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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 --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1777
South Carolina attended at 11 o'clock.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the several States be requested and empowered to borrow or purchase, on behalf of the Continent, from the militia within the said States, respectively, as many good and sufficient arms as can possibly be procured.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
A petition from Jacob Haymaker was read, praying for an allowance for some horses stolen from him by the Indians:
On the question put, to comply with the prayer of the petition,--Carried in the negative.
The committee to whom the state of the North Carolina prisoners was referred, brought in their report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the prisoners from North Carolina, now in prison, or under guard in Baltimore, be put upon their parole, and engaged to continue at Frederic town, in Maryland, or within one mile of it, till the farther order of Congress.
Ordered, That the committee who brought in the report, carry this resolution into execution, and take such security of them, for the faithful observance of their parole, as the said committee think proper:
Congress having received information that a quantity of woolens hath been brought into the port of Baltimore, by a privateer belonging to the State of New York, which are fit for the army, and immediately necessary for cloathing and supplying the new raised levies;
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Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to appoint proper persons to appraise the said woolens, in order that the value of the same may be paid to the State of New York, or that a like quantity of woolens be supplied that State from the cloathier general; and that the Board of War give directions for having the cloth, thus obtained, made up quickly as possible into soldiers' cloaths.
The committee on the post office brought in a report, which was read:
The Committee for revising the Regulations of the Post Office, Report,
That the Post Master General should be directed forthwith to appoint two Surveyors of the Post, One to proceed immediately from Philada. to the Northward and the other to the Southward to carry effectually into Execution the following Regulations:
That the Grand Line of Post to the Northward extend from Philada to Easton, from Easton to Fishkill, from Fishkill to Hartford, from Hartford to Boston, from Boston to Portsmouth, from Portsmouth to Falmouth.
That the Grand Line of Post to the Southwd extend from Philada to Annapolis, from Annapolis to Williamsburgh in Virginia, from Williamsburgh to Halifax in N. Carolina, from Halifax to Wilmington, from Wilmington to Chs Town So. Carolina, from Chs Town to Savanna in Georgia.
That the Post Master General be directed to contract with proper persons to act as Deputies in each of the said Towns and at such intermediate Places as he shall think proper, and that such Cross Posts be established as Places or Circumstances seem to admit or require.
That the Mail be regularly made up and sent to and from the aforesaid Towns twice in every Week, and for the expeditious Conveyance of the same, proper Riders shall be employed at suitable Distances, who, on receiving the said Mail, shall immediately proceed therewith by Night or by Day, so that the same may be carried at least 100 Miles in 24 Hours, excepting only the necessary Delays at Ferries.
That before any Surveyor of the Posts, Deputy Post-Master or Rider shall enter on the Execution of their respective Offices, they shall take the Oath of Fidelity to the United States, and also an Oath of Office, and the Post-Master General shall once in 6 Months make
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Returns to Congress of the Names of such Surveyors of the Post, Deputy Post-Masters and Riders throughout the Continent.
That a Salary of 500 Dollars per annum be allowed to each Surveyor of the Post, and 200 Dollars to the Surveyor of the Northern Department, and 300 Dollars per annum to the Surveyor of the Southern Department, to defray travelling Expences; that a Sum not exceeding 200 Dollars per annum be allowed to each Deputy Post Master, in addition to the Allowance already made by Congress, if from particular Circumstances the Post-Master General shall find the same to be necessary; that the several Riders shall be allowed so much as shall appear reasonable according to the Circumstances of the respective States in which they may be employed.
That 5,000 Dollars be advanced to the Post Master General to enable him to carry the foregoing Resolves into speedy and effectual Execution, he to be accountable; and if the Profits of the said Post-Office shall not be sufficient to defray the expences of the same, the Deficiencies shall be supplied out of the Continental Treasury.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Heyward, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 445. It is without date, and has 1776 endorsed upon it, as has also the manuscript of the report printed under October 17, 1777, post. It is possible that it does not belong in this place, but Heyward, as chairman of the committee, appointed February 17, 1777, ante, would naturally have prepared the report.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee on Deserters; and, thereupon, came to the following resolution:
To the end, that the most speedy stop may be put to the pernicious and unsoldierly practice of deserting, and that such offenders who receive the public money for services that they design not to perform, may be certainly and speedily carried back to the corps they have deserted from, it is earnestly recommended to the committees of observation or inspection in these united States, that they cause diligent enquiry to be made, in their respective counties or districts, for all deserters that may be lurking and harboured therein, and cause such, whenever found, to be immediately secured, and conveyed to the nearest
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continental officer; and all such officers are hereby directed to receive and secure such deserters, that they may be safely delivered to their respective regiments, and brought to a speedy trial and exemplary punishment;and farther, to pay to the persons delivering such deserters, eight dollars for each deserter so brought and delivered, and twelve ninetieths of a dollar in lieu of expences for every mile from the place where the deserter was taken up to the place where he is delivered to the officer.
Ordered, That the foregoing resolve, and the 1st, 2d, and 3d articles of the 6th section of the articles of war, be published in the several news papers for six months, and also, that 300 copies be printed in hand bills, and sent to camp, to be distributed among the officers.1
[Note 1: 1 See under February 13, ante. The resolve was printed in the Pennsylvania Packet, 18 March, 1777.
"This day there was a very interesting debate on some amendments proposed to a report of a Committee, appointed to consider of some means for preventing desertion; but the main question was concerning the jurisdiction of Congress and the States. The decision was postponed. The debate lay chiefly between Mr. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, and the Delegate from North Carolina. The opinion of a great majority was with the latter; but it was not deemed prudent to decide. N. B. This is all that I can now transmit: but as you know the opinion of Congress; and for this reason it is that I mention that a majority was in his favour." Burke's Abstract of Debates. North Carolina Colonial Records, XI, 384.]
Two officers of the 2d and 7th Virginia batallions, who were left to bring up the baggage of their respective batallions, and a surgeon's mate belonging to the 2d batallion, of the Virginia forces, being arrived in Baltimore, applied for two months' pay ∥for themselves and the men with them,∥ to enable them to proceed with their companies.
Resolved, That they be referred to Mr. Jonathan Hudson, who is directed to pay the said officers and their men one two months' pay; and to the surgeon two months' pay and return and account to the General, and to the pay master general.
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Doctor [John] Witherspoon, having represented to Congress that the situation of his private affairs requires his returning home for a short time, desires leave of absence.
Resolved, That leave be granted.
Resolved, That 3,000 dollars be advanced to the delegates of Georgia, for the use of that State; the said State to be accountable.
Mr. [Jonathan Dickinson] Sergeant having on account of his health applied for leave of absence,
Resolved, That leave be granted.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Mons. Regnier de Roussi be allowed the rank and pay of a lieutenant colonel from the 12 day of January, 1776 ∥1777∥, and be referred for future employment to General Washington.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 89.]
The Committee of Treasury reported, that there is due,
To Dr. Benjamin Rush, for sundry medicine and attendance to sick soldiers and prisoners, the sum of [£177 9=] 473 18/90 dollars:
To Richard Stockton, Esq. and to be paid to Dr. Benjamin Rush, for the hire of two horses, a sulky, &c. for his journey to Ticonderoga last fall, by order of Congress, 151 30/90 dollars:
To Captain James Cox, for the pay of a guard of militia to the treasury, and prisoners, and for candles for the use of the guard, [£39 3 6=] 104 42/90 dollars:
That there should be paid to Samuel Purviance, the sum of 147 87/90 dollars, the amount of George Pressman's account for plastering done by him in the court
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house in Baltimore, and for nails, wood, &c., which work was done to accommodate Congress:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 39, continues as follows: "by desire of Mr. Chase. And as Congress have made no use of said House, the Board have directed that a part of the sum should be charged to Baltimore County, so soon as the proportion can be settled with the Commissioners appointed for building the same, they having particularly contracted with the workmen for this purpose."]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
It being represented to Congress, that profaneness in general, and particularly cursing and swearing, shamefully prevails in the army of the united States, it is therefore,
Resolved, That General Washington be informed of this; and that he be requested to take the most proper measures, in concert with his general officers, for reforming this abuse.
Resolved, That the order for adjourning to Philadelphia be reversed, repealed rescinded suspended.2
[Note 2: 2 "As I am impowered to adjourn the Congress from Baltimore to Philada. on next Tuesday, and shall set out myself on Wednesday, I must request you will please to direct your Letters to me at Philada., the Powers of the Committee of Congress in that Place expiring on our Arrival there." Hancock to Washington, 23 February, 1777. On the 25th he wrote: "In consequence of your Letter and one from Mr. Morris, Congress have suspended their Remove to Philada. for a few days."]
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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