| 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 --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1777
Mr. John Adams and Mr. [James] Lovell, delegates from Massachusetts bay, attended, and took their seats.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph is not in Charles Thompson's writing, and, from the ink, may have been inserted at a somewhat later date.]
Mr. [Thomas] Burke, a delegate from North Carolina, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read as follows:
North Carolina. In Congress, December 20, 1776.
Resolved, That William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, and Thomas Burke, esqrs. be, and they are hereby, appointed Delegates to attend the Congress of the United States of America, in behalf of this State, until such time as the General Assembly shall direct otherwise; and they are invested with such powers as may make any act done by
Page 86 | Page image
them, or any of them, or Consent given in the said Congress, in behalf of this State, obligatory upon every Inhabitant thereof.
By order,
Cornelius Harnett, President.
James Green, jun. Secretary.
A letter, of the 30 January, from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia; one, of the 26 of the same month, from General Washington, at Morristown; and one, of the 21 January, from Daniel Joy, at Philadelphia, to the committee of Congress, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of the Committee is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, Appendix, folio 127; that of Washington is in No. 152, III, folio 497. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 203. The letter of Joy is in No. 78, XIII, folio 35.]
A letter, of the 23d of December, from Cornelius Harnett, president of the convention of the State of North Carolina, together with a memorial from the said convention, and a deposition of Emperor Mosely, respecting the capture of the brig Joseph, by the schooner Eagle, Brazilla Smith, commander, and an invoice of the cargo on board said brig, at the time of the capture, were laid before Congress, and read:
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three; and that the letters on this subject, formerly committed to the Marine Committee, be referred to this committee.
The members chosen, Mr. Adams Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [John] Hall, and Mr. [Jonathan Dickinson] Sergeant.
A letter, of the 3d February, from the council of safety of Maryland, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 135.]
Resolved, That Joseph Gaither be appointed a signer of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.
Page 87 | Page image
Ordered, That the letters from the committee of Congress, General Washington, and Daniel Joy, be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial from Dr. Thomas Young was read, and referred to the medical committee.
A memorial from Nathaniel Donnel was read, and referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the council of safety of Maryland, to cause the tories in the counties of Somerset and Worcester to be disarmed as quickly as possible; and the provisions removed from those counties, that have been collected there for the public use.
The committee on the State of Georgia, brought in a report, which was read.
Resolved, That Mr. [Bartholomew] Burke, of Jamaica, who has applied to Congress to be taken into the service of the united States, be referred to General Washington:
Resolved, That Dr. [Thomas] Burke be added to the Medical Committee; and that he be appointed a member of the Marine Committee, in the room of Mr. [William] Hooper, who has leave to return home for some time.
Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the letter from Governor Trumbull, and the minutes of the committees from the four New England governments, and, after some time, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee reported, that the committee have had under consideration the matters to them referred, but, not having come to a conclusion, desire him to move for leave to sit again:
Resolved, That this Congress will, to morrow, resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the letter from Governor Trumbull, and the
Page 88 | Page image
minutes of the committee from the 4 New England governments.
In Comee. of the Whole Feby. 4. 1777.
The Committee of the Whole, having according to the Order of the Day, taken into Consideration the Letter from Governor Trumbull and the Proceedings of the Committee therein inclosed, came to the following Resolutions thereupon:
Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Committee that the peculiar Situation of public affairs and of the New England States, whose Communication with Congress was in a great Measure cut off, and who were invaded or threatened with an immediate Invasion by the Enemy, rendered the Appointment and Meeting of the Committee proper and necessary, and consequently, worthy of the Approbation of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 "N. B. the above resolve debated two days in Committee of the whole and agreed to and reported.
"Feby. 12. taken up in the house and debated on the 1st. Day, disagreed to by a majority of one.
"Feby. 13. Moved to be reconsidered, debated, the house equally divided."-- Note by Charles Thomson.
This report, in the writing of James Wilson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 375. See note under February 13, 1777.]
A letter, of the 1st, from the committee of Congress, at Philadelphia, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, Appendix, folio 131.]
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 |