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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 --TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1776

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1776

Benjamin Harrison, Esqr. a delegate from Virginia, attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read as follows:

In the House of Delegates, Thursday, Oct. 10, 1776.

Virginia. Sct.

The House, according to the Order of the Day, proceeded, by Ballot, to the Appointment of a Delegate to represent this State in General Congress, in the Room of Thomas Jefferson, Esqr. and the Members having prepared Tickets for the person to be appointed, and put the same into the Ballot Box, Mr. Treasurer, Mr. Braxton, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Starke and Mr. Richard Cary, were appointed a Committee to meet a Committee to be appointed by the Senate, and jointly with

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them to examine the Ballot Boxes, and report to the House, upon whom the Majority fell.

Ordered, That Mr. Treasurer do acquaint the Senate therewith.

The Committee then withdrew, and after sometime returned into the House, and reported, that they had met a Committee from the Senate in the Conference Room, and had, jointly with them, examined the Ballot Boxes, and that the Numbers appeared as follows: For Benjamin Harrison, Esqr. 69--Meriwether Smith, Esqr. 5.

Resolved, therefore, That the said Benjamin Harrison be appointed a Delegate to represent this State in General Congress.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Thanks of this House are justly due to the said Benjamin Harrison, for the Diligence, Ability and Integrity, with which he executed the important Trust reposed in him as one of the Delegates from this Country to the General Congress.

A Copy:John Tazewell, Clerk of the House of Delegates.¹

[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Virginia, Credentials of Delegates.]

Resolved, That Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison be added to the Board of War, and that he be continued in all those standing committees, of which he was a member, when he left Congress.

A letter from R. H. Harrison, of the 31 October, was read.

The Board of Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That all accounts for services done, or articles supplied the northern army, be presented to the commissioners ∥for settling accounts,∥ and so much thereof as is approved by them, and confirmed by the general, be paid by his warrants on the pay master, after the commissioners have certified thereon, that the accounts and vouchers are returned to them by the persons receiving such warrants:

That all warrants of the general on the pay master for services to be performed, or articles to be supplied, be sent by the pay master to the office, and entered in the

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books of the commissioners; after which, the said commissioners shall, as soon as they shall judge expedient, call to account the persons receiving such advances; and having settled the said accounts, they shall be filed in their office:

That where any balance appears to be due to the United States, from persons whose accounts are adjusted as aforesaid, they shall be received by the commissioners, and delivered to the pay master, whose receipts therefore shall be transmitted to the Treasury:

That the commissioners be empowered to administer oaths or affirmations to persons examined by them in the execution of their office.

That the general's and pay master's accounts be sent to the treasury office by the commissioners, together with the pay rolls and accounts discharged by the same, upon their adjusting the accounts of the northern army to the end of the present campaign.

Resolved, That the commissioners appointed to settle the accounts of the army near New York, be directed to govern their conduct agreeable to the foregoing resolutions.

Resolved, That the following instructions be given to the commissioners of the northern army:

• 1. That, in adjusting the accounts of persons, whose particular circumstances may have rendered them unable to procure vouchers, or that, on the retreat of the army, have lost the same, the commissioners endeavour to obtain the best information from the general officers, or other persons in that department, and use a discretionary power in administering oaths or affirmations for this purpose.
• 2. That there not having been a muster in the northern army during the last and present campaign, the commissioners are particularly to attend to the pay rolls

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  that shall be produced as vouchers by the pay master, and should any frauds appear, to report them to the general, that the same may be thoroughly investigated.

• 3. That in other instances, the commissioners are not to interfere in the muster or pay rolls, unless, in particular cases, it shall be judged expedient by the general and themselves.
• 4. That the commissioners are not to concern themselves in disputes about back rations or allowances for vegetables said to be due to some officers and soldiers, but are to leave them with the commissary, whose business it is to regulate such disputes.
• 5. That where any person has done the duty of a deputy or assistant commissary, by desire of a general officer, or the commissary or deputy commissary generals, he be allowed for his services, although he has not received a commission for that purpose.
• 6. That demands for defending the frontiers of any of the states, if on account of troops not raised by order of Congress, are not to be considered by the commissioners.
• 7. That the commissioners certify to the general the accounts to be paid in specie, that if the military chest is supplied, the general may issue his warrant accordingly.
• 8. That the commissioners send to the state of New Jersey, and to the states eastward thereof, for their accounts against the northern army, if such accounts are not forwarded agreeable to a circular letter from the Treasury to the said states.

Resolved, That similar instructions be given to the Commissioners appointed to audit and settle the accounts of the army near New York.

Resolved, That the president write to Governor Livingston, and request him to send two companies of militia to guard the salt works near Tom's river, and one company

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to be stationed at or near Shrewsbury, to intercept and put a stop to the intelligence said to be carrying on between the tories and Lord Howe's fleet; that the companies consist of fifty men each.

A petition from Joseph Traverses was presented to Congress, and read; Whereupon,

Resolved, That an order for one hundred dollars be drawn on the Treasurer in favor of the said Joseph Traverses; to be accounted for by him on the settlement and payment of his accounts.

The committee to whom the letter from Richard Bache, Esqr. comptroller of the post office, was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,

Resolved, That for obtaining early and frequent intelligence from the camps at White Plains and Ticonderoga, or such other places as the armies now, or lately there, may march, or have marched to, and forwarding despatches to the commanding officers with the like expedition, the post master general do immediately employ so many more riders, between Philadelphia and head quarters of these armies, as he shall judge will most effectually perform that very important, and, at this time more especially, necessary service; and that he endeavour, to the utmost of his power, to procure sober, diligent, and trusty persons to undertake it; and guard, in the best manner he is able, against robberies of the mails, or losses of their contents otherwise:

That all ferry keepers be enjoined, as much as they are able, to expedite the passage of post riders and other persons charged with letters, despatches, or messages, from and to Congress; and that it be recommended to the several legislatures of the United States, to enforce the observance of this resolution:

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That expresses and special messengers, employed in the public service, taking and carrying private letters or packets, ought not to receive the wages they would otherwise be entitled to:¹

[Note 1: 1 The last two paragraphs were printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 13 November, 1776.]

That the deputy post master at head quarters be allowed four rations, every day, out of the public stores there, for the subsistence of himself, and his riders, and servant.

Congress took into consideration the case of the Chevalier Roche de Fermoy: Whereupon,

Resolved, That the Chevalier Mathieu Alexis Roche de Fermoy, be appointed a brigadier general in the army of the United States.

The committee to whom were referred the petition and accounts of Benjamin Eyre, brought in a report, which was read:

Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.

A petition from Jeremiah Cady was presented to Congress, and read:

Resolved, That it be referred to the commissioners appointed to audit and settle the accounts in the northern army, who are directed to report specially thereon.

Certain resolutions from the convention of the state of New York were laid before Congress, and read:

Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:

The members chosen, Mr. [Francis] Hopkinson, Mr. [William] Whipple, and Mr. [John] Hart.

The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,

Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.

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