| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1776
A memorial from the committee of inspection and observation of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, was presented to Congress, and read:
Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Joseph] Hewes, Mr. [James] Duane, and Mr. [Robert] Alexander.
Mr. R[obert] Morris reported, that in pursuance of the order of Congress, he has purchased and delivered to Mr. James Price, Bills of exchange to the amount of 3,000 pounds sterling, for which he produced Mr. Price's receipt.
Resolved, That an order for 14,800 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of Mr. R[obert] Morris, in full for the above bills of exchange.
Resolved, That the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Price, be directed to draw up instructions, for the government of Mr. Price in disposing and laying out the money put into his hands.
Resolved, That Mr. Trumbull, the commissary general, be directed to provide and forward to General Schuyler, 2,000 barrels of pork, with all possible despatch, for the use of the continental Army in Canada, and that the said commissary be supplied with a sum not exceeding 20,000 dollars for that purpose, he to be accountable for the same.
Page 304 | Page image
Resolved, That Mr. [John] Alsop, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, and Mr. [Francis] Lewis be directed to purchase and forward, with all convenient despatch, to General Schuyler, for the use of the continental Army in Canada, 10,000 pair of shoes, and 10,000 pair of stockings; and that 15,000 dollars be advanced to them for those purposes, they to be accountable.
Resolved, That a letter be written to General Schuyler, informing him of the 10 additional batallions lately ordered for Canada, of the 4,000 ∥2,000∥ barrels of pork, and the 10,000 pair of shoes, and 10,000 pair of stockings, ordered by Congress to be sent to him; and desiring him to pursue the best means for furnishing such other necessary articles of cloathing and food as maybe wanting for the continental Army in Canada, having regard to such of these as Mr. Price, the commissary in that province, can supply there: Also, that General Schuyler be desired to inform the president, what quantity of gun powder he has received for Canada since the first of January last, and that he continue, as hitherto, to give the earliest notice to Congress of the occasion for further supplies of this and other necessaries that may be wanting, and not in his power to procure.
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to forward from Mr. Wisner's and Mr. Livingston's powder mills, five tons of powder, to General Schuyler, to be by him forwarded to Canada.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To John Gibson, agent appointed by the commissioners for Indian affairs, for sundry services in the middle department, by order of the commissioners, the sum of £141 14=377.9 dollars:
To John Davis, for waggonage for the 6th [Pennsylvania] batallion, the sum of £22 10=60 dollars:
Page 305 | Page image
To Furman and Hunt, for provisions, &c. for the prisoners at Trenton, the sum of £68 18 8=183.8 dollars:
To Duncan M'Donald, the sum of £5 18 5=15.8 dollars, of which sum, £5 1 11 [=13.6 dollars] ought to be charged to Captain Hendrick's company, and the sum of 16/6 [=2.2 dollars] ought to be charged to Captain Cluggage's company, for goods furnished to the said companies; and that the same ought to be paid to Ephraim Blaine, Esqr.
To Margaret Smith, for nursing two men in the small pox, belonging to Captain Benezet's company, the sum of £9=24 dollars.
Ordered, That the above be paid.
The Congress or Convention of South Carolina having appointed delegates to represent that colony in Congress, the credentials of their appointment were presented to Congress, and read, as follows:
In Congress,
Charles-Town, South Carolina,
16th February, 1776.
Resolved, That Thomas Lynch, John Rutledge, Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward, Junr Esqrs. be, and they are hereby appointed and fully authorized, to represent this Colony in the Continental Congress, for one Year next ensuing.
27 February, 1776.
Resolved, That Edward Rutledge, Esquire, one of the Delegates from this Colony to the Continental Congress, have Leave to return.
True Copies from the Minutes
Peter Timothy,Secry.
South Carolina,
In Congress,
Charles-Town 23d March, 1776.
Resolved, That the Delegates of this Colony in the Continental Congress, or a Majority of such of them as shall at any Time be present in the said Congress, or any one of the said Delegates, if no more than
Page 306 | Page image
one shall be present, be, and they and he are, and is, hereby authorized and empowered, for and in Behalf of this Colony, to concert, agree to, and execute every Measure, which they or he, together with a Majority of the Continental Congress, shall judge necessary for the Defence, Security, Interest, or Welfare of this Colony in particular, and of America in general.
Resolved, That another Delegate be forthwith chosen by Ballot by this Congress, to represent this Colony in the Continental Congress, in Addition to, and with as full Powers, in all Respects, as the Delegates already chosen, have, and are invested with.
The Congress then proceeded to ballot for the said Delegate,
And Thomas Lynch, Junr Esqr appearing to be, and being declared, duly chosen,
Resolved, That Thomas Lynch, Jun. Esqr be, and he is hereby, appointed a Sixth Delegate from this Colony, to represent the same in the Continental Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 "Mr. John Rutledge acquainted the Congress that it was with the utmost concern he found himself obliged to request that they would dispense with his attendance in the Continental Congress in future; that he had many weighty reasons which rendered his request proper; but above all, that, as the American dispute was now agitated by arms, he was certain he could be of more service to his country, and the common cause at home than abroad; and that, therefore, he earnestly desired they would grant his request. He also acquainted the Congress that his brother (Edward Rutledge, Esquire) from very urgent motives, requested to be recalled." 15 February, 1776.
"The Honourable Arthur Middleton arose, declared his sensibility of, and thankfulness for, the honour that had been conferred upon him, in his appointment as a Delegate from this Colony to the Continental Congress; and that no man had better wishes, or would go greater lengths to serve his country, than himself; but that, as the infirmities of age which were creeping on, deprived him of the ability of rendering so much service to the publick as in his earlier days he might have done; so he requested that the Congress would not again appoint him as a Delegate to the Continental Congress, in the choice now to be made." Minutes of Proceedings, South Carolina Provincial Congress, 16 February, 1776. Force,American Archives, Fourth Series, V, 572.]
A true Copy,
Peter Timothy,Secretary.
N. B. The other five Delegates are Thos Lynch, Sen., John Rutledge, Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton and Thos Heyward, Junr
C. C. P.2
[Note 2: 2 This is a note by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. The original is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina,Credentials of Delegates.]
Page 307 | Page image
The Congress resolved themselves into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration that part of the letter of General Washington of the 27 of March last, relative to Nova Scotia, and the petition from some inhabitants of that colony; and after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison reported, the committee had taken into consideration the matter referred to them, but not having time to go through the same, desired him to move for leave to sit again.
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 27 of March last, and the petition from the inhabitants of Nova Scotia.
The other matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |