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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, DECEMBER 3, 1776
A letter, of the 2d, from General Washington; one, of the 2d, from Adjutant General Reed, and one from Mr. J. Mease, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folio 295. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 63. That of Reed is in No. 78, XIX, folio 67.]
Resolved, That 50,000 dollars be advanced to J. Mease, for the public service; he to be accountable:
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That 2,000 dollars be advanced to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Antil, for the purpose of recruiting his regiment; he to be accountable:
That 14,800 dollars be advanced to Major Charles Symmes, for the use of the 12th Virginia batallion; he to be accountable.
Mr. [Abraham] Clark, a delegate from the state of New Jersey, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read as follows:
NEW JERSEY
At a Joint Meeting of the Council and Assembly of the State of New Jersey, held at Burlington, on the 30th Day of November, 1776.
The Honourable Nathaniel Scudder in the Chair.
The joint Meeting proceeded by Ballot to the Election of five Delegates to represent this State in Congress, to serve for one Year, unless a new Appointment shall be made before the Expiration of that Time; and the following Persons were duly elected, viz.: The Honourable Richard Stockton, Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant, Esqr., Dr. John Witherspoon, Abraham Clark, Esqr. Jonathan Elmer, Esqr.
Resolved, That any one or more of the said Delegates, who shall attend in Congress, be fully empowered to represent, and vote in Behalf of this State.
Resolved, That the said Delegates, or such of them as have not already taken the Oaths of Abjuration and Allegiance mentioned in the Act of Assembly lately passed, intituled "An Act for the Security of the Government of New Jersey," do take the said Oaths before they take their Seats in Congress.
Signed by Order of the Council and Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
Charles Pettit, Secretary.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New Jersey, Credentials of Delegates.]
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to have the prisoners, now at Bristol, removed from thence back into the country.
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Resolved, That Mrs. Chamier be permitted to go to her husband at New York, to be exchanged for Mrs. Lewis, at Flushing, on Long Island.
Resolved, That Mr. Mease be empowered and directed to settle with and pay the militia of the Maryland flying camp.
That the commissary of provisions in Philadelphia supply with rations, in lieu of mileage, such of the Maryland troops as chuse to go home:
That such of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the said troops as will inlist for three years, be immediately cloathed; and that Mr. Mease be directed to detain as many of the cloaths, in his hands, as will be necessary for this purpose:
That each of the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Maryland militia, who will not inlist for three years, but will engage to march to the immediate reinforcement of General Washington, and remain under his command one month, be supplied by Mr. Mease with a shirt, a pair of shoes, and a pair of stockings, on paying for the same:
That such of the militia as shall engage to serve to the 10th of March next, unless sooner discharged by Congress, be entitled to a pair of shoes and stockings, and to the same rations and the same monthly pay with the other troops on the continental establishment, to commence from the time of their enrolment; and that one months' pay be advanced to each volunteer, upon his enrolment.
Resolved, That to Morrow be assigned for giving the Indians in town an audience; and that the committee for Indian affairs be directed to prepare a proper speech to be delivered to them.
That the officers of the Maryland troops be requested immediately to parade those troops, and to use their utmost
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influence to persuade their adoption of the terms proposed by Congress.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed, in case he has not entered into a negotiation with General Howe, for exchanging Governor Franklin for General Thompson, to suspend the execution of that matter till farther orders.1
[Note 1: 1 "The Congress apprehending that in the present state of the Army, and situation of our affairs, an exchange of Governor Franklin might be prejudicial and attended with some bad consequences, have been induced to come to the above resolution." John Hancock to Washington, 4 December, 1776.]
A petition from William Dod was read, praying for leave to visit his brother, who is confined in prison:
Resolved, That the petitioner have leave to visit and converse with his brother in the presence of the gaoler.
Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned for taking into consideration the state of the Treasury.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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