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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
A letter, signed John Ross, dated New York, [] was intercepted, and read.
The Board of War brought in a report, ∥which was read and considered;∥ Whereupon,
Resolved, That 300,000 dollars be put into the hands of Major General Mifflin, for the use of the quarter master's department; he to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 "April 5, 1777. Gave an order for 100,000 Dollars in part of this order. April 15, gave an order for 200,000." Note by John Hancock.]
That 42 dollars be paid to Mr. William Sproat, being a balance due to him for his services as clerk to the Board of War.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 115.]
Ordered, That the petition from Robert Lilly, with the annexed account, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That two members be added to the Board of Treasury:
The members chosen, Mr. Jonathan B[ayard] Smith, and General [Lewis] Morris.
Ordered, That the managers of the lottery of the United States, draw the same, agreeable to the mode usually practised in the state lotteries in Europe, and frequently used in large lotteries in America, by putting all the numbers in one wheel, and the prizes only in the other.
Congress proceeded to the choice of three additional managers of the United States, lottery; and, the ballots being taken,
John Ord, Robert Ritchie, and James Budden, were elected. Ordered to be published.3
[Note 3: 3 This was published in the Pennsylvania Packet, 25 March, 1777.]
Resolved, That the bill dated 9th March, 1777, drawn by William Palfrey, pay master general, for three thousand
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dollars in favor of John Ramsey, be paid, and charged to the account of the pay master general.
The report of the Medical Committee was taken up and considered; ∥and, after debate,∥ Whereupon,
Resolved, That said report, together with Dr. Shippen's plan, be recommitted.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to devise ways and means for preserving the health of the troops, and for introducing better discipline into the army:
The members chosen, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, Dr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, and Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
Resolved, That the Board of War be empowered to send for Mr. Wheeler, and contract with him, for a number of cannon of the new construction, invented by said Wheeler.
Resolved, That one million of dollars be sent, by the continental treasurer, to the auditor general, the said money to be subject to the order of Congress; the auditor general to be accountable.
The Committee on Departments, brought in a report, ∥which was read and considered;∥ Whereupon,
Resolved, That a secretary's office be forthwith established, and constantly kept in or near the state house or building where Congress shall, from time to time, hold its session:
That it be under the direction of the secretary, and provided with a deputy secretary, to be appointed by Congress, with a salary of eight hundred dollars per year, and such a number of clerks as Congress shall direct, to be appointed by the secretary, with a salary of four hundred and eighty dollars each:
That the secretary, deputy secretary, and clerks, before entering upon their office, shall severally take an oath, to
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be administered by the president, "well and faithfully to execute the trust reposed in them, in their respective capacities, according to their best skill and judgment, and to disclose no matter, the knowledge of which shall be acquired in consequence of such their office, that they shall be directed to keep secret;" also the oath prescribed for officers of the army, and passed by Congress the 21st day of October, 1776; and that certificates thereof be given by the president, and lodged with the secretary:
That such of the journals and papers of Congress, as are secret in their nature, be kept by the secretary, and communicated to none, unless by particular order, but members of Congress and the deputy secretary, and that all others be kept and filed in the office aforesaid:
That all letters and other papers of Congress, in the war office, or hands of the president, treasury or marine boards, the secret committee, or committee on Indian affairs, or any other committee or member of Congress, (excepting such as relate only to the business of the said boards or committees, and have never been received in Congress, or having been received, have been committed to the same, as belonging to the respective offices) be delivered to the secretary, to be by him disposed of as aforesaid:
That all letters and other papers that shall hereafter be committed by Congress to any board, committee, or member thereof, be returned to the president or secretary, with the report that may be made thereon: and that no original journal, letter, or paper, be delivered out of the office, without an order of Congress and receipt thereof:
That such of the journals and papers belonging to the secretary's office as are in daily use by Congress, be, each day after the adjournment, sent to the said office; and
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attested copies of all the resolutions to be carried into execution by any state, officer, person, or persons whatever, and papers necessary to accompany the same, be sent, without delay, to the president, to the by him transmitted by express, post, or other conveyance, as shall appear expedient or necessary; and that attested copies of any resolutions of Congress, or public paper in the office, be delivered to any of its members requiring the same.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 7.]
Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for electing the deputy secretary.
The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Stewart Rowan, for ferriage of continental troops over Susquehanna, &c., the sum of 13 54/90 dollars:
To Price and Haywood for travelling expences from Philadelphia to Albany, in consequence of a resolve of Congress of the 13th August last, and from Boston to Philadelphia, and back, the sum of 220 dollars:
To Francis Trumbull, for eight chairs bought of him for the use of the treasury office, 19 18/90 dollars:
To the Honble Thomas Burke, for an advance made by him to nineteen North Carolina prisoners, to enable them to pay their expences from Baltimore to Fredericktown, the sum of £52 5, equal to 139 30/90 dollars; the said sum to be deducted from the allowance due to the prisoners:2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 53.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday morning.
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