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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, OCTOBER 31, 1776
A letter, of the 28 October, from Brigadier General Greene, was read,1 and referred to the committee of intelligence.
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 15.]
Resolved, That 2,000 dollars be advanced to Colonel Zebulon Butler, for the use of the two companies raised in the town of Westmoreland, he to be accountable:
That leave be granted to Zebulon Butler, Esqr., or his agent, to purchase 50 bushels of salt belonging to the Continent, for the use of the continental troops raised in Westmoreland.
A letter, of the 29, from Robert H[anson] Harrison, the General's secretary, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 Ibid., No. 152, III, folio 185.]
The committee appointed to make strict enquiry respecting some late despatches from head quarters, said to have been lost on Monday last at Bristol, reported,
That they have pursued every probable method, that might lead to a discovery of the said despatches, without effect; that they have strictly and carefully examined every person, who could be supposed to have any knowledge
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of the circumstances related by the express, charged with the said despatches, respecting his loss, but can discover no traces of the robbery or stealth; that the said express does not give so clear and satisfactory an account of this matter as fully to exculpate himself in the opinion of your committee, and therefore have brought him back in order to submit him to the farther examination of Congress; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Timothy Dod, who had charge of the despatches from General Washington, and alledges he lost them at Bristol, be committed to the custody of Mr. [R.] Jewell, keeper of the public prison, to be safely kept till farther orders of Congress:
That Mr. Jewell be directed to keep Timothy Dod in his own apartments and family, and not to permit any of the prisoners, nor any person, except those of his own family, to converse with him, till farther orders.
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to prepare an effectual plan for suppressing the internal enemies of America, and preventing a communication of intelligence to our other enemies.
The members chosen, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [George] Wythe, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. [James] Wilson, and Mr. [George] Ross.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to have the prisoners removed from Bristol, and the public post roads, to some convenient places back in the country:
That the said Board be directed to have a sufficient guard kept at the public prison, and over the continental stores in and near Philadelphia.
Whereas, it has been represented to Congress, that sundry inhabitants of these United States, to keep supplies from the army, or promote their own interest, have
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purchased considerable quantities of cloathing, and refuse to dispose of the same, unless upon extravagant or unreasonable terms;
Resolved, That it be recommended to the assemblies, conventions, councils or committees of safety of the several states, forthwith to take suitable measures for obtaining, for the use of the army, such necessary articles, as being thus engrossed in their respective states, cannot be otherwise immediately procured, allowing to the owners reasonable prices for the same; and that laws be provided in each of the states, for effectually preventing monopolies of necessaries for the army, or inhabitants of the same.1
[Note 1: 1 Printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 6 November 1776.]
Ordered, That the committee on the post office to whom Mr. Bache's letter was referred, report, as soon as possible, ways and means of establishing expresses, and conveying intelligence to and from the army, with safety and despatch.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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