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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 --THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1777
Resolved, That Udney Hay, Esq. be appointed a lieutenant colonel by brevet, and assistant deputy quarter master general, and stationed at Ticonderoga:
That William Clajon, secretary to General Gates, be appointed interpreter for the northern department, and that he be allowed, as secretary and interpreter, the pay of 66 dollars a month:
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The committee, to whom the petition of the North Carolina prisoners was referred, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a good and convenient house, if possible, be provided for their reception; that they be put upon their parole, and that an oath be administered to them, after the manner used in Scotland; and, at the same time, that a sergeant's guard be kept at the house, to prevent all suspicion of improper intercourse with them:
That Captain John Mackenzie, who was enlarged upon his parole several months ago, and has since resided in Donnegal, in Pensylvania, be permitted to go home to his family, he giving his parole oath to do nothing to the prejudice of the American States, or any of them, and finding security in the sum of £500, to observe this engagement, as also, that he shall present himself with this resolution to the executive powers of North Carolina, for their concurrence, and be entirely subject to their directions.
Resolved, That 266 2/3 dollars be advanced to Captain Lee for the use of the light horse under his command, on their march from Virginia to join General Washington; the said Captain Lee to account with the pay master general for the expenditure.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Medical Committee; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Dr. John Morgan, director general, and Dr. Samuel Stringer, director of the hospital in the northern department of the army of the united States, be, and they are hereby, dismissed from any farther service in said offices:
That the directors of the military hospitals throughout the army, with the assistance of the hospital and regimental
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surgeons in each department, make returns to Congress, as soon as possible, of the kind and quantity of medicines, instruments, and hospital furniture that remain on hand.
A letter, of the 6th, from the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, enclosing one, of the 5th, from General Putnam, at Bristol, and a copy of one, of the 4th, from Major A. Hubley at Bordentown, were read, and referred to the Committee of Intelligence; also,1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of the Philadelphia Committee is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, Appendix, folio 69. That of Massachusetts Council is in No. 65, I, folio 151.]
One, of the 18 December, [1776,] from the council of Massachusetts bay, was read, and referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That the president be desired to write to the executive powers of the different united States, requesting that they will, as soon as possible, inform Congress, what success the officers in their respective states have met with, in raising the troops, required by the resolve of the 16 September.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is printed in Pennsylvania Archives, First Series, V, 179.]
The delegates from ∥the state of∥ Massachusetts bay, laid before Congress the credentials of their appointment, which were read as follows:
In Council, December 10th, 1776.
Whereas John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry, Francis Dana, and James Lovell, esqrs. have been chosen, by joint ballot of the two houses of assembly, to represent the state of Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England, in the American Congress, until the first day of January, anno Domini 1778:
Resolved, That they, or any three or more of them, are hereby fully empowered, with the delegates from the other American States, to concert, direct and order such further measures, as shall to them appear best calculated for the establishment of right and liberty to the
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American states, upon a basis permanent and secure against the power and art of the British administration; for prosecuting the present war, concluding peace, contracting alliances, establishing commerce, and guarding against any future encroachments and machinations of their enemies, with power to adjourn to such times and places, as shall appear most conducive to the public safety and advantage. And the secretary is hereby directed, as soon as may be, to signify to each of those gentlemen their appointment, with an attested copy of this resolve.
Sent down for concurrence.
John Avery, Dep. Secretary.
In the House of Representatives, December 10, 1776.
Read and concurred,
Saml. Freeman, Speaker pro. tem.
Consented to by the major part of the council.
A true copy,John Avery, Dep. Secretary.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Massachusetts, Credentials of Delegates.]
Resolved, That Mr. [Nathan] Brownson be appointed a member of the Marine Committee:
That two members be added to the committee for regulating the several boards of business:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman and Mr. [Thomas] Heyward.
The committee appointed to take into consideration the letter from the committee of Congress at Philadelphia, relative to the means of procuring provisions in the middle and southern states, for the supply of the continental army, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: ∥Whereupon,∥
Resolved, That it be most earnestly recommended to the executive powers of the States of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, immediately to appoint suitable persons, to purchase and collect such quantities of beef and pork as they have or can
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obtain salt to cure; that each state, shall make use, not only of the salt within its own limits, but shall have recourse to its neighbours, either by bringing salt from them, or sending their live hogs and cattle to be killed and salted there. That the persons employed to execute this business, be directed to make use of the utmost oeconomy, and cautiously avoid bidding upon each other, whereby great injury hath already been done to the public.
That in the opinion of Congress, the executive powers of the several States, above-mentioned, would do well to limit the prices of the said articles, and not suffer the persons employed in purchasing, to exceed them; and that the purchasers should be paid a reasonable commission upon the purchases, in order to stimulate them to be active and industrious:
That the provisions be stored in secure and suitable magazines, convenient to transportation; and that the several States, whom this resolve is intended particularly to affect, may more effectually co-operate to accomplish this important purpose, it is recommended to the said executive powers, that they confer together by epistolary correspondence, or such other manner as they may think best, in order to pursue some general and beneficial plan, in which they may be mutually useful to each other:
That Mr. president communicate to Joseph Trumbull, Esq. commissary general, such part of the committee's letter as relates to Carpenter Wharton: That it be recommended to the Secret Committee to fall upon some expedient immediately, to supply the state of North Carolina with salt, for the purpose of carrying the foregoing resolution into execution.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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