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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, APRIL 15, 1777
A letter, of the 12, from General Washington;
One of this day, from Colonel Baron Arendt;
One, of the 21 of March, from four officers of the British navy, in Worcester gaol;
A letter, of the 4, from the commissioners appointed by the States of New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, for the purpose of regulating the price of labour, of manufactures, and of
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internal produce within those States, &c. with a copy of their proceedings;
Also, a letter from Charles Adrian Fountaine, were laid before Congress and read:1
[Note 1: 1 See note under April 16, post. The letter of DeArendt is in No. 78, VII, folio 101.]
Resolved, That 70,000 dollars be advanced to Carpenter Wharton, for the public service; he to be accountable.
The committee appointed to confer with the president and members of the supreme executive council of the commonwealth of Pensylvania, the board of war of the said State, and the delegates representing the same in Congress, concerning the authority which should be deemed eligible to be exercised during the recess of the council and assembly, reported, That they have had a conference, agreeable to the order of Congress, and that it appears clearly to the members in conference, that the executive authority of the commonwealth of Pensylvania is incapable of any exertion adequate to the present crisis; and that it is of the greatest importance that every power should be called forth into action, which may conduce to the safety of this State, with which the liberties and prosperity of the whole are so intimately connected; from this consideration, and at the particular instance and request of the president [and] of the supreme executive council, and the board of war of the State of Pensylvania, they beg leave to recommend the following resolutions to be adopted by Congress:
That the president of the supreme executive council of the commonwealth of Pensylvania, together with as many members of the said council as can be convened, the board of war, and, in such cases as relate to the marine, the navy board of said State, should, in the present critical exigency of affairs, exercise every authority to promote the safety of the State, till such time as the
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legislative and executive authorities of the commonwealth of Pensylvania can be convened:
That it be, and it is hereby, earnestly recommended by Congress to the good people of Pensylvania, cheerfully to submit to the exertion of an authority which is indispensably essential to the preservation of the lives, liberties, and property of themselves, their families and posterity:
That the commanding officer of the continental forces in this city, afford every possible assistance in carrying into execution all such measures as may be recommended to him by the authority abovementioned:
That Congress will cheerfully co-operate with the authority abovementioned, in facilitating every measure which may be deemed conducive to the safety of the State:
Congress taking into consideration the foregoing report:
Resolved, That the same be concurred in, and that the resolutions proposed by the committee be agreed to.
Resolved, That 7,165 dollars be advanced by Mr. James Mease to Richard Stevens, Esqr. pay master of the 10th Virginia batallion commanded by Colonel Edward Stevens, for the purpose of paying the said batallion.
Resolved, That two months' pay be advanced to Colonel the Chevalier de Vrecourt.
Resolved, That Monsieur du Plessis be recommended to General Washington, to be appointed a captain in the artillery.
Resolved, That an allowance of one hundred and twentyfive dollars per month be made to Brigadier General Robert Howe, to commence at the time he was left by Major General Lee, to command in South Carolina and Georgia; the said allowance being considered as necessary to defray the expences of his table while he commands there, and
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to continue so long as he shall be in such command; and that the same allowance be made to any officer of equal rank who shall hereafter succeed to the said command in that department.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That 4,000 dollars be advanced to ∥brigadier∥ General Hand, to erect such works at Pittsburg as he shall think necessary, and towards contingent expences; he to be accountable.
That Brigadier General Lewis's resignation be accepted.
A petition from Walter Drummond, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Whereas, the continental batallions are all on one footing, liable to the same kind of services, and entitled to equal privileges;
Resolved, That the appellations, "Congress's own regiment," "General Washington's life guards," &c. given to some of them, are improper, and ought not to be kept up; and the officers of the said batallions are required to take notice hereof, and conform themselves accordingly.1
[Note 1: 1 In the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 409, is a petition of John Rolanson, which was read this day, and rejected.]
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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