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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 --THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1776
Sundry letters were received and read:
One of the 9th, from the convention of New Jersey:
Referred to the Board of War, who are desired to report thereon as soon as possible.
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One of the 9th, from the committee of Easton:
Three from officers, prisoners, desiring leave to come to Philadelphia.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter from the Convention [Provincial Congress] of New Jersey is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 183. That from the Committee of Easton is in No. 69, I, folio 169.]
Resolved, That Mr. T. Matlack be directed to deliver to Deputy Quarter Master General Biddle, such of the continental stores, in his possession, as may be necessary and wanting for the flying camp.
The General having recommended the following gentlemen to be officers of the two remaining riffle companies of Colonel Stevenson's batallion at New York, viz.
Resolved, That they be accepted, and commissions be granted to them accordingly.
Resolved, That an order for 2131/3 dollars, be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of the delegates of Maryland, for defraying the expences of transporting powder to Maryland; they to be accountable.
Three petitions, one from Major Melchior, another from John Doyle, and the third from Mr. B[enjamin] Flower, were presented to Congress, and read:2
[Note 2: 2 The petition of Isaac Melchior, dated Philadelphia, July 10, 1776, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, V, folio 1. That of Benjamin Flower is in No. 42, III, folio 5.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A petition from John Cox was presented to Congress and read: Whereupon,
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Resolved, That the Secret Committee be directed to sell Mr. Cox half a ton of powder, for the use of the private vessel of war by him fitted out.
A petition from Coxe, and Furman, and others, was presented to Congress, and read, together with a memorial from the committee of inspection [and observation] for the city and liberties of Philadelphia, recommending their case to the notice of Congress; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the petitioners have leave to dispose of the goods mentioned in their petition.
A letter of the 10, from General Washington, and five letters from Governor Trumbull, of the 5th and 6th, were laid before Congress, and read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 189. It is printed inWritings of Washington (Ford), IV, 224. Those of Governor Trumbull are in No. 66, I, folios 193 to 209.]
The Board of War, to whom the letter from the convention of New Jersey was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a letter be written to the convention of New Jersey, informing them,--that, as they have not enclosed to Congress, copies of General Washington's and Brigadier General Livingston's letters, no judgment can be formed by Congress, concerning the contents of them, until copies are sent;--that measures are taking in Pensylvania and Maryland, for forming the flying camp;--that, in the mean while, the associated militia are marching, in great numbers, from Pensylvania, for the defence of New Jersey; that ammunition has been, and will be, supplied by this Congress, for the defence of New Jersey;--that, with regard to the pay of the militia, Congress will observe the same rule of conduct towards New Jersey, as towards other colonies:
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report from the standing committee for indian affairs, and, thereupon, came to the following resolutions:
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The Congress are so fully persuaded of the necessity of protecting the frontiers of New York from the incursions of the enemy, that they recommend that business to General Schuyler's immediate attention and direct that if the situation of affairs will admit of it, he take proper steps for erecting a fort at Oswego and building gallies on Lake Ontario, and pursue such other measures as may be best fitted to answer the views of Congress.
That posts be taken and forts erected at Presque isle, Le Beuf, and Kittanning, and a batallion be raised to erect and garrison the same.
That the commissioners of Indian affairs in the middle department be directed to inquire what naval force on Lake Erie will be necessary to secure to the United States the command of the navigation of that lake and to report the result of their inquiry as soon as possible to Congress.
That it be notified to the convention of Virginia, that the Congress are willing to take into continental possession, the forts at the mouths of Wheeling and the Great Kanhaway, and the fort at Pittsburg, now in possession of that colony; and also to receive, on the continental establishment, the garrisons in these forts, if the said convention shall desire it.
The Marine Committee in pursuance of the order of Congress, reported that they have called before them, divers of the inferior officers, belonging to the shipsAlfred andColumbus, and having heard their complaints against the Captains, Saltonstal and Whipple, in their presence, are of opinion, that the charge against Captain Saltonstal does not appear to the committee to be well founded, and that the charge against Captain Whipple amounts to nothing more than a rough, indelicate mode of behaviour to his marine officers; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed to order the Captains, Saltonstal and Whipple, to repair to their respective commands; and that it be recommended to Captain Whipple to cultivate harmony with his officers.1
[Note 1: 1 Printed in thePennsylvania Gazette, 24 July, 1776.]
Dr. [Benjamin] Franklin, one of the commissioners to Canada, laid before Congress an account of his expenditures:
Resolved, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The president acquainted Congress, that last evening, information was given to him, of a conspiracy or plot carrying on for liberating the prisoners &c. ∥in the gaol of Philadelphia, and other evil designs;∥ Whereupon,
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed, and that they, together with the president, be directed to make strict enquiry into the truth of the matter; and, if they find the information well grounded, to take such steps as they shall judge prudent and effectual, for defeating the machinations of the conspirators; and, in case of necessity, to call upon the brigadier general, or commanding officer of the associators, for the aid of the military:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [Richard] Stockton, Mr. [Button] Gwinnett, Mr. [Robert] Morris, and Mr. [James] Wilson.
A letter from Mr. Mease was laid before Congress and read;
Resolved, That an order for 40,000 dollars be drawn on the treasurers, in favour of Mr. Mease, to enable him to advance a month's pay to the military associators of Pensylvania, ordered into New Jersey, and to those who engage to form the flying camp; he to be accountable.
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The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due,
To Thomas Amor, for boarding General Lee's guard the sum of £12 16 10=34 22/90 dollars:
To Colonel Nelson, for expences of an express, the sum of £1 17 0=4 84/90 dollars:
To Caspar Miller, for provisions, &c. for General Lee's guard, the sum of £12 9 9=33 27/90 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 The report (Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 3) added, "that the same ought to be paid to Miles and Wister, of this city."]
To Thomas Dundas for riffles supplied Colonel Irwine's batallion, the sum of £117 14=313 78/90 dollars and that the same be charged to said batallion:
To Joseph Hewes, Esqr. for expences paid for the carriage, guard, &c. of gun powder, to North Carolina, the sum of £247 12 10=660 34/90 dollars:
To Timothy Matlack, on account, 200 dollars:
To William Trickett, for stationary, the sum of £76 14 3=204 51/90 dollars:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The committee, to whom the letter from John Macpherson, of the 31 of May, was referred, brought in their report, as follows:
That they had examined Mr. Macpherson, respecting the contents of his letter, who alleged, that he had a promise of being appointed commander in chief of the American navy, by Messrs. Randolph, Hopkins and J. Rutledge, a committee of Congress to whom he communicated an important secret; but that he produced no evidence in support of such allegation; that they enquired of Mr. Hopkins about this promise, in the presence of Mr. Macpherson, and that Mr. Hopkins declared he recollected nothing of the kind:2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 In the original report the following sentence appears at this point: "and Mr. Randolph being since dead, and Mr. Rutledge now absent, your committee have it not in their power to make any farther report in the premises." It was stricken out.]
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Resolved, That the application and request of Mr. Macpherson is unreasonable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 53.]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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