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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, OCTOBER 14, 1777
A letter, of the 13, from Colonel George Morgan, with sundry papers and accounts, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress resumed the consideration of the 9 article of confederation, and the amendment moved yesterday, viz. "That the proportion of the public expence incurred by the United States for their common defence and general welfare, to be paid by each State into the treasury, be ascertained by the value of all land within each State granted to, or surveyed for any person, as such land, and the buildings and improvements thereon shall be estimated, according to such mode as Congress shall, from time to time, direct and appoint;"
The yeas and nays being required, and the Question put
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of these proceedings on the confederation, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 47, folio 80. It reads: "Congress resumed the consideration of the 9th article of the confederation, as reported by the committee of the whole, whereon it was moved" &c.]
A memorial from William Buchanan, commissary general of purchases, was laid before Congress and read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 146.]
Ordered, It be referred to the committee appointed to confer with Mr. Buchanan.
Resolved, That Mr. [Nathaniel] Folsom, Mr. [John] Penn, and Mr. [Henry] Laurens be added to the Marine Committee, in the room of the members from their respective states, heretofore appointed on the said committee.
Whereas, the British nation have received into their ports, and condemned in their courts of admiralty, as lawful prize, several vessels and their cargoes belonging to these states, which the masters and mariners, in breach of the trust and confidence reposed in them, have betrayed and delivered to the officers of the British crown: and whereas such contract is contrary to that good faith and honour which all men ought to preserve inviolate, and repugnant to the practice of the commercial and civilized nations of Europe:
Resolved, therefore, That any vessel or cargo, the property of any British subject, not an inhabitant of Bermuda or any of the Bahama islands, brought into any of the ports or harbours of any of these United States by the master or mariners, shall be adjudged lawful prize, and divided among the captors in the same proportion as if taken by any continental vessel of war.
Adjourned to 4 o'Clock.
Four o'Clock, p.m.
Met.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
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Ordered, That the president issue a warrant to the commissioner of the loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for ten thousand dollars, in favour of William Henry, Esqr. appointed to purchase shoes and leather, and superintend the reparation of continental arms, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable.
Ordered, That there be paid to Robert Turner, or his order, 4621/3 dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn on the continental treasurer by John Ashe, Esqr. public treasurer of the State of North Carolina, in his favour, dated the 9th day of May, and expressed to be for the service of the United States; for which sum the said State is to be accountable, and the same is to be considered as part of the five hundred thousand dollars appropriated for that State.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 437.]
Congress took into consideration the fourteenth article of the confederation ∥relative to the manner of constituting the Congress of the United States:∥
On the question put,
Resolved, That no person shall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years in any term of six years.
It was moved, That no State shall be represented in Congress by less than two nor by more than seven members: and the yeas and nays being required, and the question put:
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of the proceedings on the confederation, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 47, folio 81. It again has the phrase "as reported by the Committee of the Whole."]
A memorial from the Chevalier Dorset, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 A memorial from the Chevalier Dorset, dated Bethlehem, September 27, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 418. It has a certificate by Lafayette of the Chevalier's merits.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Foreign Applications.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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