stores at Charlestown.
Resolved, That the powers vested in General Washington by the resolutions of 17 September, 8 October and 10 December, 1777, be renewed and extended to the 10 day of August, 1778.
Resolved, That Brigadier Smallwood be informed, that the powers vested in General Washington by the resolutions of Congress of 17 September, 8 October and 10 December, expired on the 10th April instant but that Congress have thought proper, by a resolution of this date, to renew and extend them to the 10th of August next.
Congress proceeded to the election of a committee for the purposes expressed in the foregoing resolutions, and the ballots being taken, Mr. [Charles] Carroll, Mr. [William] Duer and Mr. [John] Banister were elected.
Ordered, That Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett have leave of absence.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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