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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 --TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1776
A petition from Daniel Duchemin, praying for a lieutenantcy in the company of Captain D. Arundol, being presented to Congress and referred to the delegates of Virginia, the said delegates brought in their report which was read: Agreed to as follows:
Resolved that the same be recommitted.1
[Note 1: 1 Action appears to have been taken upon this report, but it was set aside, and the matter recommitted.]
That Daniel Duchemin be appointed a lieutenant of the artillery company to be raised in Virginia in consideration of the scarcity of artillery officers in that colony; and that two months pay be advanced to him to carry him to Virginia.
A letter from General Washington, of the 24 March, with 5 papers enclosed, was laid before Congress and read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter with enclosures, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, I, folio 541. It is printed in theWritings of Washington, (Ford), III, 487.]
The committee appointed to prepare the form of a commission, and instructions to commanders of private ships of war, brought in the same, which were read.
The commission, being agreed to, is as follows:
COMMISSION
The delegates of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, &c. to all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: Know ye, that we have granted, and, by these presents, do grant license and authority tomariner, commander of thecalledof the burthen oftons, or thereabouts, belonging toofin the colony ofmountingcarriage guns, and navigated bymen, to fit
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out and set forth the saidin a warlike manner, and by and with the saidand the crew thereof, by force of arms, to attack, seize and take the ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain, or any of them, with their tackle, apparel, furniture, and ladings, on the high seas, or between high water and low water marks, and to bring the same to some convenient ports in the said colonies, in order that the courts which are or shall be there appointed to hear and determine causes, civil and maritime, may proceed, in due, form, to condemn the said captures, if they be adjudged lawful prize; the saidhaving given bond, with sufficient sureties, that nothing be done by the saidor any of the officers, mariners, or company thereof, contrary to, or inconsistent with the usages and customs of nations, and the instructions, a copy of which is herewith delivered to him. And we will and require all our officers whatsoever to give succour and assistance to the saidin the premises. This commission shall continue in force until the Congress shall issue orders to the contrary.
By order of the Congress.
Attest,
President.
The Congress then took into consideration the draught of instructions; and, after some time spent thereon,
Resolved, That it be recommitted, and that it be an instruction to the committee, to fill up the blanks in said instructions as they shall think best.
The committee appointed to prepare a letter of thanks to General Washington, and the troops under his command, brought in a draught, which being read, was agreed to:
Ordered, That it be transcribed, signed by the president, and forwarded.
Philadelphia,April 2d, 1776.
Sir,
It gives me the most sensible Pleasure to convey to you, by Order of Congress the only Tribute, which a free People will ever consent to Pay; the Tribute of Thanks and Gratitude to their Friends and Benefactors.
The disinterested and patriotic Principles which led you to the Field, have also led you to Glory: and it affords no little Consolation
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to your Countrymen to reflect, that, as a peculiar Greatness of Mind induced you to decline any Compensation for serving them, except the Pleasure of promoting their Happiness, they may, without your Permission, bestow upon you the largest Share of their Affections and Esteem.
Those Pages in the Annals of America, will record your Title to a conspicuous Place in the Temple of Fame, which shall inform Posterity, that under your Directions, an undisciplined Band of Husband-men, in the Course of a few Months, became Soldiers; and that the Desolation meditated against the Country, by a brave Army of Veterans, commanded by the most experienced Generals, but employ'd by bad Men in the worst of Causes, was, by the Fortitude of your Troops, and the Address of their officers, next to the kind Interposition of Providence, confined for near a Year, within such narrow Limits, as scarcely to admit more Room than was necessary for the Encampments and Fortifications, they lately abandoned.
Accept, therefore, Sir, the Thanks of the United Colonies, unanimously declared by their Delegates, to be due to you, and the brave Officers and Troops under your Command; and be pleased to communicate to them, this distinguished Mark of the Approbation of their Country.
The Congress have ordered a Golden Medal, adapted to the Occasion, to be struck, and when finished, to be presented to you.
I have the Honour to be, with every Sentiment of Esteem, Sir,
Your most obedt and very hble Sert
John Hancock,Presidt1
[Note 1: 1 From the original in theLetters to Washington, VIII, folio 283.]
The committee on prisoners, to whom the letter from M. Belestre, of the 16 of March last, was referred, brought in their report, which being read was agreed to as follows:
That M. Belestre, have the sum of three thousand and four hundred dollars advanced to him by the treasurers of the United Colonies, on his delivering to them his bills of exchange for the like sum, to be paid in gold or silver in the province of Canada.
A petition of William Lindsay being presented ∥to Congress and read,∥
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Resolved, That Colonel Wayne be directed to discharge Robert, the son of said William Lindsay, who is inlisted in his batallion.
∥The matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥1
[Note 1: 1 In thePennsylvania Archives, First Series, IV, 729, is a resolution of Congress which is not entered on the Journals. Some intelligence concerning Samuel Sample, of Pittsburg, was accompanied by the following:
"In Congress, April 2, 1776.
"Resolved, that the enclosed be delivered by Mr. [James] Wilson to the Comee of Safety of Pennsylvania, and request them to take such steps as they think best for the public Service."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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