| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1777
A letter, of the 12, and one, of the 13, from General Washington;
One, of the 15, from Major General Putnam, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
George Frost, Esqr. a delegate from New Hampshire, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment. which were read as follows:
State of New Hampshire,
in the House of Representatives,
April 1, 1777:
Voted and resolved, that Major-General Nathaniel Folsom, and the Honorable George Frost, Esq. be, and hereby are, chosen and appointed Delegates to represent this State in the Continental Congress, for one Year next ensuing, with all such Powers and Authorities as the Delegates heretofore appointed, by this State, have had and exercised.
Sent up for Concurrence,
John Dudley, Speaker, pro tempore.
In Council, the same Day read and concurred:
Attest,E. Thompson, Secretary.
Resolved, That ten thousand dollars be advanced to Colonel Stephen Moylan, for the service of his regiment of light-horse; he to be accountable for the expenditure.
The committee to whom the petition from the town of Charlestown, was referred, reported, "That they have duly attended to the several facts set forth in the said petition, and while they lament the miserable distressed condition of the petitioners, reduced, from affluence and ease, to want and penury, by the calamities of war, they
Page 366 | Page image
regret the inability of the United States to afford the solicited relief. Though the estimation of the damages sustained may be very moderate, and the great and early sufferings of the inhabitants of Charlestown entitle them to particular attention, yet the committee apprehend, that if Congress were to pay that valuation, claims, much more extensive, and of a similar nature, will be made by other sufferers, and subject the United States to the payment of sums of money, which, in the present exigency of their affairs, cannot be spared from the support of the present just and necessary war."
The Committee are of opinion that Congress should recommend to the Legislatures of the several states, to take such measures as to them shall seem most proper for the immediate relief of their respective subjects, who by the ravages of our enemy and the fate of war may be reduced to the wretched condition of the Inhabitants of Charlestown.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jonathan Bayard Smith, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 357.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
Resolved, That the committee on the commissary's department, be empowered to administer oaths or affirmations to persons examined by them.
The Board of War brought in a report, which being read and debated, was, at the request of a Colony, ∥State∥ postponed till to morrow.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.∥
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |