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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 --FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1776
A letter from the committee of safety of New Hampshire, with a petition from said colony, and sundry other papers, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 William Whipple reached Philadelphia on the 28th February, bringing these papers.]
Resolved, That the same be referred to a committee of three.
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. [Carter] Braxton, and Mr. [Benjamin] Franklin.
A Petition from the inhabitants of Falmouth being presented, was read.
Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three.
The members, Mr. W[illiam] Livingston, Mr. [George] Read and Mr. [William] Paca.
The Committee appointed to consider the Petition of "the Committee appointed by those who suffered by the late inhuman burning of the Town of Falmouth," beg Leave to report
That the late Inhabitants of the said Town, by their spirited and patriotic Refusal to comply with the Terms insisted upon by Henry Mowat Commander of his Majesty's ShipCanceau to destroy the said Town unless they would deliver up their Arms and Ammunition and send him four hostages in performance thereof, (in consequence of which Refusal most of their houses and other Buildings were by him entirely destroyed, and part of their Effects together with every Vessel in the harbour except two which were carried off by the Enemy) are reduced to great Distress, and entitled to the Charitable Relief of their Brethren of America engaged in the same common Cause.
Your Committee is of opinion that their Distress may be alleviated either by the Congress recommending to the several Conventions and Committees a Subscription for their Relief, or by ordering a competent sum for that purpose out of the continental Treasury, but conceiving the first to be an unequal Tax upon the more generous and humane, and too slow in its Execution for the immediate Redress of the Sufferers; and the latter productive of a dangerous Precedent, Do therefore submit it to Congress to adopt such mode of Relief as shall appear to them attended with the least Inconvenience.2
[Note 2: 2 The original report, in the writing of William Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 43. It is without date, and does not appear to have been acted upon.]
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A letter from James Mease, commissary, with sundry queries, relative to his conduct as commissary, on which he requests the directions of Congress, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 15.]
Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three.
The members chosen, Mr. [Edward] Rutledge, Mr. [Robert Treat] Paine, and Mr. [Joseph] Hewes.
A Memorial of the merchants, traders and others, of the city of Philadelphia, was presented and read:
Resolved, That the same be referred to a committee of the whole.
The general Assembly of Massachusetts, having transmitted to Congress a state of the accounts of the said colony against the continent,
Resolved, That the same be referred for liquidation to the Committee of Claims.
Resolved, That an addition of 34 dollars per month be added to the pay of Joseph Reed, Esqr. the secretary to General Washington, on account of the extraordinary services at present attending that office, by reason of the General's direction of the naval department.
Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the letter from General Washington, of the 14th instant, with Lord Drummond's letter.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered to treat with the owners of some medicines lately imported, and purchase the same on the most reasonable terms for the use of the continent.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the Congress preceded to the appointment of the general officers and staff for the middle and southern departments.
Resolved, That Major General Lee be appointed to take
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the command of the continental forces in the southern department.1
[Note 1: 1 " After a warm contest, occasioned by the high estimation the Members of Congress have of your worth and abilities, (every one wishing to have you where he had most at stake,) the Congress have at length determined to supersede the orders given you to proceed to Canada, and have this day come to a resolution that you shall take the command of the Continental Forces in the Southern Department."Hancock to Charles Lee, 1 March, 1776.]
The Congress then proceeded to the election of Brigadier Generals, ∥and the ballots being delivered in and examined,∥ when the following gentlemen were elected:
[Note 2: 2 The names of Thompson, Moore, Stirling and Howe are entered by another hand than Thomson's [i. e. John Hancock?].]
Resolved, That General Armstrong be directed to repair to South Carolina, General Lewis and General Howe to Virginia, and General Moore to North Carolina, there respectively to take the command of the forces until they receive further orders from Congress or a superior officer.
That General Thompson be directed immediately to repair to New York.
Resolved, That the orders of the day be postponed, to Monday.
Adjourned to Monday next at 10 o'Clock.3
[Note 3: 3 In theMinutes of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, 404, is found the following:
"Azariah Dunham brought from the Continental Congress, their determination upon the application of this Congress for forces to be stationed in this Colony; which being read, is in the words following:
'Application being made to Congress, by the Convention of New Jersey, for two more battalions, and two companies of artillery to be raised in that Colony, and the same being referred to a Committee; on the report of the said Committee, the Congress did not agree to the raising any more battalions, or companies in that Colony.
Charles Thompson.'"
"March 1, 1776.]
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