| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1777
Page 643 | Page image
A letter, of the 14, from H. B. Livingston, with sundry papers enclosed, and one, of the 24 of July, from Governor Henry, of Virginia, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIV, folio 179.]
Ordered, That the former be referred to the Board of War, and the latter to the Board of Treasury.
Congress took into consideration the reports of the Board of War; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the executive authorities in the several States be requested to transmit to Congress accounts of all monies advanced, and expences incurred by prisoners of war, during their residence in their respective States, and that such accounts be transmitted within the space of 12 weeks after receipt of this notice, or else to be forever thereafter foreclosed.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 307. The members of the Board present were Samuel Adams, George Clymer and William Duer.]
Resolved, That the part of Colonel Richardson's letter which relates to Thomas Lightfoot, be sent to the executive council of Pensylvania, with a request to have him secured.3
[Note 3: 3 The letter of W. Richardson is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 143.]
Resolved, That a copy of that part of Colonel Richardson's letter which relates to Thomas Cockayne, George Walton and Thomas Lightfoot, of Sussex county, in the state of Delaware, be transmitted to president M'Kinley, and that he be desired forthwith to take order for the apprehension and confinement, of the said Cockayne, Walton and Lightfoot; and that Colonel Richardson be ordered to afford every assistance in his power to president M'Kinley, and the officers whom he shall employ in this necessary service.
On the next proposition an amendment was moved as follows: "Congress took into consideration a letter from
Page 644 | Page image
Colonel Richardson, of 9 August, in which he informed Congress that he had seized and sent to Congress Peter and Burton Robinson, subjects of the Delaware State, accused of carrying on a criminal correspondence with the enemy, and thereupon resolved that they he immediately conveyed to the executive power of the Delaware State;"1
[Note 1: 1 This proposition, in the writing of Samuel Chase, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 346.]
The question put, carried in the negative. The question was then put on the proposition, carried in the affirmative, as follows:
Resolved, That Peter and Burton Robinson, be remanded to the Delaware State, whenever president M'Kinley shall order or request it.
A motion was then made as follows: "It being represented to Congress, that a large majority of the inhabitants of Sussex county, in the Delaware State, are disaffected,Resolved, That it be recommended to the State of Delaware, to pass a law, directing any inhabitant of that county, charged with treason, misprision of treason, or high and dangerous offences against that State, to be tried in any other county of the State:"
Moved to strike out the preamble, carried in the affirmative. Question on the resolution carried in the negative.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the president of the Delaware State, to order 20 light horse to join Colonel Richardson, in the county of Sussex, and give him all assistance in their power, to execute the directions of the said State, in the room of the 200 militia ordered there.2
[Note 2: 2 In thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 345, are those resolutions in the writing of John Adams and [?]]
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of Treasury of the 13th, and thereupon, came to the following resolutions:
Whereas, the State of Georgia has advanced very considerable sums of money, for the pay and subsistence of
Page 645 | Page image
continental troops employed by the directions of Congress, in the defence of that State, and for that, and other continental uses, emitted bills of credit and certificates, which they are very desirous should be redeemed and cancelled; and it being just and reasonable that the accounts of such expenditures should be forthwith settled, and the balance which shall appear to be due from the United States paid, and that a further provision should be made for supplying the military chest, in Georgia, with money, for the pay and subsistence of the troops stationed in that State for the future:
Resolved, therefore, That commissioners of accounts be appointed to state and settle all accounts and claims respecting the United States, which have arisen or shall arise in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and that they repair, without delay, to Georgia, and examine and adjust all continental accounts with that State, or any officers or individuals within the same, and that they be empowered to receive and pay the balances of accounts, as they shall be respectively owing to, or from, the United States, and report their proceedings to the treasury board, in order to their being laid before Congress and finally confirmed.
Resolved, That 400,000 dollars be remitted to the State of Georgia, on account of the monies so advanced by that State, for the use of the United States; that such sum be paid out of the money hereafter directed to be emitted, unless the Board of Treasury shall be of opinion, that it may be sooner spared from the treasury, in which case a warrant shall issue on their application without respect to the said emission: That the warrant shall be drawn on the treasurer at Baltimore, or auditor general, as, in the opinion of the Board of Treasury, shall be most convenient, and in favour of the Board of War, who are to transmit the money to the said State, [for the sole purpose
Page 646 | Page image
of calling in, exchanging and cancelling all such bills of credit and certificates as have been emitted by that State, for the pay and subsistence of the troops of the United States and other continental purposes:]1
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets are in the writing of James Duane.]
That another warrant shall issue in the manner prescribed by the preceding resolution, in favour of the Board of War, for 300,000 dollars, to be remitted by them to the deputy pay master general, for the pay and subsistence of the continental troops in Georgia:
That if, on the settlement of accounts between the United States and the State of Georgia, less shall appear to be due to that State than the sum directed to be transmitted, the surplus shall be paid by the said State into the hands of Joseph Clay, Esqr. deputy pay master general at Georgia, whose receipt shall be a sufficient voucher; but, if more shall appear to be due to the said State, the balance shall be paid to the said State by the said deputy pay master general, on the warrants of the commissioners who shall adjust the account.
Resolved, That as a fund for the above and other purposes, one million of dollars be emitted under the direction of the Treasury Board, and on the faith of the United States: that the bills shall, excepting the numbers, be of the same tenor and date as the emission now executing, be numbered from the last number of each respective denomination of that emission progressively, and consist of the following denominatiens, to wit: 15,384 bills of the denomination of 3 dollars, the like number of 4 dollars, the like number of 5 dollars, the like number of 6 dollars, and the like number of 7 dollars respectively, and 15,385 of the denomination of 2 dollars, and the like number of 8 dollars, and the like number of 30 dollars respectively:
Page 647 | Page image
That all powers and duties of Michael Hillegas, Esqr. and of the inspectors of the press, signers and printers of the said emission now executing, shall extend to the said one million to be emitted, subject, however, to such directions and instructions as the Board of Treasury may judge expedient:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 355.]
Resolved, That all former resolutions of Congress respecting the premises be repealed.
A memorial from Nicholas Garret, was read:
Ordered, To be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The committee to whom was referred the consideration of the petition of Peter Knight and John Green, report, "That, having heard the arguments of counsel upon the said petition, they are of opinion, from the particular circumstances of the case, that the appeal of the said Knight and Green, from the sentence of the court of admiralty for the State of Georgia, in the cause Major John White and Lieutenant John Hardy, against the sloopPolly, &c. should be received and heard, notwithstanding the said appeal was not entered within five days, or lodged within forty days, as directed by the resolve of Congress;" Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be received.
The several matters &c. ∥to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |