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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1775
The Congress met according to adjournment.
The province of Georgia, having appointed delegates to represent them in Congress, and three of the said Delegates attending, their credentials were produced, read, and approved, and are as follows:
here insert1
[Note 1: 1 The credentials were not entered upon the Journals.]
Georgia. The alarming and critical situation of affairs upon the Continent of America, having, at length, roused the attention of this Province, and the several Inhabitants thereof, being desirous of uniting with their Sister Colonies in the great and important Cause, A general election was held throughout the Province for Delegates to sit in Provincial Congress; And the said Delegates having so met in Savannah, on the fourth day of July, proceeded upon the consideration of such Business as appear'd to be fit and necessary; And amongst other things, they made choice of five Delegates to represent this Province in the Grand Continental Congress, now sitting in Philadelphia, to wit, Archibald Bullock and John Houstoun, Esquires, the Rev.d Doctor [John J.] Zubly, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Lyman Hall, Esquires. Now, therefore, Be it known, and we, the several Delegates for the different Parishes and Districts in this Province, in Provincial Congress assembled, Do hereby declare the said Archibald Bullock
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and John Houstoun, the Rev.d Doctor [John J.] Zubly, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Lyman Hall, Esquires, duely and fairly elected, as the Delegates, for this Province; And we do authorize and require the said Archibald Bullock, and John Houstoun, the Rev.d Doctor [John J.] Zubly, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Lyman Hall, Esquires, or any three of them, immediately to repair to the said City of Philadelphia, and there to take their seats, as the Representatives of the Province of Georgia, in the General Congress now sitting, To do, transact, join and concur with the several Delegates from the other Colonies and Provinces upon this Continent, in all such Matters and things as shall appear eligible and fit, at this alarming time, for the preservation and defence of our Rights and Liberties, and for the restoration of Harmony upon constitutional principles, between Great Britain and America.
And we give and grant to the said Archibald Bullock, John Houstoun, Esquires, the Rev. Doctor Zubly, Noble Wimberly Jones, and Lyman Hall, Esquires, or any three of them, In whose fidelity, Honor, and Ability we very much confide, our full and whole Power in the Premises; And do promise and engage, in behalf of ourselves and our Constituents Respectively, (the Inhabitants of the Province of Georgia) under the sacred Ties of Virtue, Honor, and Love of our Country, to abide by, enforce, and carry into Execution, or endeavor, at the Risque or Expence of Life and property, so to do, all and whatsoever our said Delegates, or any three of them, in Concurrence with the Rest of the Delegates from the several Colonies and Provinces upon this Continent, shall resolve and agree upon, or, as shall be agreed and resolved upon by the said Continental Congress, now sitting in Philadelphia aforesaid, while our said Delegates or any three of them shall be so sitting.
Signed in Provincial Congress, this Fifteenth day of July, 1775.
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[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Georgia, Credentials of Delegates.]
The Delegates from Virginia, appointed by a Convention of that Colony, at Richmond, August 11, 1775, produced their credentials, which were read and approved, as follows:
VIRGINIA.
In Convention, Friday, August 11th, 1775
The Convention being about to proceed to the choice of Deputies to represent this Colony in General Congress, Edmund Pendleton, Esqre. expressed his most grateful acknowledgments for the honour done him in two former Appointments to that important Trust, but, on account of the declining State of his health, entreated to be Excused from the present Nomination, which Excuse being accepted,
Resolved, unanimously, That the thanks of this Convention are Justly due to George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Edmund Pendleton, Esqrs., three of the worthy Deputies, who represented this colony in the late Continental Congress, for their faithful discharge of that important Trust, and this Body are only induced to dispense with their future services of the like nature, by the Appointment of
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the two former to other offices in the public Service, incompatible with their attendance on this, and the Infirm State of health of the latter.
Mr. President accordingly delivered the thanks of the Convention to Mr Henry, and Mr Pendleton, in their places; who Expressed the great pleasure they received from the distinguished Testimony of their Country's approbation of their services.
Resolved that the President, be desired to transmit the thanks of this Convention, by Letter, to his Excellency General Washington.
The Convention then proceeded according to the order of the Day to the Appointment of Deputies to represent this Colony in General Congress, for one Year, and the Members having prepared Ticketts, with the names of the Deputies to be Appointed, and put the same into the Ballot box, Mr. Robert Carter Nicholas, Mr. Cary, Mr. Pendleton, and Mr. Adams were appointed to Examine the Ballot box, and report upon whom the Majority fell, who retired, and after some time, returned into Convention, and reported, that they had, according to Order, Examined the Ballot box, and that the numbers appeared as follows:
Resolved, That the said Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Richard Bland, and George Wythe, Esquires, be appointed Deputies to represent this Colony in General Congress for one Year, and that they have power to meet and to Adjourn for such time and to such place or places as may be thought most proper.
Resolved, That the said Deputies, or any four of them, be a sufficient number to represent this Colony.
Saturday, August 12th, 1775.
Richard Bland, Esq. returned the Convention his most grateful Acknowledgments for the great honor they had pleased a third time to confer on him, by appointing him one of the Deputies to represent this Colony in General Congress, and said this fresh instance of their approbation was sufficient for an Old man, almost deprived of sight, whose greatest Ambition had ever been to receive the plaudit of his country, whenever he should retire from the Publick Stage of Life:
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That the honorable Testimony he lately received of this Approbation, joined with his present appointment, should ever animate him, as far as he was able, to support the glorious cause in which America is now Engaged, but that his advanced age rendered him incapable of taking an active part in those weighty and important concerns, which must necessarily be agitated in the Great council of the United Colonies; and, therefore, begging leave to decline the honor they had been pleased to confer on him, and desiring that some person, more fit and able, might supply his place.
Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of this Convention are justly due to the said Richard Bland, Esq. one of the worthy Deputies who represented this Colony in the late Continental Congress, for his faithful discharge of that Important trust, and this Body are only induced to dispense with his future Services of the like nature, on account of his advanced Age.
The president accordingly delivered the thanks of the Convention to the said Richard Bland Esquire in his place, who Expressed the great pleasure he received from this distinguished Testimony of his Countrys approbation of his Services.
Resolved that this Convention, will on Tuesday next, proceed to the Appointment of a Deputy, to represent this Colony in the room of the said Richard Bland Esquire.
Tuesday, August 15, 1775
The Convention then according to the order of the Day proceeded to the Appointment of a Deputy to represent this Colony in General Congress, in the room of Richard Bland, Esquire, who hath resigned, and the Members having prepared Ticketts, with the name of the Deputy to be appointed, Mr. Robert Carter Nicholas, Mr. [Edmund] Pendleton, Mr. [Patrick] Henry, Mr. George Mason and Mr. [Archibald] Cary were appointed a committee to Examine the Ballot box, and report on whom the Majority fell; who retired, and after some time, reported that the numbers stood as follows:
and the Question then being put whether the said Francis L. Lee, Esqr., or Carter Braxton, Esqr., who appeared to have the greatest numbers on the Ballot, should be appointed a Deputy to represent this Colony in General Congress, the Majority appeared in favour of Francis Lightfoot Lee, Esquire.
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Resolved, That the said Francis Lightfoot Lee, Esquire, be appointed a Deputy to represent this Colony in General Congress.
John Tazewell, Clerk of the Convention.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Virginia, Credentials of Delegates.]
Also the delegates from Maryland having been reappointed by the Convention of their Colony at Annapolis, 26 July, 1775, produced their credentials, which were read and approved:
MARYLAND.
At a meeting of the Delegates appointed by the several counties of the province of Maryland, at the city of Annapolis, on Wednesday, the 26th of July, 1775, and continued till the 14th day of August, in the same year:
Resolved, That the honourable Matthew Tilghman, Esq. and Thomas Johnson, jun. Robert Goldsborough, William Paca, Samuel Chase, Thomas Stone, and John Hall, Esqrs. or auy three or more of them, be deputies to represent this province in Continental Congress, and that they, or any three or more of them, have full and ample power to consent and agree to all measures, which such Congress shall deem necessary and effectual to obtain a redress of American grievances; and further, we do authorize our said deputies, to represent and act for this province in any continental Congress, which may be held before the 25th day of March next.
(Signed)G. Duvall, Clerk.2
[Note 2: 2 A paragraph taken from a four-page folio broadside containing an account of the meeting, of which Matthew Tilghman was Chairman.]
The Congress being informed that only 172,520 dollars were transmitted to the paymaster General for the use of the army in the Massachusetts Bay, and yt. the Genl was under great diff[iculty] for want of money:
Ordered, That the delegates for Pensylvania do immediately send, under a proper Guard, to the pay-mr Gl, for the use of the army in the Mass Bay, the sum of 527,480 dollars, Wch, with that sent, will make up the 700,000 dollars voted at the last sessions.
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Sundry letters received during the recess of Congress, were produced and read, viz.
Two from Genl Washington, N. 4, and 5, with sundry enclosed papers;
Four from Genl. Schuyler, 16 and 21 July, and 2 and 31 of August, with sundry papers enclosed.1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's No. 4 was dated August 4, and No. 5 is without date, but was written August 31. Both are to be found in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, I folios 51 and 95, and are printed in Writings of George Washington (Ford), III, 58, 104. The letters from Schuyler are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, I, folios 47, 51, 89 and 121.]
One from Messrs. L[ewis] Morris, and J[ames] Wilson, of 6 Septr, and
One from G[unning] Bedford, D. M. G. with enclosed papers.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, 11, folio 1.]
Also, a Letter from the deputies of the several districts in Bermuda, dated 12 Aug, with an accot of ye provisions imported and expended in that Island, for 3 yrs. last past, taken from ye custom house books, and an estimate of ye provisions necessary for the support of the Inhabitants for one year.
A memorial from James Stewart and Samuel Jackson, owners of the ship Friendship, Thomas Jann, Master, was presented to the Congress and read, setting forth that the sd ship, on the 28 of August last, saild from Maryland with a cargo of Tobacco, but being overtaken by the late storm, she was driven on shoals and much damaged, and got into Hampton Road, with the loss of all her masts; and praying that the memorialists may be allowed to unload sd ship, and that after being refitted, she may take the said cargo on board, and proceed on her voyage.
The Congress, taking into consideration the above memorial,
Resolved, That the sd cargo be unloaded under the inspection of the committee of Norfolk, and that the said
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ship, being refitted, be allowed to take sd eargo on board again, and proceed on her voyage; and in case, on examination, the sd ship is condemned as unfit for sea, that the sd cargo be put on board some other vessel, under the inspection of the Committee aforesaid, and exported.
Information being given to Congress, that Doctr B[enjamin] Franklin had on board the Mary and Elizabeth, Capt. N. Falconer, from London, sundry cases, containing his books, papers, and household furniture, which were in his use when he lived in London, and which were imported for his own use, and not for sale; and it being submitted to the consideration of the Congress, whether such importation is comprehended within the first article of the Association,
Resolved, That such importation is not to be comprehended within the meaning of the sd first article of the Association, and that the sd books, papers, and furniture may be landed and delivered to the owner.
A memorial from "the Committee of the county of Westmoreland, in the province of Pensylvania," was presented and read.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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