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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 --FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1777
The committee, to whom was recommitted the report of the committee appointed "to prepare a plan for suppressing the internal enemies of America, and preventing a communication of intelligence to the other enemies of these States," brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Congress taking into consideration the letter of the 10th from General Lee;2 Thereupon,
[Note 2: 2 "A Letter from General Lee, requesting a Committee of Congress to be sent to New York, to whom he might, with permission of Lord and General Howe, impart something of great consequence to himself, and of no less, in his opinion to the public. His letter was in very pressing terms. It was the general sense of Congress that no conference ought to be held with any but Embassadors properly authorized by the Court of Britain to treat of peace; that Lord and General Howe could have no powers on such a subject by virtue of their commission, which was particularly limited by Parliament to other purposes: that any conference with them would be impolitic and degrading: degrading, because their powers supposed Congress objects of their dominion, and even of their mercy: impolitic, because it would give opportunity for representing in the Courts of Europe that Congress were in Treaty with Britain for a reconciliation, and for some time suspend, by this means, their intentions of befriending us. But it was also agreed that the Congress ought to give every possible attention to General Lee's personal safety. The Resolution was passed of directing General Washington to inform General Lee of the measures they were taking for his safety, and to request him to inform them of any thing they could further do: but that they could not think it consistent with the dignity of Congress to send a committee to treat with him on public business." Burke's Abstract of Debates. North Carolina Colonial Records, XI, 382.]
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Resolved, That General Washington be directed to inform General Lee, that Congress are pursuing, and will continue to pursue, every means in their power to provide for his personal safety, and to obtain his liberty:
That General Washington inform him of the steps taken to effect these purposes ends, and, at the same time, acquaint him, that Congress cannot see the propriety of sending judge it altogether improper to send any of their members body to communicate with him, and that they cannot perceive how a compliance with his request will tend to his advantage or the interest of the public.
Congress proceeded to the election of brigadiers general and the ballots being taken, the following gentlemen were elected. (It being previously agreed that their rank be settled after the election is made.)
Colonel Enoch Poor, Colonel J. Glover, Colonel J. Patterson, Colonel Anthony Wayne, Colonel James Mitchel Varnum, Colonel John P. De Haas, Colonel G. Weedon, Colonel P. Muhlenberg, Colonel J. Cadwalader, and Colonel W. Woodford.
Resolved, That the rank of the foregoing brigadiers general, and that of Brigadier General Nash, be appointed settled to morrow.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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