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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 29, 1776
A letter from General Wooster, of the 27 of April last, also,
A letter from William Palfrey, with a weekly account from the 19 to 25 of May inclusive, were laid before Congress, and read.2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Wooster is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 161, folio 309. That of Palfrey is in No. 165, folio 439.]
A petition from Captain W. Budden was presented to Congress and read; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That midshipman [John] Draper be offered in exchange for Captain W[illiam] Budden.
A letter from Levi Hollingsworth, and, Thomas Richardson, to the committee of safety of Pensylvania, dated New Port, 21st instant; also
A memorial from sundry members of the general assembly of Rhode Island, were presented to Congress, and read:1
[Note 1: 1 The Hollingsworth-Richardson latter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 53. The Rhode Island memorial is in No. 41, VIII, folio 256.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
The committee appointed to confer with his Excellency General Washington, Major General Gates and Brigadier General Mifflin, brought in a farther report, which was read:
The Committee appointed to confer with the Generals, &c. beg leave to report as follows:
That it having been considered and proposed In what proportion of numbers should the enemies force be opposed?
Answer. Two to One.
Q. What number of the enemy may it be supposed will be sent to attack Canada?
A. Ten thousand, and as the whole force at present directed for Canada, when it arrives there will not exceed 10,000 men, therefore upon the question:
What are the proportions to be furnished by the different Provinces out of the Militia for the defence of Canada? Answered
Q. What number of the enemy may it be supposed will attack New York?
A. Twelve thousand five hundred, and as the Continental force now at. N. York for the defence of that place and the communication with
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Albany does not exceed 10,000 Men, therefore upon the question What are the proportions to be furnished by the different Provinces out of the Militia, for the defence of N. York, &c.?
Q. What force is necessary for protection of the four N. England Provinces?
A. The eleven regiments raised and ordered to be raised in those Colonies, are in the opinion of the Committee sufficient.
Q. Should a flying Camp be immediately established in the middle Colonies?
A. Unanimously approved of.
Q. How many should the flying Camp consist of?
A. Ten thousand men.
Q. From whence and in what proportions are the Troops to come that are to form the flying Camp?
Q. Is the present establishment sufficient for the Southern Colonies?
A. The present force is sufficient, except in South Carolina and Georgia, where it appears to this Committee that an additional force is necessary.
Q. For how long time is the Militia to be engaged?
A. To the first of December unless sooner discharged by Congress.
Q. When is the Militia pay to commence?
A. From the days of their marching from home, and they are to be allowed one penny a mile lawful money in lieu of rations for travelling expences, and one days pay for every 20 miles between home and the General Rendezvous going and returning.
The Committee are of opinion that an animatedexhortation address be published, to impress the minds of the people with the necessity of
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their now stepping forward to save their Country, their freedom and property.1
[Note 1: 1 Beginning with this paragraph each one is marked in the margin by Hancock "agreed," except the paragraph applying to the pay of the engineers, against which is written "disagreed."]
That it be earnestly recommended to the Assemblies, Conventions and Committees of Safety in the United Colonies to fall upon the most effectual means of removing the grain and Meal from Stocks, such parts of their respective Provinces as are invaded, or are in imminent danger of being invaded by the enemy.
It is the opinion of this Committee that two Provincial Brigadier's General be employed in the Canada department. One from Massachusetts and one from Connecticut.
That four provincial Brigadiers General be employed in the N. York department, one from Massachusetts, one from Connecticut, one from N. York and one from N. Jersey.
It is also the opinion of this Committee that three Brigadiers General be employed for the Flying Camp. Two from Pennsylvania and one from Maryland.
That the said brigadiers general be appointed by the respective colonies above mentioned.
Your Committee further recommend that the Departments of Commissary General, Qr Master Genl, and Adjutant Genl, &c, &c, be under one Head, to whom all returns and reports are to be made.
That the Engineer's pay be increased.
That a Resolve of Congress be passed for punishment of Spies found in any of the Continental Camps.
That the Flying Camp be under the Command of such Continental General officers as the Commander in Chief sha11 direct.
That the Commander in Chief be authorised to form and fix such Magazines of provisions and Military Stores as he may judge necessary.
That the General be authorised to direct the building as many Fire rafts and Gallies as may be necessary and suitable for the immediate defence of the port at N. York and Hudsons river.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Richard Henry Lee, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folios 185--187.]
Ordered to lie on the table. Whereupon,
Resolved, That an animated address be published to impress the minds of the people with the necessity of
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their now stepping forward to save their country, their freedom and property.
That a committee of four be appointed to prepare the address.
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. S [amuel] Adams, and Mr. [Edward] Rutledge.1
[Note 1: 1 In the papers of Thomas Jefferson, Vth Series, VIII, is found the following fragment, in the writing of George Wythe. It was probably intended to be the address:
"The delegates of the united colonies of New Hampshire, &c. to the inhabitants of the said colonies.
"There seems no reason now to expect an accommodation of the dispute between Great Britain and these colonies. All overtures towards it on our part have been ineffectual; and on the other hand no terms have been offered to us, but obedience to unconstitutional authority is required. Arms must decide, whether we shall be subject to laws made by men who are not appointed approved of or controulable by us, whose interest it is to oppress us, and whose pride and resentment will be gratified by humbling us; or [whether] shall be subject to laws made by men we ourselves choose and may change, who bear their just proportions of the burthens they impose upon the community, and whose true glory it is to advance its posterity; in other words, whether we shall resign ourselves to the government of arbitrary rulers, and our property [of] to the disposition of those who are under many temptations, but no restraint, to take it away from us; or shall reserve so much of our natural liberty as permits the doing of every thing but what we ought not, what good men desire not, to do, and may [part of or] dispose of our property for such public uses, and in such manner and measure as we judge fit. If the enemy conquer, we must be wretched; if not, we may be happy; in either event, our posterity must be involved in our fate. Uniting [closely] firmly, resolving wisely, and acting vigorously, it is morally certain, we cannot be subdued. Those among us, if there be any, who will not join with us, it is hoped, are as contemptible for their numbers as for their baseness of soul. This is the season when others may prove that love for their country which they profess themselves to be inspired with, and shew that they are what they would appear to be. There are none of us who cannot do some good service in this great conflict. The aged may supply their want of strength by counsel. The young will probably never meet with another opportunity to signalise [an illegible line] their valour so much to their honour. Whilst you are asserting the rights of mankind, and delivering your country from bondage, those who fall cannot die in a better cause, nor can those who survive with victory earn a nobler triumph. Vast indeed will be the expense of armaments we must for a time sustain: but what do men who know the value of liberty think too great a price to purchase it with! and what is property worth, or rather can we have property, if we enjoy not liberty. Let us all then"
Words in brackets were struck out.]
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Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to morrow.
Resolved, That the committee have leave to sit again.
A letter from Mr. J[ohn] Jay, introducing Johann Philip Merkle to the notice of Congress, was read:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Secret Committee, and that they be directed to confer with the gentleman.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
For ferriages of two brass field pieces, sent to Virginia, the sum of 6 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to James Davidson:
To Walter Stewart for his expences in going on board theLiverpool frigate, the sum of 8 15/90 dollars:
To David Lenox, for his expences going to New York as an escort of money, the sum of £23 10 8=62 68/90 dollars:
To William Sheppard, for waggon-hire on two journies to New York, the sum of £2110 4. On a journey to Port Royal, in Virginia, with General Lee, £17, both amounting to £38 10 4=102 64/90 dollars:
On several certificates for entertaining General Lee's guards, the sum of £14 4 0=37 78/90 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to George Ross, Esqr.
To Robert Erwin, for waggonage of gun powder to the city of New York, the sum of £155 5=414 dollars.
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The said committee farther reported, that Captain John Lowdon had laid before the committee, an account of the expenditure of money paid into his hands, for the purpose of raising a company of rifflemen, amounting to the sum of £218 5 7 ∥=582 7/90 dollars:∥
Transporting baggage from Northumberland to Reading, ∥15 0 0 ∥=40 dollars:∥
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Amount of divers articles ordered to be charged to Captain Lowdon, which now appear to be continental charges, £18 15 3 ∥=50 3/90 dollars:∥
Amount of John Harris, and Elias Younkman's bills, which have been twice paid, and twice charged to Captain Lowdon, and which ought now to be charged to the committee of Berks county, £32 8 8 ∥=86 44/90 dollars:∥
Amounting in the whole to the sum of £284 9 6 ∥=758 54/90 dollars:∥
Ordered, That Captain Lowdon be credited with the above sum, and that the committee of Berks county be charged with the sum above mentioned.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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