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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Sir Philadelphia Feby 12. 1780 (1)
Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed an Act of Congress of the 11th Instant authorizing the Executive Power of Virginia to examine the Accounts charged against Colo Bland while in Command at Charlotte-Ville by the Deputy Commissary General of Purchases & Issues and make such allowances in his favour as they deem Just & proper &c from the peculiar Situation of his Command. (2)
I have the honour to be with the highest respect, your Excy's hble Servt, Sam. Huntington President
RC (MHi: Washburn Collection). In a clerical hand and signed by Huntington.
1 This letter is dated February 11 in the presidential letterbook. PCC, item 14, fol. 297.
2 Congress adopted this resolve in response to a January 26 recommendation from Washington, who explained that Col. Theodorick Bland had been promised a supplemental table allowance upon accepting command of the detachment assigned to guard the Convention Army at Charlottesville, Va., as "the incidental expences of detached or separate commands are always considerable," and in this case "more than commonly so." Washington had intervened in this matter at the urging of Governor
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FEBRUARY 12, 1780
Link to date-related documents.
Jefferson, who had explained in a December 16 letter that Bland's claims for additional table expenses had been disallowed by the commissaries in Virginia, who were on the point of seizing his property to reimburse the Continent. Although Jefferson had succeeded in delaying their proceedings, he acknowledged that congressional action would ultimately be required to do justice to Bland. See JCC, 16: 153-54; Jefferson, Papers (Boyd),3:228-29,265; and Washington, Writings (Fitzpatrick),17:430, 445-47.
Huntington also sent a copy of this resolve to Bland in a brief letter of this date. PCC, item 14, fol. 296.
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