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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 --SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1775
On motion made, Resolved, That it be recommended to such proprietors of Tobacco warehouses, and tobacco houses in Virginia and Maryland, as cannot speedily have the earth of the floors of their houses worked for salt petre, that they cause those floors to be soon dug up and left fine, loose, and light, at least six inches deep, suffering the tobacco stalks and trashy leaves to be spread thereon, and leaving the doors open, especially in dry weather, as often as convenience will permit, whereby the soil will be much the more impregnated with nitrous particles, the manufacture of salt petre facilitated, and the quantity thereof greatly increased.
Two petitions, one from Charles Wharton and the other from James Loughhead, ∥each∥ praying to be appointed commissary to the Battalions raising in this colony, were read.
Ordered, To lie on the table.
On motion made, Resolved, That a Committee of 3 be appointed to contract with such person or persons as will undertake, at the cheapest rate, to supply such continental troops as are or may be in the barracks at Philadelphia, during their stay there, with the rations allowed by this Congress.
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The members appointed, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, Mr. [Francis] Lewis, and Mr. [Andrew] Allen.
Resolved, That the recruiting officers in Pensylvania, send the recruits they may inlist as soon as raised, to the Barracks in Philadelphia.
A letter from Volkert P. Douw, Esqr. dated 6th instant, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 17.]
On motion made, Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take the foregoing letter, and the minutes of the treaty held with the Indians ∥at Albany∥, by the Indian Commissioners of the northern department, into consideration and report thereon.
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr.[Benjamin] Franklin, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [James] Duane, and Mr. [Thomas] Cushing.
On motion made, Resolved, That the Committee appointed to proceed to Ticonderoga and Canada, be directed to confer with the Generals commanding in that department, on the propriety of sending the whole or any part of the army under their command, with proper artillery and ammunition, to Quebec, in order to second Colonel Arnold's expedition, or to renew the attempt, should his have failed, and to give directions accordingly.
Resolved, That the fortifications of Quebee, in case it comes into our hands, be repaired, and furnished with such provisions, arms, ammunition and artillery, as may be necessary to its security.
Resolved, That in case any one of the foregoing Committee be disabled or prevented from proceeding, the other two have full power to proceed and transact the business entrusted to them.
The committee appointed to confer with Mr. [Samuel] Kirkland, brought in their report, which was read, and
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the same being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas, Mr. Kirkland has been put to considerable expence and has undergone much fatigue and hardship in procuring the Indians to meet the Commissioners at Albany and enter into the treaty concluded there in August last; and that he hath been very active and successful in endeavouring to conciliate the good will of those people towards the inhabitants of the united colonies and hath in some measure defeated the machinations of the emissaries and agents of the british Ministry to increase the number of our enemies.
Resolved, That 113 dollars be paid to the rev. Samuel Kirkland, for his past services, out of the continental treasury.
Resolved, That for the propagation of the Gospel amongst the Indians, and conciliating their affections to the United Colonies, and thereby preserving their friendship and neutrality, Mr. Kirkland be continued in his mission amongst them, and that for those important purposes, he be allowed and paid out of the continental treasury, for the support of himself and family the ensuing year, sixty-five pounds sterling, or 288 8/9 Dollars, and that sixty pounds sterling, or 266 2/3 dollars be advanced to him, to be disposed of by him in such manner as may best promote the happiness of the Indians, and attach them to these colonies.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed until the Committee to whom Mr. Douw's letter, and the minutes of the late treaty are referred, have made their report.
On motion made, Resolved, That 3,000 tin cartridge boxes be made and sent to the Camp, but if tin ∥sufficient to make them∥ can be procured, to send it.
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Ordered, That the delegates of Pensylvania be appointed to carry the above resolve into execution.
On motion made, Resolved, That the Committee on salt petre be empowered to contract with the gentlemen who offer to proceed to Virginia on this business.
Resolved, that the report of the Committee on the disputes between the people of Pensylvania and Connecticut be referred to Monday.
On motion made, Resolved, That 500,000 dollars be sent to the pay master general, for the use of the army in the Massachusetts bay.
That 50,000 dollars be sent to the convention of New York, to be accounted for by said convention.
That the delegates of Pensylvania be appointed to count and forward the said sums under a guard of three, viz, 2 of the light horse, and a servant.
Two petitions, one from Murray, Sansom and others, and the other from Jasper Griffin, were read.
Ordered, To be referred to a committee of 3.
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Lynch, Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, and Mr. [Thomas] Johnson.
∥The order of the day being renewed,
Adjourned to ten o'clock on Monday.∥
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