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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, APRIL 26, 1776
Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to settle and repay to the colony of Connecticut, the powder lent ∥by the said colony∥ to General Washington, for the use of the continent, and to do what in their judgment is best for the public Interest, and the benefit of Connecticut, in exchanging the powder which said colony has in the city of Philadelphia, ∥for powder in the eastern ports belonging to the continent.∥
Resolved, That the sum of 50,000 dollars be sent to the committee of safety of Virginia, and that the presidentaccompany it with a letter, write to the said committee, requesting them to use their utmost endeavours to have it exchanged into specie, and remit the same to the continental treasurers; and, in case they can procure more specie, that they send it, and draw for the amount on the pay master in Virginia, who is ordered to pay such draughts.
Resolved, That the sum of 250,000 dollars be sent to the pay master in Virginia, for the use of the continental troops, he to be accountable.
A letter from Dr. [Thomas] Cadwalader giving an
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account of Allan Cameron's state of health, was laid before Congress, and read:1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 33.]
Resolved, That the said A. Cameron be allowed the benefit of air in his room, and of walking an hour every morning in the yard, in company or presence of the gaoler, and that his uncle, Dr. M'Clean, from New York, who is now in Philadelphia, be allowed to converse with said Cameron in the presence of the gaoler.
Edmund Randolph, who was appointed ∥deputy∥ muster master ∥general∥ of the Southern department, having been chosen by the citizens of Williamsburg, to represent them in Convention, and an ordinance having been passed, excluding all persons holding any military post of profit from a seat therein, begged leave to resign his office:
Resolved, That the resignation of Mr. Randolph be accepted.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to take into consideration the state of the eastern department, and report thereon:
The members chosen, Mr. [Edward] Rutledge, Mr. [Thomas] Johnson, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. Benjamin] Harrison, and Mr. [James] Duane.
The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To Dr. Robert Johnson, for attendance on the 6th batallion, and for medicines, the sum of £19 18 6=53.1 dollars.
Ordered, That the said account be paid.
The committee, to whom the letters from General Washington of the 22 and 23, were referred, brought in their report, which was read: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the pay of the aids de camp of the commander in chief, be raised to forty dollars a month each.
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Resolved, That none of the troops already raised, be, for the present, disbanded for want of arms; and that the General apply to the convention, and committee of safety of New York, for such arms, as may have been collected under the resolve of Congress, for disarming non-associators and disaffected persons, or any other arms they can supply, and that they be delivered to the New York troops.
Resolved, That Mr. Baldwin, the assistant engineer, ordered to Canada, be allowed, in consideration of his merit, the pay and rank of lieutenant colonel on the continental establishment.
Resolved, That the respective governments from whence militias have come for the defence of the city of New York, be desired speedily to transmit to Congress, authenticated muster rolls, and accounts of monies due to such respective militias, in order to their being immediately settled and discharged.
Resolved, That this Congress approve the assistance given by the General to Commodore Hopkins.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be referred till to morrow.
Congress then took into consideration the report of the committee on the petition of Colonel James Easton: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the claims of the persons concerned in the surprize and reduction of the fortress of Ticonderoga, having already been submitted by Congress to the committee of Albany, the petitioner being referred to the said committee of Albany for a settlement of his demand on that account.
As from the testimonials produced by the petitioner, it appears--that he and his batallion behaved with great diligence, activity, and spirit in the successful enterprize
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against General Prescot, and the vessels and troops under his command, in the river Sorel, in which important service they were joined by Colonel Bedel and a part of his regiment--that to encourage the party employed in that important service, the late Major General Montgomery promised them all the public stores which should be taken in the vessels under General Prescot's command, excepting ammunition and provisions; And, as the petitioner alledges that no part of those stores was delivered, nor any composition made to the troops concerned in the acquisition; Therefore,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the general commanding in Canada, to appoint commissioners to estimate all the public stores taken with General Prescot, (except ammunition and provisions) and pay the value thereof among the officers and men employed in that service, in such proportions as the commissioners shall determine.
As the petitioner's account of monies received, and disbursements made by him for the use of his regiment, on which he claims a ballance, can, for want of proper vouchers and information here, only be adjusted in Canada, where the business was transacted,
Resolved, That the same be referred for settlement in such mode as the Commissioners from Congress, in that province, shall direct; But, as the petitioner is in want of money,
Resolved, That 200 dollars be advanced to him in part of his demand against the United Colonies.
With regard to the petitioner's request, that a court of enquiry may be called respecting the charge against him and Major Brown, for plundering the effects of the prisoners:--As Brigadier General Arnold in his letter of the 1st of February last alledges, that the petitioner and Major Brown had been publickly accused of plundering the officers'
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baggage, taken at Sorel, contrary to the articles of Capitulation, and to the great scandal of the American arms; for which reason, he declared it to be his opinion, that it would give great disgust to the army in general, if either of them should be promoted until these matters were cleared up; and, as the petitioner asserts his innocence, declaring that he neither plundered, nor directed, nor was privy to the plundering of any prisoner or other person whatever: considering, therefore, on the one hand, the aggravated nature of this charge, which is an impediment to the petitioner's promotion, and, on the other, the great confidence reposed in him by General Montgomery, and the essential service which the petitioner has rendered to his country:
Resolved, That the Commissioners from Congress, in Canada, be instructed to cause enquiry to be made by a court martial, or otherwise, into the charge against the petitioner, giving him an opportunity of making his defence; and that the proceedings thereon be transmitted to Congress, in order that Justice may be done to the petitioner, if he has been accused without sufficient reason.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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