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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, APRIL 25, 1777
A petition of Robert Forster, of the County of Cumberland, in Nova Scotia, with sundry papers enclosed, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 A petition of Robert Foster, of the County of Cumberland, Nova Scotia, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, folio 17. It was read April 25, and referred to the Board of War.]
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Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That one thousand six hundred and sixty six dollars and sixty ninetieths of a dollar be paid to Sampson Mears, or order, the same being in full of a bill drawn by William Aylett, Virginia, April 9, 1777, in favour of Mr. Isaac Vanbibber, of Baltimore, and endorsed by the said Isaac Vanbibber, and the payment ordered to the said Sampson Mears, or order, by Vanbibber & Crocket; and that the said sum be charged to the account of the said William Aylett.
The Board of War reported,
That having enquired into the case of Major Elisha Painter, it appeared by the evidence produced, that the objections made against his appointment to the office of major in Colonel Seth Warner's regiment, and the complaint of uneasiness occasioned thereby, are without any just foundation, and that nothing is alleged, or appears to have been done by him, to forfeit his right to the said office; and this Board knows of no such office vacant in any other regiment, to which he can be appointed by Congress: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the resolution of the 18 January last, removing the said Elisha Painter from any command in the said Colonel Seth Warner's regiment, be repealed; and that he return to his command in the said regiment as major thereof, unless General Washington shall think proper to appoint him to some other office or employment in the army not inferior to his present rank.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 151.]
The Committee of Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Whereas Major General Schuyler, Commanding Officer at this Post has represented that it is impracticable for him to attend the Examination of the Payrolls of the Troops in the Service of the United States, therefore
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Resolved, that all Payrolls of the Militia which shall be tendered to Congress or the Board of Treasury for Payment be referred for Examination and adjustment to the Commissioners of Claims, and reports thereupon shall be made to the Treasury Board who approving thereof shall issue their Warrants for the Discharge of the same on the Paymaster appointed for that purpose.
And all resolutions heretofore passed which are repugnant to this mode of settlement and payment be repealed.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph is in the writing of Charles Thomson.]
Resolved, That 50,0002 of the three hundred thousand dollars, ordered to be advanced to General Mifflin, on the 22 March last, be paid by a warrant on the loan office in Connecticut.
[Note 2: 2 Originally 35,000 dollars.]
That 100,000 dollars be advanced to Joseph Trumbull, Esqr. commissary general, he to be accountable; and that a warrant be drawn on the commissioner of the loan office for the State of Pensylvania for the sum of 35,000 dollars, in part of the above sum.3
[Note 3: 3 In the margin Hancock has written "65,000 drawn on Mr. Gibson." This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 123. The last two paragraphs are in the writing of Elbridge Gerry.]
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
The committee appointed to devise ways and means for speedily reinforcing General Washington's army, brought in a farther report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the president and council of the State of Delaware be requested forthwith to call out one thousand five hundred of the militia of the said State, well armed and accoutred, to rendezvous at Chester on Delaware.
That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the president and council, to enforce the necessity of this measure, and that General Mifflin be requested to join the said committee for the purpose aforesaid.
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The members chosen, Mr. [George] Read, Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, and Mr. [Jonathan Dickinson] Sergeant.
Resolved, That the governor of the State of New Jersey be requested forthwith to call out such part of the militia of the said State, as General Washington shall judge necessary to reinforce the army under his command.
Resolved, That the physician or surgeon general of the hospital in the middle department, be directed to send a proper person or persons in the medical department, to visit all the hospitals betwixt this city and the town of Annapolis, in Maryland, with directions, to order all such soldiers, as shall be deemed capable of service, to join immediately their respective corps under proper officers.
Resolved, That Major General Schuyler be directed to order all the troops in or near the city of Philadelphia, and betwixt the said city and the town of Annapolis, to march immediately to Bristol, by such routes as shall render it unnecessary to pass through the city of Philadelphia; that he send active officers to forward the said troops without delay, and that he order proper returns to be made of the quantity of arms and cloathing wanting for the respective corps or detachments, in order that a supply of the same may be forwarded by the cloathier general to the town of Bristol.
Resolved, That General Washington be requested to send a general officer into the eastern states, to forward on all the troops already raised to their respective places of destination, with the utmost despatch.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Duer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, I, folio 17. The names of the committee were inserted by Charles Thomson.]
Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of the Whole on the articles of Confederation; and, after debate,
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed to Monday next.
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The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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