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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 --WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 1777
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to confer with the board of war of the State of Pensylvania, and to employ persons to view the works erected for the defence of the River Delaware at or near Billingsport, Whereupon,
Resolved, That Governor Livingston be requested forthwith to order out five hundred of the militia of the State of New Jersey, to assist in completing the works now erecting at Billingsport, for the defence of the river Delaware;
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it being of the utmost consequence that the fortifications at that place should be completed without delay.
Resolved, That the report of the committee ∥appointed by the Pensylvania board of war, and the committee of Congress,∥ viewing the works erected for the defence of the river Delaware, together with the resolution for calling out 500 of the New Jersey militia, be communicated to the president and supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania; and that it be earnestly recommended to them, in conjunction with General Mifflin and Monsieur du Coudray, to carry into execution the most effectual measures for defending the river Delaware.
Resolved, That the continental Navy Board, or board of assistants to the Marine Committee, be empowered to direct the commanders of the several continental ships, gallies, and other armed vessels, now in the Delaware, to co-operate with the naval force of Pensylvania in defending the several passes thereof, should the enemy make any attempts thereon.
Resolved, That the commanders of the said ships, gallies, and armed vessels, obey the orders and instructions of the said Board; and that it be recommended to them to exert their utmost abilities in opposing the enemy's ships that may attempt passing up the said river.
Resolved, That 20,000 dollars be advanced to Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores, for the public service; he to be accountable:1
[Note 1: 1 A letter from Flower, June 8, asking for twenty thousand dollars, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IX, folio 91.]
Resolved, That 5,000 dollars be advanced to David Hall, colonel of the Delaware batallion, for the use of his batallion; he to be accountable.
Resolved, That the commissary general of purchases shall keep his office in the place where Congress shall sit, and that he, or his clerk, constantly attend therein.
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Resolved, That 1,000 dollars be advanced to John Wilkins, one of the four captains nominated by General Armstrong, in pursuance of authority to him given by General Washington, for the use of his company; he to be accountable.
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners ∥of accounts∥, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Hugh Con, to be paid to John Benezet, Esqr. for boarding and nursing two sick soldiers, the sum of 22 dollars.
That there is due to Jacob Miller, for 118 meals supplied the troops on their march, the sum of 15 66/90 dollars.1
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 225.]
The Committee of the Treasury, and the committee appointed to devise ways and means for defraying the expence of the current year, brought in a report.
The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to report that on a Conference, according to order, with the Committee appointed to devise ways and means for defraying the Expences of the Current Year, the following Plan was agreed to and directed to be presented for the Consideration of Congress:2
[Note 2: 2 This preamble is in the writing of James Duane.]
Whereas, by the oppressive Councils and hostile operations of the British King and Parliament, the United States of America, at a time when they were totally unprovided with Fleets or Armies, Military Stores or Finances, have been forced into a War solely for the Defence of their Natural and Political Liberties, a War on their parts, therefore the most just and righteous!
And, Whereas, notwithstanding all the disadvantages of their unprepared situation, the United States thro' the gracious protection of Divine Providence, have not only been enabled to oppose the progress, and set bounds to the Devastations, of their powerful and implacable Enemies, and to maintain their own righteous cause with Spirit, Vigour and firmness, but have now the fairest Prospect of driving away the Invaders of their Country, and Compelling, even those to acknowledge its freedom and Independance who aim'd to establish for its domination a System of Despotism and Tyranny.
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And, Whereas, to secure the great and inestimable Blessings, which are the objects of our present struggle, no means ought to be neglected which are Consistant with Honour Justice and good Policy.
And, Whereas, it is the Universal Practice of Nations while they are engaged in the extraordinary exertions and expensive operations incident to War, to supply their Exigencies by borrowing such sums of Money as they may stand in need of, from friendly Nations which, enjoying the Blessings of Peace and tranquility, have the means of contributing to their Assistance.
And, Whereas, the American Commissioners at the Court of France, have been directed by Congress to Negotiate a Loan in Europe on the Credit of the United States, the Success of which cannot reasonably be doubted; not only from the favourable disposition of most of the States in Europe towards these States; but more especially because the said Commissioners, on their own Credit, and without any authority to pledge the faith of Congress for repayment, have already actually obtained the Loan of a very considerable sum of Money for the use of the United States.
And, Whereas, Congress are determined to establish the Credit and Currency of the Bills emitted by their Authority, and on the Faith of the United States, on such a Basis as shall effectually Baffle and defeat the Wicked Arts to injure it which have been practiced by our open and secret Enemies, with unremitted Assiduity. And with this View to put it in the Power of Individuals to exchange the Continental Paper Money now in their Possession, for Gold and Silver in Europe at the Value stamped on such Paper Money agreeable to it's original Emission.
For Accomplishing, therefore, all the Valuable Purposes before enumerated,
Resolved, That Bills of Exchange to the amount, ofFive Millions of Spanish or Mexican silver Dollars be drawn on the American Commisssoners at the Court of France, by the President of this Congress, in favour of the several Continental Loan Officers, That, is, to each of them, the proportion of the above sum herein after alotted.
That the form of the said Bills be as follows:
To The Honorable
In Congress, Philadelphia,
ForSpanish or Mexican Silver Dollars.
Ninety days after sight of this my first Bill, second, third, fourth nor fifth of same tenor number and date, paid, pay untoor orderSpanish or Mexican Silver Dollars, or the Value thereof in
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other Specie, Value here received, for the use of the United States of America, which stand Bound to discharge this Bill agreeable to Resolutions of Congress passed theDay of1777; in Consequence of which it is drawn with this Express Condition, That if not paid in Ninety days, after presentation for acceptance, an Interest of five per Cent per Ann: shall be paid Annually thereon in Paris from the day of presentation for payment. until redeemed by a full charge of Principal and Interest.
By order of Congress,
President.
That there be five Bills to each Sett.
That the Treasury Board do procure the same to be forthwith engraved on a Copper Plate with a suitable Margin for Indenting and such other devices as they may judge best to guard against Forgery, the said Plate to be kept by the Board under several Locks, (except when in use) and the President to keep one Key, the Members of the Board the rest.
That said Board, number and fill up all the blanks in said Bills, none of them to be for a less sum than 500 Dollars.
That the said Board deliver the Bills so numbered and filled to the President of Congress for signing, taking his receipt for what they deliver.
That the President, sign the same with all convenient dispatch and return them signed to the Treasury Board, taking the Receipt of the Auditor General for the same, expressing therein the Number of Serfs, the Numbers they bear, the sums drawn for, the dates and Persons payable to, such receipts to be kept by the President amongst the Public Papers.
That the Treasury Board Transmitof said Bills to the Continental Loan Officer in New Hampshire the amount of Dollars
To the Loan Officer of Massachusetts Bay
To the Loan Officer of Rhode Island
To the Loan Officer of Connecticut,
To the Loan Officer of New York
To the Loan Officer of New Jersey
To the Loan Officer of Pennsylvania
To the Loan Officer of Delaware
To the Loan Officer of Maryland
To the Loan Officer of Virginia
To the Loan Officer of North Carolina
To the Loan Officer of South Carolina
To the Loan Officer of Georgia
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That the Treasury Board keep a perfect Record of all the Bills so transmitted and require Receipts from each Loan Officer for what he receives charging him in the Treasury Books for the same.
That each of the Continental Loan Officers shall return to the Treasury Board a Receipt for the Bills of Exchange he receives wherein shall be specifyed the Numbers, dates, and sums, obliging himself to redeliver the said Bills if demanded or any part thereof that may remain undisposed of, and to account for the balance in Continental Dollars, Dollar for Dollar.
That the several Continental Loan Officers endorse and deliver the said Bills of Exchange to any person or Persons that shall require them in lieu of Continental Dollars, Dollar for Dollar, keeping affair account of the Bills they deliver, wherein shall be specifyed the Number, Sum, date of each Bill, the Persons Name it is endorsed to, and the sum received for it, duplicates of which accounts shall be transmitted to the Treasury Board every three Months or oftener if required.
That the Money received by the Loan Officers for Bills of Exchange be subject to the same Drafts and Regulations as that borrowed on Continental Loan Office Certificates.
That such Loan Officer be allowed a Commission of 1/16th per Cent for receiving and paying the amount of the Bills he Negotiates, and no more.
That the American Commissioners at the Court of France or any one on behalf of the rest, shall accept upon presentation all the Bills drawn on them by the President agreeable to Resolves of Congress specifying in the acceptance, the place where payment of said Bills or the Interest that may arise thereon is to be made, unless they shall procure some responsible Bank or Banker or other suitable Person or Persons to come under such acceptance, and in that case, they are to direct all such Bills to the place or Person where such acceptance is to be had.
That the said Commissioners or other Persons procured by them for this purpose shall pay off and discharge the said Bills as fast as they fall due if they have in hand sufficient Funds. That they keep fair records of the Bills they accept specifying the Numbers, dates, Sums, date of acceptance and when due, in order that they may be paid off in course.
That said Commissioners or other Persons procured by them for this purpose, if not possessed of sufficient Funds in due time to discharge
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said Bills as they shall fall due, shall punctually pay Interest annually in Paris at five per Cent per Ann: from the time such Bill falls due untill it is discharged, and when the Funds in hand enable the payment of Bills that have borne Interest, the said Commissioners or other Persons shall advertize in the Public News Papers the Numbers of such Bills as they want brought in for Payment, assigning a reasonable time when Interest shall cease if not then brought in.
That said Commissioners or other Persons appointed to pay the said Bills keep fair and regular accounts with the Dates of their Receipts and payments on account of the United States, transmitting several Copies thereof to the President of Congress annually, and that they cut into Quarters all the Bills they shall pay, sending three quarters of every Bill by seperate Conveyances with said accounts and keep the other Quarter themselves.
That the American Commissioners at the different Courts of Europe use their utmost endeavours to establish the Credit of these Bills at all the Banks and with all the Bankers in Europe, so that the same may be discounted for the emolument of the Possessors, should the American Funds not be at hand to discharge them as they fall due, and to the end that these Bills may obtain such Credit.
Resolved, That the Faith, Honor and Property of the United States of New Hampshire, &c. Be and they are hereby pledged to [such Princes, nations, States, Bodies corporate, Companies and Individuals as shall in pursuance of these Resolutions, respectively become Creditors of the said united States]1for payment and discharge of all the Bills of Exchange now ordered to be drawn by the President of Congress on the American Commissioners at the Court of France together with all such Interest as may arise or become due thereon, agreeable to the Tenor of said Bills, the Interest to be paid Annually as it falls due and the Principal as Fast as funds can be Lodged or borrowed for that purpose.
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets were added by James Duane.]
Resolved, That Congress will direct Exports of American produce to suitable Markets with orders for constant remittance of the Neat proceeds to the Commissioners or other Persons appointed in Paris for this purpose, to enable them to discharge punctually the Interest that may become due on these Bills or on the Loans negotiated to pay them, and also to discharge the principal of said Bills or Loans as fast as can be effected.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 63.]
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The Board of Treasury also brought in a report.
The Committee on the Ways and Means of procuring Salt, brought in a report.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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