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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, MAY 22, 1776
A petition from James M'Knight was presented to Congress, and read.
The committee to whom the petition of P. Simons, was referred, having brought in their report, the same was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That it appears James M'Knight hath proceeded to the sale of the sloop Sally and her cargo, contrary to the mode prescribed, and without any authority from Congress:
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That the resolution passed the 4th of April, "empowering the committee of inspection and observation of the county of Burlington, to make sale of the sloopSally and the cargo on board, and to pay one-half of the net proceeds to James M'Knight for salvage, and retain the other half for the owner or owners," be set aside.
Resolved, That it be an instruction to the Marine Committee, to procure an exact account of the number and weight of the cannon lately taken at Providence.
Resolved, That it be an instruction to the committee to whom the instructions given by the Naval Committee to Commodore Hopkins were referred, to enquire how far Commodore Hopkins has complied with the said instructions, and if, upon enquiry, they shall find he has departed therefrom, to examine in to the occasion thereof.
Resolved, That the said committee have power to send for witnesses and papers.1
[Note 1: 1 This was inserted instead of the resolutions passed May 8, 1776, and was so printed in the Journals.]
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letters from General Washington, &c. received the 16th and 18th;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 See note under May 21, p. 374,ante.]
Resolved, That the instructions given to Mr. Price by General Schuyler be approved: That General Schuyler be directed to take any farther measures for supplying the army in Canada with provisions, which his prudence may suggest, in which the Congress place the highest confidence:
That General Schuyler be informed of the difficulty of procuring specie, and directed, as far as possible, to remedy that inconvenience, by purchasing such necessaries as can be obtained in these colonies, and to appoint store keepers, and other officers, for the sale and distribution thereof:
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[Note 1: 1 These paragraphs were struck out, and for the 11th was substituted that which immediately follows, viz: "That General Schuyler be informed, &c." This substitute paragraph is in the writing of Thomas Jefferson.]
That General Schuyler be informed, that Congress have in view these two great objects, the protection and assistance of our Canadian friends, and theretaining securing so much of that country as may prevent any communication between our enemies and the Indians: The means of effecting these purposes by fortifying proper posts, building armed vessels where most expedient, opening roads of communication or otherwise, are left to the determination of a council or councils of war, governing themselves by events and their knowledge of the country:
That General Washington, or the commanding officer at New York, be directed to send from thence to Ticonderoga, so many light cannon as will be sufficient to arm the vessels now in Lake Champlain:
That the attention of the commissioners in Canada to the restoration of order and discipline, and to the punishment of those by whom they are violated, deserves the approbation of Congress:
That the specie now in the treasury, and as much more as can be procured, not exceeding the sum of one hundred
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thousand dollars, be immediately remitted to the commissioners for the payment of debts due from these colonies in Canada, and for the preservation of public credit.1
[Note 1: 1 The Warrant Book shows that 52,000 dollars were sent.]
That the commissioners in Canada be directed, if necessary, to appoint proper persons to collect and audit the public accounts in that province:
[Note 2: 2 For this paragraph was substituted that beginning: "That the commissioners in Canada and General Schuyler be informed," &c.]
That the commissioners in Canada, and General Schuyler, be informed, that we cannot give them any assurance of maintaining our army there by hard money; but, that [this ought not to discourage our operations, Congress being]3 determined to send, from these colonies, supplies of provisions and all other necessaries, if hard money cannot be obtained; and that, in the mean time, the best endeavours shall be used to procure the sum of one hundred thousand dollars in hard money:
[Note 3: 3 These words are in the writing of James Duane.]
That some person [or persons be employed by the president in New England,]4 as an agent or agents, to procure, if possible, hard money, to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, [and as soon as a considerable
[Note 4: 4 These words were inserted by John Hancock.]
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sum is obtained, the said agents be directed to transmit the same to the commissioners of Congress in Canada, for the use of the army there, and in case of the absence of the commissioners, the same to be delivered to the deputy pay master general:]1
[Note 1: 1 These words were inserted by John Hancock. The last two paragraphs, except for the words and phrases mentioned, are in the writings of John Adams.]
12th. That the Commrs in Canada be directed (if unhappily our army sh'd be reduced to the necessity of evacuating that Colony,) to receive into our pay all those who have adhered to us, and shall wish to leave that country, and to render every assistance in their power to such of them as cannot be provided for in that way, and to give them the firmest assurances of the aid and protection of Congress.
That such present be made to the Indians on the delivery of the hatchet, as the commissioners in Canada think prudent:
That 500,000 dollars be sent as soon as possible to General Schuyler.
15. ThatSurgeons andmates be added to the Hospital in Canada and that Doctr. Stringer be directed to procure them.2
[Note 2: 2 Against this paragraph is written: "Referr'd to to morrow."]
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
On several certificates exhibited by Joseph Donaldson, the sum of £175 6 10=467.6 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Robert M'Pherson, Esqr and
Captain Dowdle's company, charged with £5 0 0 [=13 1-3 dollars.]
Captain Nelson's company, charged with £10 1 7 [=26.8]
Captain James Grier, for a riffle, with £3 10 0 [=9 1-3]
Captain Cressap's company, for riffles, with £9 4 0 [=24.5]
Captain Stephenson's company with £3 4 10 [=8 2-3] and the remainder to the continent:
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To Robert Erwin, waggon master, for hauling salt petre from Egg Harbor, the sum of £44 0 6=117.4 dollars:
To Robert Patton, for 163 days attendance as messenger, the sum of £40 15 0=108.7 dollars:
To Hugh Hodge, for medicines for the third Pensylvania batallion, the sum of £10 5 9=27.4 dollars:
To Samuel Kennedy, surgeon to the fourth Pensylvania batallion, the sum of £5 6=14.1 dollars.
To Michael Whitman, for provisions furnished prisoners from St. John's, the sum of £1 15 6,=dollars ∥Pensylvania currency,∥ and that the same ought to be paid to Adam Kimmel, together with 5/ ∥two-thirds of a dollar∥ omitted to be charged in a former account rendered by him, the whole amounting to 5.3 dollars.
On several accounts rendered by Major Nicholas Hausegger, for necessaries for the fourth Pensylvania batallion, the sum of £76 7 10=203.7 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to him:
To Christian Levy, for a riffle, the sum of £3=8 dollars, which ought to be charged to Captain Nelson:
To Major Nicholas Hausegger, for divers expences paid by him, the sum of £12 17 11=34.4 dollars:
To John Barnes for boarding officers, prisoners at Trenton, the sum of £29 0 0=77.3 dollars; and that
Dr. Huddleston ought to be charged with £9 0 0[=]24 [dollars.]
Lieutenant Hamar, with £9 0 0[=]24 [dollars.]
Major Regonville, with £6 0 0[=]16 [dollars.]
Lieutenant Symes, with £5 0 0[=]13.3 [dollars.]
On several accounts exhibited by Lewis Gordon, Esqr for sundry necessaries [furnished] by Northampton committee to Captain Nelson's and Captain Craig's companies, the sum of £491 5 7½ = 1310.1 dollars; of which there ought to be charged,
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To Captain Craig's company, the sum of £452 2 11=[1205.7 dollars.]
To Captain Nelson's company, the sum of £2 14=[7.2 dollars.] and the remainder to the continent:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Resolved, That General Washington be empowered to appoint an assistant clerk to his secretary, with the pay of 40 dollars per month.
Resolved, That an order for 10,500 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of the delegates of Connecticut, to be by them transmitted to the governor and council of said colony, for the use of the batallion ordered to be raised there by a resolution of the 16 instant, the said governor and council to be accountable.
That an order for 21,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers in favour of the delegates of Massachusetts bay, to be by them transmitted to the Assembly of said Colony, for the use of the two batallions ordered to be raised there by the resolution above mentioned, the said Assembly to be accountable.
The pay of the said three batallions to commence from the time they are armed and mustered:
That an order for 10,500 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of the delegates of New Hampshire, to be by them transmitted to the Council of said colony, for the use of the batallion ordered to be raised there, by a resolution of the 14th Instant, the said Council to be accountable.
The Congress took into consideration the report of the committee for superintending the treasury: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the five millions of dollars, directed to be emitted in continental bills of credit, shall consist of the following denominations:
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That the inspectors of the press for the last emission, be directed and authorized, to perform that service for the present emission, being first qualified agreeable to the resolution of Congress, passed the 21st of February last:
That the gentlemen appointed to sign and number the bills of credit of the last emission, be authorized to sign and number the bills of credit of five millions of dollars now agreed to be emitted, taking, before they shall enter upon their office, the oath or affirmation prescribed by the resolution of Congress of the 9th of March last:
That the plates engraved for the two first emissions, shall be used in the emission now directed, and that the bills be expressed in the following words:
Dollar
This bill entitles the bearer to receiveSpanish milled dollars, or the value thereof in gold or silver, according to a resolution of Congress, passed at Philadelphia the 9 of May, 1776.
That the said bills be signed by two signers, and each different denomination numbered from number one progressively.
The committee, appointed to examine and ascertain the value of the several species of gold and silver coins current in these colonies, and the proportions they ought respectively to bear to Spanish milled dollars, brought in their report, which was read:
The Committee appointed on the 19th of April, to ascertain the value of the several species of gold and silver current in these colonies, and
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the proportion they and each of them bear and ought to bear to Spanish milled dollars, have taken the same into consideration and, thereupon, came to the following resolutions:1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph is in the writing of Charles Thomson.]
Whereas, the holders of bills of credit emitted by authority of Congress will be entitled, at certain periods appointed for redemption thereof to receive out of the treasury of the united colonies the amount of the said bills in spanish milled dollars, or the value thereof in gold or silver; and the value of such dollars, compared with other silver and with gold coins, isadjusted estimated by different standards in different colonies, whereby injustice may happen in some instances to the public, as well as to individuals which ought to be remedied. And whereas thesaid bills, having been issued at the full value therein expressed, their credit, credit of the said bills, as current money ought to be supported by the inhabitants of these colonies, for whose benefit they were issued at the full value therein expressed, and who stand bound to redeem the same, according to the like value;And the pernicious Artifices of the Enemies of American Liberty to impair the Credit of the said Bills by raising the nominal Value of Gold and Silver ought to be guarded against and prevented,2 Therefore,
[Note 2: 2 The sentence in italics is an addition or amendment, in the writing of James Duane.]
Resolved, that the several gold and silver coins passing in the said colonies shall be received into the public treasury of the continent, and paid out in exchange for bills emitted by authority of Congress, when the same shall become due, at the rates set down in the following table:3
[Note 3: 3 The table is in the writing of Roger Sherman.]
{table}
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Resolved, that a deduction at the rate of one twenty ninth part of a Dollar per Grain shall be made on all gold coins falling short of the weight specified in the aforesaid Table, and an advance at the same rate shall be allowed on such as exceed the aforesaid weight.1
Resolved, thatthe value of all other gold coin in these Colonies all parts of the several Gold Coin before enumerated shall be rated in Just proportionto those contained in according to the foregoing tableaccording to their weight and fineness: and that Goldnot coined in Bullion shall be at the rate of Seventeen Dollars per ounce Troy weight Sterling alloy, and silver at one Dollar and one ninth of a Dollar per ounce.1
[Note 11: 1 This paragraph is in the writing of Roger Sherman.]
Resolved, that all bills of credit emitted by authority of Congress ought to pass current in all payments trade and dealings in these colonies, and be deemed equal in value to gold and silver, according to the rates set down in the foregoing table; and that whosoever shall offer, demand, or receive more in the said bills for any gold or silver coins, or bullion, than at the rates aforesaid, or more of the said bills for any Lands, houses, goods, wares, or merchandize, than the nominal sum at which the same might be purchased of the same person with gold or silver, every such person ought to be deemed an enemy to the liberties of these colonies, and treated accordingly, being duly convicted thereof before the committee of inspectionof the place where he resides [of the City, County or District, or in Case of Appeal from their Decision before the Assembly, Convention, Council or Committee of Safety, of the place where he shall reside, or before such other Persons or Courts as have been or shall be Authorized by the Genera] Assemblies or Conventions of the Colonies respectively to hear and determine such offences].2
[Note 2: 2 The words in brackets were inserted in the report by James Duane. This report, in the writing of George Wythe, save as otherwise noted, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 1.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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