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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 --SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1776
A letter, of the 6th, from General Washington, at Trenton, and, of the 21 to 25 November, from General Schuyler, at Saratoga, with sundry papers enclosed, ∥were read:∥ and referred to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, 323. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 69, That of Schuyler is in No. 153, II, folio 501.]
Resolved, That the Board of War be empowered and directed to exchange such of the Canadians as they think proper.
Resolved, That the president write to the four New England governments, and request them to use their utmost influence in raising their respective quotas of troops, and to hasten their march, with all possible diligence, to the places appointed for their rendezvous, by General Schuyler.
Resolved, That 100,000 dollars be advanced to the council of safety of Pensylvania, to be applied towards furnishing the several officers with bounty money for inlisting men on the new establishment; the said council to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 The resolution of the Council of Safety, making application for this amount, dated December 7, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 271.]
That Captain Biddle be empowered to inlist into the continental service, such of the sailors in prison as he shall think proper.
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The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due, and to be paid to the order of Allen M'Donald, Sen. Allen M'Donald, Jun. Alexander M'Donald, Rennel M'Donald, and Archibald M'Donald, hostages sent by General Schuyler to Reading, for the allowance due to themselves and their three servants, from 25 September to the 10 December, inclusive, 143 dollars:
That there should be advanced to Thomas Smith, for supplies to the troops of the 5th and 6th Virginia regiments, left sick at Wilmington, the sum of 677 25/90 dollars:
That there is due to Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Boyer, for furnishing his batallion of militia with 7,495 rations of provisions, on their march from Berks county to the camp in New Jersey, 739 45/90 dollars:
To Thomas Edwards, for victualling the 2d batallion of militia, of Lancaster county, commanded by Colonel Curtis Grubb, on their march to Bergen, in New Jersey, and for the hire of two baggage waggons, the sum of 1,319 61/90 dollars, to be paid to Philip Marsteller:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Resolved, That 1,000 dollars be advanced to the committee for procuring cannon for the public service; the said committee to account for the expenditure.
Resolved, That for the more speedy and effectual discharge of business, the following rules be invariably observed:
That Congress be opened every morning at 10 o'Clock, Sundays excepted:
That Mr. President take the chair precisely at that time.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the Indians were introduced, and the following speech was delivered to them:
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Brothers of the Six Nations, Delawares and Shawanese,
We, the delegates of the thirteen United States of America, are extremely pleased to see you. We take you by the hand, and bid you welcome to our great council fire.
Brothers,
You say that God Almighty has been pleased to bring us together. You say well. He superintends and governs men and their actions. He now sees us. He judges of the sincerity of our hearts, and will punish those who deceive.
Brothers, Sachems and Warriors,
You have heard what our commissioners have said to you at Pittsburg, by our directions. You have listened to their arguments; and your own reason will suggest, that the conduct they have recommended to you, must be productive of your happiness and welfare. We think that you must be fully convinced that your safety, as nations, depends on preserving peace and friendship with the white people of this island.
We are sorry to hear of the death of your great men, and are well pleased that our commissioners have wiped the tears from your eyes, and covered the graves of our departed friends.
Our hearts are good towards all the Indians in the woods, who have friendly dispositions towards us.
We love peace, and wish that the chain of friendship between us and you may contract no rust. On our part, we will do every thing to keep it bright and strong.
But should we be attacked by any tribe of Indians in the woods, we hope to convince them that we can repel their attempts with ease. Friendship, however, with you, is what we earnestly desire. Our commissioners have told you so, and they have not deceived you.
We now inform you, that we wish to sit down with you under the same tree of peace; to water its roots and cherish its growth, so that it may shelter us and you, and our and your children.
Brothers,
We have prepared some presents for you, which our commissioners will deliver before your departure.
The Indians, having returned thanks for the speech delivered, informed Congress that they had something to say on Monday next, ∥and withdrew.∥
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Resolved, That the council of safety of Pensylvania be desired to suspend the farther execution of the request made to them on the 2d, to procure one thousand waggons:
That the waggons procured, in consequence of the said request, be sent to the quarter master general.
Resolved, That Mr. Mease be directed to return to Mr. Levy, the goods he had from him, receiving back the money advanced on that account: the said goods being sent for by the state of New York, for whose account, ∥and by whose order,∥ they were purchased.
The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Brigadier General Thompson, for his pay for the months of October and November, 250 dollars:
To Lieutenant Ross Currie, of the second batallion of Pensylvania regular forces, for the ballance of his pay from March to November, inclusive, [£33 15 equal to] 90 dollars:
To Samuel M'Kenzie, surgeon to the 2d batallion of Pensylvania regular forces, for 4 months' pay, at 33 dollars per month, 132 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 5.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,2
[Note 2: 2 A letter from Governor Trumbull, dated November 30, was read this day. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 66, I, folio 239.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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