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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, JANUARY 3, 1776
A letter from General Washington, dated 25 December, inclosing a letter from General Howe, and accompanied with sundry papers, was laid before Congress, and read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, I, folio 373.]
The Committee of Safety [for Pennsylvania,] having recommended sundry gentlemen for field officers of the four batallions ordered to be raised in Pensylvania, the
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Congress proceeded to the election ∥of colonels, and the ballots being taken and examined, the following gentlemen were chosen:∥
and Arthur St. Clair, Esq. was elected colonel of 2d batallion in Pa. John Shea, Esq. colonel of the 3d ditto. Anthony Wayne, Esq. colonel of the 4th ditto. Robert Magaw, Esq. colonel of the 5th ditto.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of recommendation is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 58, folio 317. The names given were: Anthony Wayne, Samuel John Atlee, John Shee, Arthur St. Clair, Daniel Broadhead, Robert Magaw, Lambert Cadwalader, and Francis Johnston.]
The Congress, taking into consideration the report of the Secret Committee,which was in part and thereupon came to the following resolutions.
Resolved, That the following goods and stores ought to be imported as soon as possible, for the use of the United Colonies, viz.
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Resolved, That the Secret Committee be empowered and directed to pursue the most effectual measures for importing the above articles.1
[Note 1: 1 SeeJournals, III, 453.]
Resolved, That the farther consideration of this report be postponed.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To Captain Edward Motte, for expences, &c. in conducting the prisoners taken at St. John's, from Kingston, in the colony of New York, to Lancaster, in the province of Pensylvania, a ballance of £137.17.9 being 367.7 dollars.
To Robert Erwin, wagon-master, for carriage of cloathing and medicines to Dobb's ferry and to Cambridge, £83.9.7 being 222.6 dollars.
Ordered, That the above be paid.
The Committee on the state of New York, brought in a farther report, which being taken into consideration, was agreed to as follows:
Whereas a majority of the inhabitants of Queen's County, in the colony of New York, being incapable of resolving to live and die freemen, and being more disposed to quit their liberties than part with the little proportion of their property necessary to defend them, have deserted the American cause, by refusing to send deputies as usual to the convention of that colony; and avowing by a public declaration, an unmanly design of remaining inactive spectators of the present contest, vainly flattering themselves, perhaps, that should Providence declare for our enemies, they may purchase their
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mercy and favor at an easy rate; and, on the other hand, if the war should terminate to the advantage of America, that then they may enjoy, without expence of blood or treasure, all the blessings resulting from that liberty, which they, in the day of trial, had abandoned, and in defence of which, many of their more virtuous neighhours and countrymen had nobly died:
And although the want of public spirit, observable in these men, rather excites pity than alarm, there being little danger to apprehend either from their prowess or example, yet it being reasonable, that those who refuse to defend their country, should be excluded from its protection, and be prevented from doing it injury:
Resolved, That all such persons in Queen's county, aforesaid, as voted against sending deputies to the present convention of New York, and named in a list of delinquents in Queen's county, published by the convention of New York, be put out of the protection of the United Colonies, and that all trade and intercourse with them cease; that none of the inhabitants of that county be permitted to travel or abide in any part of these United Colonies, out of their said county, without a certificate from the convention or committee of safety of the colony of New York, ∥setting forth,∥ that such inhabitant is a friend to the American cause, and not of the number of those who voted against sending deputies to the said convention; and that such of the said inhabitants as shall be found out of the said county, without such certificate, be apprehended and imprisoned three months.
Resolved, That no attorney or lawyer ought to commence, prosecute, or defend any action at law, of any kind, for any of the said inhabitants of Queen's county, who voted against sending deputies to the convention, as aforesaid; and such attorneys or lawyers as shall contravene
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this resolution, are enemies to the American cause, and ought to be treated accordingly.
Resolved, That the convention or committee of safety of the colony of New York be requested to continue publishing, for a month, in all their gazettes or news papers, the names of all such of the inhabitants of Queen's county, as voted against sending deputies; and to give certificates, in the manner before recommended, to such others of the said inhabitants, as are friends to American liberty.
And it is recommended to all conventions, committees of safety, and others, to be diligent in executing the above Resolutions.
Resolved, That Colonel Nathaniel Heard, of Woodbridge, in the colony of New Jersey, taking with him five or six hundred minute men, under discreet officers, do march to the western part of Queen's county, and that Colonel Waterbury, of Stanford, in the colony of Connecticut, with the like number of minute men, march to the eastern side of said county; that they confer together, and endeavour to enter the said county on the same day; that they proceed to disarm every person in the said county, who voted against sending deputies to the said convention, and cause them to deliver up their arms and ammunition on oath, and that they take and confine in safe custody, till further orders, all such as shall refuse compliance.
That they apprehend and secure, till further orders, the persons named as principal men among the disaffected in the said county, in a summons for their appearance before the convention of New York, issued the 12 of December last, viz.
Of Jamaica township, Captain Benjamin Whitehead, Charles Arden, Joseph French, Esqr. Johannes Polhemus.
Of Newtown, Nathaniel Moore, John Moore, Senr.
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Samuel Hallet, John Moore, Jun. William Weyman. John Shoals, Jeromus Rapalje.
Of Flushing, John Willet.
Of Hamstead, Justice Gilbert Van Wyck, Daniel Kissam, Esq. of Cow neck, Captain Jacob Mort, Thomas Cornell, of Rockaway, Gabriel G. Ludlow,1 Richard Hewlet, Captain Charles Hicks, Dr. [Samuel] Martin, Justice Samuel Clowes.
[Note 1: 1 In Force,American Archives, Fourth Series, IV, 406, this name is given Gabriel C. Ludlow.]
Of Oyster bay, Justice Thomas Smith, of hog island, Justice John Hewlet, Captain George Weeks, Dr. David Brooks, Justice John Townsend,
And all such other persons who shall be found in arms, or who shall oppose the carrying the above resolutions into effect, as they the said Colonel Heard or Colonel Waterbury may think prudent to detain.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the said Colonel Heard and Colonel Waterbury, to execute the business entrusted to them by the foregoing resolutions, with all possible despatch, secresy, order, and humanity.
Resolved, That the committee of safety of the colony of Pensylvania, be requested to furnish Colonel Heard with 200 lbs. of powder.
Resolved, That the sum of 500 dollars be forthwith transmitted, with certified copies of these resolutions, to each of them, the said Colonel Heard and Colonel Waterbury, and that they, on their return, report to this Congress, a true state of their expenditure and proceedings.
The committee of safety of Pensylvania, having recommended sundry gentlemen for lieutenant colonels of the four battalions ordered to be raised in said colony,
Resolved, That the same be taken into consideration to Morrow.
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A letter from the committee of Frederick, in Maryland, brought by the officer who had the charge of bringing down Connolly and his associate, was laid before Congress and read.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the committee of safety of Pensylvania, to carry into execution the resolution of Congress for confining said Connolly, and his associates, in the gaol of Philadelphia, and that they take their examinations.
Adjourned to 10 o'clock to Morrow.
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