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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 --WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1777
A letter, of the 6, from the council of safety of Pensylvania, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 327.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That John Barney and Hans Creery be appointed signers of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider the most effectual means of discouraging and preventing desertions from the army:
The members ∥chosen,∥ Mr. [Samuel] Chase, Mr.
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[Jonathan Dickinson] Sergeant, and Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee.1
[Note 1: 1 On the report of the Board of War, in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 79, is recorded the vote for this Committee: Chase, 9; Sergeant, 5; Burke, 3; Lovell, 2; R. H. Lee, 5; J. Adams, 2; Clark, 1.]
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That a copy of the letter from Southy Simpson, written by direction of the committees of Accomac and Northampton counties, in Virginia, be sent to the governor and council of that State; and that they be desired to station in those counties, two companies of the troops raised for the particular defence of their State; and, in case such companies cannot be spared, General Lewis is directed to send over two companies of continental troops.
Resolved, That the second paragraph in the report, be re-committed to the committee above appointed ∥on desertions.∥
Resolved, That General Waterbury be referred to the commissioners for settling the continental accounts in the eastern department, for a settlement of his account of monies expended on account of an intended expedition against the tories on Long Island.
Resolved, That General Schuyler be empowered to make the most advantageous use of the salt springs mentioned in his letter of the 23 January last; employ proper persons, skilled in making salt, and purchase boilers and other things necessary for the purpose:
That such parts of the said letter as relate to Indian affairs, be referred to the committee on Indian affairs.
∥Resolved,∥ That General Washington be impowered to settle all matters of rank and pay among the officers of the Virginia and [Maryland] regiments, and fill up
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and date their commissions as he shall think just and proper; [and that he also settle any disputes that may arise in the army respecting rank.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 79. The words in brackets were inserted by John Hancock.]
Resolved, That 8,000 dollars be advanced to Mr. Thomas Cummings, commissary of provisions, for the purpose of supplying the troops going on the expedition to Somerset and Worcester counties; and 1,500 dollars to Colonel Henry Hollingsworth, for supplying the troops marching thro' the Head of Elk to join General Washington:2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in No. 147, I, folio 81.]
That 6,000 dollars be advanced to Colonel M'Clenaghan, of the 7th batallion of Virginia troops, for the purpose of reinlisting his men for three years, and recruiting his batallion.
Ordered, That the Medical Committee write to General Washington, and consult him on the propriety and expediency of causing such of the troops in his army, as have not had the small pox, to be inoculated, and recommend that measure to him, if it can be done consistent with the public safety, and good of the service.
Resolved, That Mr. Babcock, who brought a letter from Colonel Stewart, at Lebanon, in Connecticut, respecting cannon, and other public business, be paid as an express.3
[Note 3: 3 In the margin John Hancock wrote: "105½ dollars, 400 miles, and for his detention."]
The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due to Charles Jones, quarter master of the 7th Virginia regiment, for forage supplied by him to the waggon horses attending the said regiment on their march to Baltimore, [£22.5.11=] 59 41/90 dollars:
That they have examined the account of William Bausman, barrack master, at Lancaster, being for sundry supplies of wood, &c. and for his and his son's pay, amounting to £773 1 10, of which he received £500 from the
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committee of Lancaster county, and £30 from the State of Pensylvania, and there remains a balance due him of £243 1 10, equal to 648 22/90 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 31.]
Ordered, That the same be paid.
The Committee on the affairs in the northern department, laid before Congress a letter from Colonel Stewart, who was sent, agreeable to the order of Congress, to procure cannon at Mr. Livingston's and Salisbury founderies, wherein he informs, that there is a quantity of cannon at Salisbury foundery, unengaged which the governor and council of Connecticut are willing to dispose of to the Continent, but demand the price of 70 pounds lawful money, per ton, for 18 and 9 pounders; and 80 pounds lawful ∥money,∥ per ton, for 6 pounders, 4 pounders, and 3 pounders:
Ordered, That the committee aforesaid write to Governor Trumbull, inform him of the contracts entered into by Congress; state to him the prejudice it will do to those contracts, and the ill effects that must ensue to the Continent, should so high a price be given for these cannon; and, therefore, request him to lend the cannon which are much wanted for the defence of Ticonderoga, and assure him Congress will replace return them, or others in lieu of them, as soon as possible.
Resolved, That Clement Brook and William Hammond, be appointed signers of the bills of credit, in addition to those already appointed.
Congress took into consideration the report from the Committee of the Whole, and the report from the committee appointed to consider the proceedings of the committee from the four New England States, met at Providence, Wednesday, 25 December, 1776, and by adjournments to January 2, 1777, and after debate the
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Congress came to no resolution on the report from the Committee of the Whole1.
[Note 1: 1 A letter from a Committee of the House of Representatives, Massachusetts Bay, dated February 8, 1777, and signed James Sullivan, stating the action of the House on prices, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, I, folio 183.
February 12. "Maryland and Pennsylvania were very solicitous to procure a vote of Congress, approving a meeting lately held by committees appointed by the four New England Governments, to the end that this approbation might imply a right to disapprove. It occasioned very long and interesting debates. At length the general opinion was that Congress had necessarily a right to inquire into the cause of any meeting and to require to know what was transacted at any such meetings, and also to require an explanation of anything that was dubious, and satisfaction for anything that was alarming to the whole, or any one of the States; that this right necessarily existed in their power to take care each for his respective State that no injury happened to her from without. But that Congress had no right to prohibit meetings, or censure them if the transactions in them were not injurious to others. The delegate of North Carolina refused to say what his State could not do, declaring he thought she could do every thing which she had not precluded herself from by plain and express declaration: to yield up any of her rights was not in his power, and very far from his inclination: that by the Law of Nations she had a right to demand a satisfactory account and explanation of any transaction of one or more States, and she had appointed him to watch lest any injury should come to her from without. In this he would use his best endeavours. The question put, the approbation was denied, many voting against it lest its ambiguity should create further disputes; of this number was North Carolina." Burke's Abstract of Debates. North Carolina Colonial Records, XI, 389.]
∥Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed.∥
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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