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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the State of Connecticut, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, and from Maryland, Mr. [William] Hindman.
Congress proceeded to the election of a Minister plenipotentiary to the United Netherlands, and, the ballots being taken, John Rutledge, esquire was unanimously elected, having been previously nominated by Mr. [Samuel] Holten.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph was also entered by Benjamin Bankson in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, No. 5.]
A letter, of 19 May, from Mr. J. Brown, was read, declining the Office of commissioner for carrying into execution the resolution of 20 December last.
The Comee. of the week to whom was referred a petition signed Maurice Desdevens and dated New York, July 5, 1785, praying payment of a certificate--or other relief, beg leave to report--
That the Board of Treasury take order for paying Maurice Desdevens the Sum of one hundred and eighty three dollars and 15/90 with interest thereon from April 9, 1776, and take up and cancel a certificate issued to him therefor by Win. Denning the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the Quartermaster Generals department.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 39. It apparently preceded the reference of the matter to Ellery, Monroe, Spaight and McHenry.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [William] Ellery, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and Mr. [James] Mc. Henry, to whom the petitions of Maurice Desdevans were referred, Report.
That it appears from the various applications of Maurice Desdevans, that he requests of Congress, Deficiency of pay, on a resolution of the 31st. December 1781, Commutation; Lands promised to those officers who should serve with fidelity during the war; Compensation for his losses in Canada; A brevet of his rank, and the payment of two certificates one for 1831 15/90 and the other for 82 82/90 dollars.
On the 18th. of October, 1781, Congress resolved, "that the resolution of the 10th. of August, 1776, empowering Genl. Schuyler to enquire into
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the service and character of Canadian volunteers and to grant them rewards and wages be and hereby is repealed, and that all persons of what character soever who now draw pay or rations in consequence of the said resolution be not entitled to draw pay or rations after the first day of December next Ordered that Mr. Desdevans settle with the Comptroller for money and rations due to him in consequence of the resolution aforesaid."
That of course Maurice Desdevans is not entitled to pay or deficiency of pay by the resolution of the 31st. December 1781 nor to commutation, nor to the bounty of lands promised to officers who should serve during the war.
It further appears to your committee that Maurice Desdevans was appointed a Captain by General Montgomery, and by agreement with him was to receive 1 dollar and 3 rations per day, and that he employed in various services which he executed with fidelity,
Whereupon, your Committee submit the following resolutions,
That the Secry. at wax take order for furnishing Maurice Desdevans with a brevet of Captain.
That upon Maurice Desdevans delivering to the board of treasury two certificates belonging to him one for 82 82/90 and the other for 183 15/90 dollars, the said board take order for paying him the amount thereof with the interest due thereon.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 35. It is indorsed as read July 5 and passed July 26.]
Board of Treasury, June 30th. 1785.
Sir, The Ordinance of Congress for putting the department of Finance into Commission required us to report the names and appointments of our clerks. In obedience thereto, we do ourselves the honor to inform Congress that from the 10th. day of May we have employed Mr Staats Morris as a clerk in our Office; and finding that he will answer our purpose we this day appointed him a Clerk, and directed him to qualify himself by taking the several oaths, and lodging certificates thereof in the Office of the Secretary of the United States in Congress Assembled as directed by the aforesaid Ordinance.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, folio 9. According to the indorsement it was read this day.]
The Committee &c [Mr. Samuel Hardy, Mr. David Howell, Mr. J[ohn] Henry, Mr. Rufus King and Mr. William Grayson] to whom was
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referred the the letter from John Obail and a memorial from Obediah Robins & Co submit the following report.
That the letter from the said John Obail be referred to the Commissioners on Indian affairs, and the memorial from Obediah Robbins & Co be referred to the Comptroller of the Treasury to report1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Hardy, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 363. The indorsement states that it was read this day. Obail, or Captain O'Beal, was also known as Cornplanter.
On this day, as the indorsement stages, was read a petition of Jacobus Van Schoonhoven, praying a renewal of a certificate lost or destroyed, and referred to the Board of Treasury to report. It is in No. 42, VIII, folio 89. Committee Book No. 190 says a report was made July 12.
July 5: The following committees were appointed: Of the Week: Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Charles] Pinckney.
Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [David] Ramsay and Mr. [James] Wilson, on the letter of June 11 from Benjamin Hawkins, Andrew Pickens and Joseph Martin, three of the Commissioners for negotiating with the Southern Indians. Thomson has crossed out his memo. that a report was rendered July 12 and noted that the committee was discharged and the "letter returned and filed."
Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [James] Monroe and Mr. [David] Ramsay, on the petition of Mary Wooster for relief, as the Connecticut legislature declines to pay her the seven years' half-pay recommended by Congress. The petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VIII, folio 334, and a report was rendered Jiffy 8. Committee Book No. 190.
Also on this day, according to Despatch Book No. 185, a letter of May 24 from Michael Hillegas was read, tendering his resignation as Continental Treasurer, if he cannot be permitted to reside in Philadelphia. It is in No. 78, XII, folio 395.]
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