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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, DECEMBER 20, 1775
The Committee of Claims report, that there is due to sundry persons for necessaries furnished to the riffle companies in Virginia, the sum of £240. 4. 1½=640.5 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Mr. Thomas Rutherford.
To Rebecca Reynolds, for horse hire, 6.9 dollars, and that the same be paid to Henry Wisner, Esq.
Ordered, That the above be paid.
Resolved, An order be drawn on the treasurers, in favor of the reverend Mr. Elihu Spencer, for the sum of 120 dollars, and in favour of the reverend Mr. Alexander M'Whorter, for the like sum, ∥who have undertaken to go to North-Carolina,∥ being three months' advance, they to be accountable.
The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the petition of David Beveridge, which was agreed to as follows:
Resolved, That the said petition is unreasonable:
Resolved, nevertheless, that for the more speedy arming these colonies, the said David Beveridge be permitted to export a cargo of the produce of America (live stock and lumber excepted) to any part of the world, except Great Britain, the British Island, Ireland, or the British West Indies, on his giving bond, with sufficient security, in double the amount of the said cargo, to the chairman of the committee of inspection of Philadelphia, or to such persons as said committee shall appoint, that he will import, into these colonies, by the first day of June next, the amount of the proceeds of the said cargo, in arms, ammunition, or salt petre, and shall dispose of the same to the Congress, for the use of the United Colonies, at such reasonable prices, as by the committee of inspection
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of the place in which the vessel shall arrive, shall be ascertained and determined.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress resumed the consideration of the General's letters, and thereupon came to the following resolution:
Resolved, That the several vessels heretofore taken and carried into Massachusetts bay, by the armed vessels in the service of the United Colonies, be proceeded against by the rules of the law of Nations, and libelled in the courts of admiralty erected in said colony.
Certain instructions given to the president to be observed in answering the General's letters
The order of the day with regard to resolving itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the report of the Committee of Conference, respecting Boston, postponed.
The Congress, taking into consideration the disputes between the people of Pensylvania and Connecticut, on the waters of Susquehannash, came to the following resolution:
Whereas a dispute subsists between some of the inhabitants of the colony of Connecticut, settled under the claim of said colony, on the lands near Wyoming, on the Susquehannah river, and in the Delaware country, and the inhabitants settled under the claim of the proprietaries of Pensylvania, which dispute, it is apprehended, will, if not suspended during the present troubles in these colonies, be productive of pernicious consequences, which may be very prejudicial to the common interest of the United Colonies; therefore,
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress, and it is accordingly recommended, that the contending parties immediately cease all hostilities, and avoid every appearance of force, until the dispute can be legally decided;
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that all property taken and detained, be restored to the original owners; that no interruption be given by either party to the free passing and repassing of persons behaving themselves peaceably through said disputed territory, as well by land as water, without molestation of either of person or property; that all persons seized on and detained on account of said dispute, on either side, be dismissed and permitted to go to their respective homes; and that, things being put in the situation they were before the late unhappy contest, they continue to behave themselves peaceably on their respective possessions and improvements, until a legal decision can be had on said dispute, or this Congress shall take further order thereon; and nothing herein done shall be construed in prejudice of the claims of either party.1
[Note 1: 1 Printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, 8 January, 1776.]
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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