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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 --SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1776
A letter from General Washington, 19 January with 4 enclosures:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, I, 419. It is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), III, 359. That of the Committee of Trenton is in No. 68, folio 51. The enclosure is a copy of a letter from General Schuyler to Captain John Hulbert, dated Ticonderoga, November 1, 1775. That of Stirling is in No. 162, folio 384. That of Lowrey, dated the 25th, is in No. 78, XIV, folio 59.]
Resolved, that the same be referred toMr. [Thomas] Lynch Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Samuel] Ward and Mr. S[amuel] Adams.
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A letter from the committee of Trenton, dated 24 January, with an enclosure:
A letter from Lord Stirling, dated 25 [24] January, and a letter from Mr. Lowry, dated 24 [25] January, were read, and referred to the same committee.
Resolved That a committee of 2 be appointed to confer with Col. Hazen:
The members chosen Mr. [Samuel] Adams and Mr. [James] Duane.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To Colonel Cornelius Wynkoop, for expences in bringing a party of prisoners from St. John's, the sum of £306 6 8 New York currency equal to 765 7/10 dollars, of which £34 10 7 New York currency=86 2/10 dollars ought to be charged to the officers of said party of prisoners.
∥Ordered, That the same be paid.∥
Resolved, That the committee of inspection of Esopus, or Kingston, be directed to supply the prisoners there with necessary cloathing, and also provide them with lodging and provisions not exceeding the rations allowed the privates in the continental army, on the most reasonable terms they can.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the report of the Commissioners for Indian affairs in the middle department, and the state of the Indians in said department, and report
The members, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [Robert Treat] Paine, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [James] Duane, and Mr. [John] Rogers.
Resolved, That a commission issue to Cayashota, giving him the rank of a colonel, and that a silver gorget be presented to him.
The Congress taking into consideration the report of the committee on the case of Mr. Jugé,
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Resolved, That Monsr. Jugé be permitted to export the produce or manufactures of the province of Maryland (horned cattle, hogs, sheep, and poultry excepted) to any port or place whatsoever, (except to Great Britain, Ireland, British isles, and British West Indies, and for the supply of the British army or navy in America) to the amount of the canvas imported by him into the said province: the said value to be ascertained by the committee of inspection and observation for the county of Baltimore:
Resolved, nevertheless, that the indulgence, in this instance, ought not to be drawn into example, the same being granted to Monsr. Jugé on account of the peculiar circumstances of his case; and that the said Monsr. Jugé be enjoined, by the aforesaid committee of Baltimore, to avoid, if possible, all British ships of war and armed cutters on his voyage.
A memorial from Henry Keppele and John Steinmetz being laid before Congress, and read:
Resolved, That the same be referred to a committee of 3:
The members chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Ward, Mr. [Robert] Alexander, and Mr. [George] Wythe.
Resolved, That a committee of 3 be appointed, to take into consideration the matter of the inlistment of apprentices and persons in debt, report thereon to Congress
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [Robert Treat] Paine, and Mr. [George] Wythe.
The committee to whom part of the report on the treaty held with the Indians at Albany, and the letter of Volkert P. Douw, Esqr. was committed, brought in their report: which being taken into consideration the Congress thereupon, came to the following resolutions:
Resolved, That in order to preserve the friendship and confidence of the Indians, and to prevent their suffering
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for want of the necessaries of life, a suitable assortment of Indian goods, to the amount of £40,000 sterling, be imported on account and risque of the United Colonies:
That the said goods, when imported, be divided among the different departments, in the following proportions, viz: for the northern department, comprehending Canada, the value of £13,333 6 8 sterling; for middle department, the like value: and the residue for the southern department:
That in order to pay for the said goods, a quantity of produce of these colonies be exported to some foreign European market, where it will sell to the best advantage:
That the Secret Committee be empowered to contract with proper persons for importing said goods, and for exporting produce to pay for the same:
That the said goods, when imported, be delivered to the commissioners of Indian affairs for the respective departments, or their order, in the proportions before mentioned:
That the respective commissioners, or such of them as can conveniently assemble for that purpose, shall, as the goods arrive, fix a price, adding to the first cost, interest, the charge of insurance, and all other charges, and also a commission, not exceeding 2½ per cent. on the first cost, for their own care and trouble in receiving, storing and selling them among the Indian Traders; But such commissioners as are, at the same time, members of Congress, shall not be burthened with this part of the business, nor receive any part of the aforesaid commission:
That no person shall be permitted to trade with the Indians without License from one or more of the commissioners of each respective department:
That all traders shall dispose of their goods at such stated reasonable prices, as shall be fixed and ascertained
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by the commissioners, or a majority of such as can conveniently assemble for that purpose, in each respective department; and shall allow the Indians a reasonable pride for their skins and furs, and take no unjust advantage of their distress or intemperance; And, for this purpose, they shall, respectively, upon receiving their licenses, enter into bond to the commissioners, for the use of the United Colonies, in such penalty, as the acting commissioners or commissioner shall think proper, conditioned for the performance of the terms and regulations above prescribed:
That to such licensed traders only, the respective commissioners shall deliver the goods, so to be imported, in such proportions as they shall judge will best promote a fair trade, and relieve the necessities of the Indians:
That every trader, on receiving the goods, shall pay to the commissioners in hand, the price at which they shall be estimated; And the commissioners shall, from time to time, as the money shall come to their hands, transmit the same to the continental treasurers, deducting only the allowance for their trouble as aforesaid:
That the trade with the Indian nations shall be carried on at such posts or places only, as the commissioners for each department shall respectively appoint:
That these resolutions shall not be construed to prevent or debar any private person from importing goods for the Indian trade, under the restrictions expressed in the Association.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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