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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, FEBRUARY 14, 1776
Resolved, That, two of the brass 6 pounders now at New York, belonging to the United Colonies, be sent to Virginia for the use of the forces there.
Sundry letters were received, and read, viz:
One from General Schuyler 7 February, 1776; one from General Wooster 29 January, 1776; one from General Arnold 24 January, with sundry enclosed papers)1
[Note 1: 1 Sehuyler's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, I, folio 506. A letter of Wooster, dated January 27, is in No. 161, folio 261. Arnold's letter is in No. 162, folio 54.]
Referred to Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, and Mr. [Samuel] Chase.
A letter from the committee ofAmboy Elizabeth Town, February 10, 1776, with sundry papers enclosed.2 Referred for consideration till to morrow.
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 81.]
The Committee of Claims report, that there is due,
To John Ware, the sum of 13 2/10 dollars for conducting a French gentleman from Harwick township, in Sussex county, to Philadelphia.
Ordered, That the same be paid.
Application being made by some of the master carpenters employed in building the continental frigates, to some members of this house, informing, that about fifty of their journeymen and apprentices had engaged as volunteers to to march with the batallion of associators for New York, and that their zeal for the public service is such, that they cannot be persuaded to desist by any arguments or influence of said builders:
Resolved, That the spirit and zeal of the said journey men and apprentices is highly approved of by Congress; but, nevertheless, it is the opinion of this Congress, that the public will be more essentially served by the said
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associators continuing at their work on the said continental frigates; and that, therefore, all the carpenters, journeymen, and apprentices, employed as aforesaid, be requested to remain in that service, as there is no doubt but other associators will compleat the number wanted.
The Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the report of the committee on the regulations and restrictions under which the ports shall be opened after the first of March next; and, after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Samuel] Ward reported, that the Committee had taken into consideration the matter referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desired leave to sit again.
Resolved, That this Congress will, to Morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into farther consideration, the report of the committee on the regulations and restrictions of trade after the first of March next.
The Committee of Correspondence, who were ordered to confer with the gentleman from Canada, brought in their report, which was read:
The Committee of secret Correspondence report that they have conferred with the Person just arriv'd from Canada, and find that he was furnish'd with a Passport from Gen. Wooster, containing Orders for his Travelling at the Publick Expence; with another Pass from Gen.Schuyler to the same Purpose, and one from the Committee of Kingston, who sent a Guide with him hither. That he has been engag'd in the American Service ever since the Appearance of our Forces in that Country, of which he is a Native; and being as he says well acquainted with the Sentiments and way of Thinking of his Countrymen, his Intention in undertaking this Journey was to give the Congress true Information on that Subject. He says that when the Canadians first heard of the Dispute they were generally on the American side; but that by the Influence of the Clergy and the Noblesse, who have been
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continually preaching and persuading them against us, they are now brought into a State of Suspence or Uncertainty which Side to follow. That Papers printed by the Tories at New York have been read to them by the Priests, assuring them that our Design was to deprive them of their Religion as well as their Possessions. That the Letters we have address'd to them have made little Impression, the common People being generally unable to read, and the Priests and Gentry who read them to others, explain them in such a Manner as best answers their own purpose of prejudicing the People against us. That he therefore thinks it would be of great Service if some Persons from the Congress wereto appear in sent to Canada, to explainvivâ voce to the People there the Nature of our Dispute with England, which they do not well understand, and to satisfy the Gentry and Clergy that we have no Intention against their Interests, but mean toleave put Canada in full Possession of Liberty, desiring only their Friendship and Union with us as good Neighbours and Brethren. That the Clergy and Gentry might, he thinks, by this means be brought over, and would be follow'd by all Canada. And unless some such Measure is taken, he is of Opinion our Affairs there will meet with continual Difficulty and Obstruction.
He left Montreal the 20th past; says our Troops continued to invest Quebec; that he had heard of no Sally made by the Garrison; but was inform'd by an Ecclesiastick who came out of that Town 15 Days before, that the Inhabitants were in great Distress for Fewel, and reduc'd to one Fire for 6 or 7 Families. That Flesh and Flour was also scarce; but they had plenty of Corn, which not having Means to grind they boil'd to subsist on. That on his Route he met several Parties of our Reinforcements marching towards Canada. That Lake Champlain is frozen and passable, but Lake George not yet. He adds that there is great Jealousy in Canada, of our Paper Money.
He offers to carry safely any Despatches the Congress may have to send into that Country.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Franklin, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 211. It bears an endorsement, apparently of a later date, "Monsr. Pruxdent la Jeunesse and Dantermond;" and from copies of the passports, in the same volume, folios 213 and 215, the names are derived, viz: Prudent La Jeunesse and John Dantermond.]
Resolved, That the consideration of it be referred till to Morrow.
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The committee appointed to consider the best method of subsisting the troops in New York, laid their report on the table.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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