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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, JANUARY 3, 1777
A letter, of the 29, from General Washington, at Newton; and of the 30 and 31 December, from ∥Messrs.∥ [Robert] Morris, [George] Clymer and [George] Walton, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, III, folio 413. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), V, 136. That of the Philadelphia committee is in No. 137, Appendix, 49.]
Ordered, That the letter from the committee of Congress be referred to the committee on the letter from Mr. Kennon; and that two members be added to that committee, and that they meet, and proceed on the business, and report to Congress as soon as possible:2
[Note 2: 2 For this committee see under December 31, 1776, ante.]
The members added, Mr. [Roger] Sherman and Mr. [Samuel] Chase.
A letter, of this day, from Major Ottendorf, was read, and referred to the Board of War.
The delegates from Connecticut produced credentials of their re-appointment, which were read as follows:
State of Connecticut. At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut, in America, holden at New-Haven, on the 2d Thursday of October, Anno Dom. 1776.
Resolved by this Assembly, That Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, Eliphalet Dyer, Oliver Wolcott, Richard Law, and William Williams, esqrs. be, and they are hereby, appointed Delegates to represent this State at the General Congress of the United States, in America, for the Year ensuing: and, untill new be chosen, any or either of them who shall be present in said Congress, are hereby fully Authorized and Empowered to represent this State in said Congress; to Consult, advise, and Resolve upon Measures necessary to be taken and pursued for the defence, security, and preservation of the Rights and Liberties of the said United States, and for their common Safety.
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And of such their proceedings and Resolves, they do transmit Authentic Copies, from Time to Time, to the General Assembly of this State.
A true Copy of Record, Examined by
George Wyllys, Secretary.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut, Credentials of Delegates.]
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to propose and conclude with General Howe an agreement, whereby those that are or may be made prisoners by the enemy, may be supplied with provisions, and other necessaries, at the expence, or on the credit, of the united States.
Resolved, That General Washington be desired to take the most effectual measures for the redemption of to offer, in exchange, one of the Hessian field officers, lately taken, for ∥Colonel∥ Ethan Allen.
Resolved, That the treasurer be directed to pay to Joseph Trumbull, Esq. commissary general, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, by an order on such of the commissioners of the loan offices in New England, as shall be in cash at the time of the draught; the said commissary general to be accountable.
[Note.] I ∥The president∥ drew an order,
J. H. Pt.2
[Note 2: 2 The note is in the writing of John Hancock.]
Whereas Congress hath received information that the honorable Richard Stockton, Esq. of New Jersey, and a member of this Congress, hath been made a prisoner by
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the enemy, and that he has been ignominiously thrown into a common goal, and there detained;
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to make immediate enquiry into the truth of this report, and if he finds reason to believe it well founded, that he send a flag to General Howe, remonstrating against this departure from that humane procedure that has marked the conduct of these states to prisoners, who have fallen into their hands; and to know of General Howe, whether he chuses that this shall be the future rule for treating all such, on both sides, as the fortune of war may place in the hands of either party.
Resolved, That Dr. [Jonathan] Elmore and Dr. [Nathan] Brownson be added to the Medical Committee.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to revise the articles of war, and report what additions and alterations ought, in their opinion, to be made therein:
The members ∥elected,∥ Mr. [Thomas] Heyward, Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee, and Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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