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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 --SEPTEMBER 25, 1775
Monday. An uneasiness among some of the members, concerning a contract with Willing and Morris for powder,1 by which the House, without any risk at all, will make a clear profit of twelve thousand pounds at least. Dyer and Deane spoke in public; Lewis, to me, in private, about it. All think it exorbitant.
[Note 1: 1 See Journals, 18 September, 1775, ante.]
S. Adams desired that the Resolve of Congress, upon which the contract was founded might be read: he did not recollect it.
De Hart. One of the contractors, Willing, declared to this Congress, that he looked upon the contract to be, that the first cost should be insured to them, not the fourteen pounds a barrel for the powder.
R. R. Livingston. I never will vote to ratify the contract in the sense that Morris understands it.
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Willing, I am, as a member of the House, a party to that contract, but was not privy to the bargain. I never saw the contract, until I saw it in Dr. Franklin's hand. I think it insures only the first cost; my partner thinks it insures the whole. He says that Mr. Rutledge said, at the time, that Congress should have nothing to do with sea risk. The committee of this city offered nineteen pounds. I would wish to have nothing to do with the contract, but to leave it to my partner, who is a man of reason and generosity, to explain the contract with the gentlemen who made it with him.
J. Rutledge. Congress was to run no risk, only against men-of-war and custom-house officers. I was surprised, this morning, to hear that Mr. Morris understood it otherwise. If he won't execute a bond, such as we shall draw, I shall not be at a loss what to do.
Johnson. A hundred tons of powder was wanted. Ross. In case of its arrival, Congress was to pay fourteen pounds; if men-of-war or custom-house officers should get it, Congress was to pay first cost only, as I understood it. Zubly. We are highly favored; fourteen pounds we are to give, if we got the powder, and fourteen pounds, if we don't get it. I understand, persons enough will contract to supply powder at fifteen pounds and run all risks.
Willing. Sorry any gentleman should be severe. Mr. Morris's character is such that he cannot deserve it.
Lynch. If Morris will execute the bond, well; if not, the committee will report.
Deane. It is very well that this matter has been moved, and that so much has been said upon it.
Dyer. There are not ten men, in the Colony I came from, who are worth so much money as will be made, clear, by this contract. Ross. What has this matter to (do with) the present debate, whether Connecticut men are worth much or no; it proves there are no men there whose capital or credit is equal to such contracts; that is all. Harrison. The contract is made, and the money paid. How can we get it back?
Johnson. Let us consider the prudence of this contract. If it had not been made, Morris would have got nineteen pounds, and not have set forward a second adventure. Gadsden understands the contract as Morris does, and yet thinks it a prudent one, because Morris would have got nineteen pounds.
J. Adams. &c. &c. &c.
Cushing. I move that we take into consideration a method of keeping up an army in the winter.
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Gadsden seconds the motion, and desires that a motion made in writing some days ago, and postponed, may be read as it was, as also passages of G. Washington's letter.
S. Adams. The General has promised another letter, in which we shall have his sentiments. We shall have it to Morrow, perhaps. Lynch. If we have, we shall only lose the writing of a letter.
J. Adams moved that the General's advice should be asked concerning barracks, &c. and that a committee be appointed to draught a letter. Lynch seconded the motion.
A committee was appointed. Lynch, J. Adams, and Colonel Lee, the men.
Sherman moved that a committee be appointed, of one member from each Colony, to receive and examine all accounts. S. Adams seconded the motion.1
[Note 1: 1 See Journals, 25 September, 1775, ante.]
Harrison asked, "Is this the way of giving thanks?"
S. Adams was decent to the Committee for Riflemen's Accounts; meant no reflections upon them; was sorry that the worthy gentleman from Virginia conceived that any was intended; he was sure there was no foundation for it.
Paine thought that justice and honor required that we should carefully examine all accounts and see to the expenditure of all public moneys; that the minister would find out our weakness, and would foment divisions among our people; he was sorry that gentlemen could not hear methods proposed to settle and pay accounts, in a manner that would give satisfaction to the people, without seeming to resent them. Harrison. Now the gentlemen have explained themselves, he had no objection; but when it was proposed to appoint a new committee, in the place of the former one, it implied a reflection.
Willing. These accounts are for tents, arms, clothing, &c. as well as expenses of the riflemen, &c.
Nelson moved that twenty thousand dollars be voted into the hands of the other committee to settle the accounts. S. Adams seconded the motion, but still hoped that some time or other a committee would be appointed, of one member from each Colony, to examine all accounts, because he thought it reasonable.
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