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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, JULY 24, 1776
A letter from Lieutenant Colonel William Allen was laid before Congress, and read, praying leave to resign his commission:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 15.]
Resolved, That leave be granted.
The Marine Committee having recommended Benjamin Thompson to be a lieutenant of marines in Captain Palmes's company,
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Resolved, That he be accepted, and that a commission be granted to him accordingly.
Resolved, That the committee appointed to revise the Journal, be empowered to employ a proper person to make an index to the Journal.
The Board of Treasury reported, that the pay of Brigadier General Wooster, commencing the 22d day of June, 1775, and calculated to the 22d day of July, 1776, thirteen months, at 125 dollars per month, amounts 1625 dollars; out of which is to be deducted one hundred and seventy-three dollars and 24/72 parts of a dollar, paid him by John Winslow, Esqr. the pay master; the residue due to the general is 1451 48/72 dollars:
Ordered, That the same be paid.
Resolved, That the sum of one hundred dollars be advanced to Captain Robert Johnson, to be deducted out of his pay on the settlement of his account.
A petition from George Kitts was presented to Congress and read:
Resolved, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to prepare a resolution for confiscating the property of the subjects of the crown of Great Britain; and thereupon, came to the following resolution:
Whereas these United States have by a long series of oppressions, been driven into a war with Great Britain and at last to the necessity of declaring themselves free and independent States; and as it is impossible to distinguish among the subjects of the same sovereign, between those who are friends and such as are enemies to the rights of America and Mankind, it is become necessary to consider as enemies all the subjects of the King of Great Britain and all others, who aid, abet adhere to or
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in any way assist him in his unjust and cruel designs against these states; Therefore,1
[Note 1: 1 "The preamble to the resolutions for confiscating the property of the subjects of the King of Great Britain having been this day expunged, and the resolution altered, agreeable to the one now enclosed you, I am to request you will please to erase that from the resolves I enclosed you a few days past, and substitute the one I now transmit in its place."John Hancock to Washington, 26 July, 1776.
The text of the resolve in the Manuscript Journals is the amended form. From the Washington Papers,Letters to Washington, LXXXIX, the original form is obtained, as follows:
"Resolved, That all the resolutions of this Congress passed on the twenty third day of March last and on the third day of April last relating to ships and other vessels, their tackle, apparel and furniture and all goods wares and merchandizes belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of great Britain taken on the high seas or between high and low water mark be extended to all ships and other vessels, their tackle, apparel and furniture and all goods, wares and merchandizes belonging to any subject or subjects of the said King, except the inhabitants of the Bermudas and Providence or to any other person or persons, who adhere to him or in any wise aid or abet him in his unjust war against these states."]
Resolved, That all the resolutions of this Congress, passed on the twenty third day of March last, and on the third day of April last, relating to ships and other vessels, their tackle, apparel and furniture, and all goods, wares and merchandises, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Great Britain, taken on the high seas, or between high and low water mark, be extended to all ships and other vessels, their tackle, apparel and furniture, and all goods, wares and merchandises, belonging to any subject or subjects of the King of Great Britain, except the inhabitants of the Bermudas, and Providence or Bahama islands;or to any other person or persons who adhere to him or in any wise aid or abet him in his unjust war against these states.2
[Note 2: 2 Printed in thePennsylvania Evening Post, 27 July, 1776.]
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the regiment of rangers, now in the pay of the state of South Carolina, be placed upon continental
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establishment, and that it consist of a lieutenant colonel commandant, a major, 10 captains, 20 lieutenants, a surgeon, a pay master, 20 serjeants and five hundred privates:
That the pay of the lieutenant colonel commandant of rangers, be the same as colonel of foot; the major, that of a lieutenant colonel; a captain, that of major; and the lieutenants that of captains; and serjeants that of ensigns of foot of the continental forces: That the surgeon be allowed 33 1/3 dollars a month; the pay master 26 2/3ds; and the privates 12 ½ dollars per month, to provide themselves with horses, guns, and provisions, for themselves and horses:
That the said rangers be liable to act on horseback, or foot, as occasion may require:
That the like number of rangers be raised in the state of Georgia, and put upon continental establishment:
That these be entitled to the same pay, and subject to the same duties, as the Carolina rangers:
That the rangers, raised in the state of South Carolina, be subject to the articles formed by the convention of that state, for the government of the forces raised therein.
Resolved, That Colonel Knox's plan for raising another batallion of artillery, be approved, and carried into execution, as soon as possible:
That General Washington be desired to recommend proper officers to compose this corps.
Resolved, That General Washington be empowered to agree to the exchange of Governor Skene for Mr. [James] Lovell:
That General Washington be authorized to take into continental pay, the horse proposed by Mr. Lary, [John Leary, jr.] upon the terms by him mentioned.
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On motion,Resolved, That the report of the committee on gold and silver coins be recommitted:
That Mr. Jefferson be added to said committee.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration, and report their opinion, on the proposal made by the president of South Carolina, and communicated to the house by a delegate of that state, respecting General Lee:
The members chosen, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. E[dward] Rutledge and Mr. [Lyman] Hall.
Agreeable to order, the Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration, the articles of Confederation; and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison reported, that the committee have made farther progress in the matter referred to them; but, not having finished, desire him to move for leave to sit again:
Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, again resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into their farther consideration, the articles of confederation.
Sundry letters were laid before Congress, and read:
1 from General Washington, of the 23, with sundry papers enclosed, among which a letter from Mr. Fraesh to Lord Sterling; also,
One from the council of safety of North Carolina1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 275. That of the council of North Carolina is in No. 72, folio 17.]
Resolved, That the letter from Mr. Fraesh, to Lord Sterling, be referred to the committee [appointed to contract] for casting cannon;
That the General's letter, with the other papers enclosed, be referred to the Board of War.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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