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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 --MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1776
The Honorable Matthew Thornton, esq. a delegate from New Hampshire, attended, and produced his credentials, which were read as follows:
State of New Hampshire,
In the House of Representatives, Septemr. 12th, 1776.
Voted, That the Honble Matthew Thornton, Esqr. be, and hereby is, appointed a Delegate to represent this State at the Continental Congress, for one Year next ensuing.
Sent up for concurrence.
P. White, Speaker.
In Council, Eodem Die, Read and concurred:
E. Thompson, Secretary.
A Copy, Examined by
E. Thompson, Secretary.
Two letters, of the 25 October and 1 November, from R. H. Harrison, General Washington's secretary; one from R. Stockton and G. Clymer, of the 26th October; one from General Schuyler, dated Saratoga, 23 October, were laid before Congress, and read, and referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of the 19 October, from G. Mason, chairman of ∥the committee of∥ Fairfax county, in Virginia, enclosing a resolution of the council of Virginia, was read and referred to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 These letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folios 181 and 193. Schuyler's letter is in No. 153, II, folio 463. That of Stockton and Clymer, written from Saratoga, is in No. 78, XX, folio 69. That of Mason is in No. 71, I, folio 67.]
Whereas it is manifest, that unless effectual measures are immediately taken for re-inlisting the army, the safety of the states may be greatly endangered;
Resolved, That the president be desired to write to the commander in chief and inform him that if, upon receipt of this resolution, commissioners from the respective
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states, for the purpose of appointing officers, shall not have arrived, he is then, after consulting and advising with such of his generals as he can conveniently call together, immediately to grant warrants to such of the officers from the respective states, who have not commissioners present authorized as aforesaid, as he shall think deserving of commissions:
That the officers so to be appointed proceed with the utmost expedition, to recruit their regiments to their full complement:
That commissions be sent to General Washington as soon as possible, to be given to such officers as he shall appoint by warrant, in consequence of the foregoing resolution:
That the commander in chief be desired to take such steps as he shall think most proper for continuing the militia now in camp.
That, for this purpose, he write to such of the state as now have militia in the government of New York, requesting their assistance in this business; and that he farther be desired to apply to the neighbouring states for such additional aid as he may require;
That a letter to the same import be written to General Schuyler.
The committee, to whom the letter from Thomas Cushing was referred, brought in a report, which was read.
It being represented that some of the marines in the barracks are sick,
Resolved, That Doctr. Rush be desired to take them under his care, and see them properly provided for.
Resolved, That Mr. [William] Hooper be added to the committee to whom Mr. Bache's letter was referred, and that the said committee be directed to meet on the business this evening at this place.
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Resolved, That the waggon master general be directed to take charge of the horses belonging to the Continent, and prepare them for service, as soon as possible.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.1
[Note 1: 1 A letter, dated Pittsburgh, September 25, 1776, from the Commissioners for Indian Affairs in the Middle Department [Thomas Walker, John Harvie, John Montgomery and J. Yeates], is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIII, folio 305. With it is a report made upon it by the standing Committee on Indian Affairs. This report is in the writing of George Wythe, but contains no note of its submission to Congress or of any action taken. The letter from the Commissioners has a note: "Report made 4 [?] Novr." Although I am uncertain of the date, the report is here given:
"The committee for indian affairs have considered a letter, addressed to them from the commissioners for indian affairs in the middle department, dated at Pittsburg, the twenty first day of September last, and have come to the following resolution thereupon, viz.
"Resolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, that the commissioners for indian affairs in the middle department, from the intelligence communicated to them of the motions and preparations of some tribes of indians, and from the dispositions of others well known to be hostile, had cause to apprehend that an attack upon Pittsburg, or incursions into some parts of Virginia or Pennsylvania, would be made by those savages; and therefore acted prudently in calling in forces for protection and defense."]
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