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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 --MONDAY, MAY 6, 1776
Captain Young, who was fitted out at the expence of the continent, by Messrs. Lewis and Alsop, being arrived at Egg Harbour,
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to give proper orders for landing, securing and bringing to Philadelphia the cargo imported by Captain Young.
A memorial of [Captain] Hermann Allen being presented to Congress, and read:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of Claims.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report on General Washington's letter of the 24 of March; and, thereupon, came to the following resolution:
[Whereas] General Washington having requested directions concerning the conduct that should be observed towards commissioners, said to be coming from Great Britain to America,
Resolved, That General Washington be informed, that the Congress suppose, if commissioners are intended to be sent from Great Britain to treat of peace, that the practice usual in such cases will be observed, by making previous application for the necessary passports or safe conduct, and on such application being made, Congress will then direct the proper measures for the reception of such commissioners.1
[Note 1: 1 "It will be observed how long this trifling business had been depending, but it cannot be known from the Journal how much debate it had occasioned. It was one of those delusive contrivances, by which the party in opposition to us endeavored, by lulling the people with idle hopes of reconciliation into security, to turn their heads and thoughts from independence. They endeavored to insert in the resolution ideas of reconciliation; we carried our point for inserting peace. They wanted powers to be given to the General to receive the commissioners in ceremony; we ordered nothing to be done till we were solicited for passports. Upon the whole, we avoided the snare, and brought the controversy to a close, with some dignity. But it will never be known how much labor it cost us to accomplish it.
"Then a committee of the whole, on the state of the colonies. Mr. Harrison reported sundry resolutions, which, as they stand on the Journal, will show the art and skill with which the General's letters, Indian affairs, revenue matters, naval arrangements, and twenty other things, many of them very trivial, were mixed, in these committees of the whole, with the great subjects of government, independence, and commerce. Little things were designedly thrown in the way of great ones, and the time consumed upon trifles which ought to have been consecrated to higher interests. We could only harangue against the misapplication of time, and harangues consumed more time, so that we could only now and then snatch a transient glance at the promised land." John Adams Autobiography,Works, III, 43.]
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The committee appointed to bring in a resolution, whereby persons resident, or having property in America, who assist any of the enemies of these United Colonies in the captures of vessels or goods, may be made liable to make good the damages to the sufferers, brought in their report which was read:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A letter of the 24th of April, from General Lee, was laid before Congress and read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 158, folio 49.]
The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their consideration, the state of the United Colonies; and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison reported, that the committee have taken the same into consideration and have come to sundry resolutions, which he laid before Congress ∥ was ordered to report when the house should be ready to receive them.
Ordered, That the report be now delivered in.∥
The report of the committee being read, ∥was agreed to as follows:∥
Resolved, That ten millions of dollars be raised for the purpose of carrying on the war for the current year:
Resolved, That the Indian goods said to be at Fort Pitt, be purchased for the use of the United Colonies:
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Resolved, That Indian goods to the value of ten thousand dollars, be purchased at Montreal, for the use of the United Colonies:
Resolved, That treaties be held with the Indians in the different departments, as soon as practicable; and that the sum of ten thousand dollars be paid out of the treasury, to the commissioners of each respective department, for presents to the Indians and the expences of such treaties.
∥Mr. Harrison further reported, that the committee desired him to move for leave to sit again: Whereupon,∥
Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration the state of the United Colonies.
Resolved, That a committee of seven be appointed to devise ways and means for raising the ten millions of dollars, voted above:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. R[obert] Morris, Mr. [Edward] Rutledge, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, and Mr. [Joseph] Hewes.
Resolved, That the convention, or committee or council of safety of Virginia, be empowered to appoint surgeons to the batallions raised in said colony, for the service of the continent.
Resolved, That John Taylor be appointed Judge Advocate to the continental troops in the colony of Virginia.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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