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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, SEPTEMBER 9, 1777
A letter, of the 26 August, from Colonel G. Morgan, with two letters to him from Brigadier Hand, ordering him to lay in provisions for 2,000 men for 6 months, with an estimate of the expence, was read:
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Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The delegate from Rhode Island and Providence Plantations laid before Congress a resolution passed by the general assembly of that State, which was read, and is as follows:
In the Lower House,August 22, 1777.
Resolved, That the delegates appointed, or who may be appointed to represent this State in Congress, be, and they, or either of them, are hereby empowered to represent said State in Congress, until they, or either of them, shall have due notice of their re-election, or until the delegates who may be appointed in their room, shall take their seats in Congress; the act directing the election of said delegates for one year to the contrary notwithstanding.
Voted and past. Per order,J. Lyndon,Clerk.
In the Upper House, read the same day and concurred.
By order,R. J. Helme,deputy Secretary.
A letter, of the 7, from General Putnam; and one, of the 2d, from Peter Colt, both directed to W. Buchanan, commissary general ∥of purchases,∥ were laid before Congress:1
[Note 1: 1 These letters are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 159, folios 87 and 91.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee of the whole, which is in these words:
That the interest which shall arise after the date of this resolution on loan office certificates already issued, or which shall be issued before the first day of March next, be annually paid at the respective loan offices in bills of exchange on the commissioners of the United States in Paris, at the rate of five livres of France for every Spanish milled dollar due for interest as aforesaid, or in continental bills of credit, at the option of the respective lenders.
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On considering the above report, the house was moved,
That the interest which shall arise, after the date of this resolution on loan office certificates which shall be issued in pursuance of former resolutions of Congress, be annually paid at the respective loan offices in bills of exchange, on the commissioners of the United States in Paris; and that the yeas and nays may be entered. The question being put, the yeas and nays were taken as follows:1
[Note 1: 1 The division by States is found for the first time in this entry of the ayes and noes.]
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The House was then moved, that such interest be paid in bills of exchange, at the rate of six per cent. per annum; on motion made to strike out "six" and insert "five," the question was put:
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So it passed in the negative.
Congress being informed that Colonel Forman was at the door, and had a message to deliver to Congress from General Washington:
Ordered, That he be introduced.
Colonel Forman being introduced, delivered his message and withdrew.
Congress having received information from General Washington, that a great part of the enemy's fleet have sailed with intention, as it is apprehended, to come round into the Delaware river; and, whereas, General Washington hath requested that a proper look-out be kept up, and intelligence be sent him, with as much despatch as possible, of the movements of the said fleet,
Ordered, That the executive council of the State of Pensylvania be informed thereof, and that it be recommended to them to attend to this matter.
Resolved, That General Washington be requested to
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appoint a proper person at head-quarters to write to the president twice a day, or oftener if necessary, advising the position and movements of the armies; and that the Board of War appoint proper expresses for conveying the said letters with the utmost expedition.
The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,1
[Note 1: 1 In thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 11, is the following motion, in the writing of James Wilson. It is endorsed: "Mr. Wilson's Motion, Sept. 9, 1777. Agreed to be taken up immediately after the report from the Comee of the Whole, is determined."
"Resolved, That General Washington be directed to employ Major General St Clair in such command as the General shall think proper, or,
"That the General Officers who commanded in the Northern Department at the Time of the Evacuation of Ticonderoga, and Major General Sullivan, concerning whose Conduct, as well as concerning General St Clair's, an Enquiry is ordered, be superseded from their Command in the Army till that Enquiry be had."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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