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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, FEBRUARY 17, 1776
Resolved, That an order be drawn on the treasurers in favour of James Mease, the commissary, for the sum of 10,000 dollars for the use of the Pen sylvania batallions, he to account.
That Colonel [James] Irvine, of the sixth Pensylvania batallion, be authorized and empowered to purchase good arms for the use of his batallion, the price of the same to be deducted out of the pay of the men.
The committee on the state of the treasury, brought in their report, which was read:
Resolved, That a standing committee of 5 be appointed for superintending the treasury:
That it shall be the business of this committee,
To examine the accounts of the treasurers, and, from time to time, to report to Congress the state of the treasury;
To consider of ways and means for supplying gold and silver for the support of the army in Canada:
To employ and instruct proper persons for liquidating the public accounts, with the different pay masters and commissaries in the continental service, and the conventions, committees of safety and others who have been or shall be entrusted with the public money; and, from time to time, to report the state of such accounts to Congress:
To superintend the emissions of bills of Credit:
To obtain from the different Assemblies and Conventions of the United Colonies, accounts of the number ofpeople of all sorts inhabitants in each colony, according to the resolution of Congress on that subject.
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr.
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[Thomas] Nelson, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Richard] Smith, and Mr. [Thomas] Willing.
The Congress taking into consideration the report of the committee on the treasury;
Resolved, That a farther sum of four millions of dollars be, emitted on the same security as the sums of money heretofore emitted by Congress have been:
That, the committee for superintending the treasury be directed to consider the numbers and denominations of the bills in which it will be proper to emit the above 4 millions, and report to Congress.
The committee appointed to consider into what departments the middle and southern colonies ought to be divided, brought in their report, which was read.
The committee to whom sundry letters from Brigadier General Arnold, Brigadier General Wooster, Major General Schuyler, and Major General Lee, were referred, brought in their report, which being taken into consideration; On motion made,
Resolved, That Major General Lee be directed immediately to repair to Canada, and take the command of the army of the United Colonies in that province:
That Major General Schuyler be directed to repair, as soon as his health will permit, to New York, and take the command of the forces, and conduct the military operations there: and that the president inform him by express of this arrangement, and the reasons that led to it:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the convention or committee of safety of New York, to supply General Lee with a quantity of suitable cannon, not exceeding twelve, and one or more mortars, if to be had, with balls, shells, and other necessaries for the siege or assault of Quebec; and that they assist him in forwarding the same with all possible expedition:
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That the regiment of Canadians, the raising of which is mentioned in Brigadier General Arnold's letter, of the 12 of January last, to have been put on foot by him, receive the same pay, and be subject to the same regulations as the other forces employed in Canada, and be accounted part of the number designed to be raised for that service.
That the appointment of Captain--Rensselaer to be deputy muster master general of the forces in Canada, be confirmed:
That the appointment of John Halstead, Esqr. to be commissary for the army before Quebec, be confirmed:
That Major General Schuyler be directed to have provisions stored in proper places near Hudson's river, between Albany and the Highlands, to supply such troops as it may be necessary to call out of the country:
That the offer made by Major General Schuyler to pay at the rate of four shillings per day for each of the sleds hired to forward the Pensylvania and New Jersey forces in their march to Canada, be complied with:
That the officers in the continental Armies be enjoined to use their utmost diligence in preventing every kind of plunder; and that all who shall offend herein, be punished according to the strictest discipline:
That the Resolves of Congress for encouraging suttlers to attend the army in Canada, be published, with the information that hosiery, shoes, coarse linens, soap, rum, sugar, and wine, are much wanted there:
That a few artificers, such as armourers, smiths, carpenters, harness makers, and wheel wrights, with proper persons to superintend them, be forthwith sent to Canada.
That it be recommended to the convention of New York, that such of the officers who served faithfully in Canada the last campaign, as are willing to continue
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there, be preferred, in the new levies of the colony of New York, to others.
Resolved, That a committee of three be chosen to prepare instructions for the committee appointed to go to Canada.
The members elected, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [George] Wy the, and Mr. [Roger] Sherman.
Resolved, That this Congress will, on Tuesday next, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the propriety of opening the ports, and the restrictions and regulations of trade, after the first of March next.1
[Note 1: 1 "This measure of opening the ports, &c. labored exceedingly, because it was considered as a bold step to independence. Indeed, I urged it expressly with that view, and as connected with the institution of government in all the States, and a declaration of national independence. The party against me had art and influence as yet, to evade, retard, and delay every motion that we made. Many motions were made, and argued at great length, and with great spirit on both sides, which are not to be found in the Journals. When motions were made and debates ensued in a committee of the Whole House, no record of them was made by the secretary, unless the motion prevailed and was reported to Congress, and there adopted. This arrangement was convenient for the party in opposition to us, who by this means evaded the appearance, on the Journals, of any subject they disliked." John Adams's Autobiography, inWritings, III, 29. See also his notes of Debates printed at the end of this year's Journal,post.]
Resolved, That the committee appointed to purchase sundry articles of cloathing for the northern army, be directed to contract for good strong shoes for the Army in Canada.
The Congress taking into consideration the report of the committee on the method of subsisting the troops in New York, &c.,thereupon came to the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the sum of 35,000 dollars be advanced to the convention or committee of safety of New York, for the support of the troops employed in the defence of that colony; the said convention or committee of safety
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to be accountable for the expenditure thereof; and that an order be drawn on the treasurers for the above sum, in favour of the delegates of that colony, who are directed to forward the same:
That it be recommended to the convention or committee of safety of New York, to contract with proper persons for supplying the said troops with the rations allowed by Congress, and with fuel and other necessaries, on the most reasonable terms in their power.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
On an account exhibited by the committee of Frederick county, Maryland, to be paid to S. Chase and W. Paca, Esqrs the sum of 860 9/10 dollars, of which 268 4/10 dollars being for riffles, &c. furnished Captain M. Cressop's company of rifflemen, ought to be charged to the said company, the remainder to the continent:
To Nicholas Hower, for waggonage, the sum of 74 4/10 dollars, and that the same ought to be paid to Daniel Hower.1
[Note 1: 1 In the back of "Secret Journal, No. 8" is a list of warrants issued by Charles Thomson. This name is there given as Flower.]
Ordered, That the above accounts be paid.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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