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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, OCTOBER 15, 1777
Mr. [John] Harvie, a delegate from Virginia, attended and took his seat in Congress.
Ordered, That the Committee of Commerce take effectual measures to make as public as possible the resolution passed yesterday, for making lawful prize British vessels ∥or cargoes∥ brought into any of the ports of the United States by the master or mariners.
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A letter, of the 8th, from General Putnam, at Fishkill, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
A motion was made for recruiting the army;
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [William] Duer and Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee.
Ordered, That the said committee sit on this business this evening, and report to morrow morning.
The committee to whom was referred the letter of William Buchanan, Esqr. commissary general of purchases, dated the 14th, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Resolved, That a deputy commissary general of purchases and a deputy commissary general of issues be appointed for supplying the forts and posts on the western frontiers of Pensylvania and Virginia, and that the limits of the district be assigned by the respective commissaries general:
That assistant purchasing commissaries be not allowed in the district aforesaid:
That the said deputy commissary general of issues be directed to receive from Colonel George Morgan, all the provisions in his possession belonging to the United States, who is directed to take receipts therefor, and to deliver his accounts and vouchers to the Board of Treasury, in order for settlement, and for charging the said provisions to the respective commissary.
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for appointing the deputy commissaries general aforesaid.
Congress resumed the consideration of the 14th article of the confederation ∥relative to the powers of Congress∥; and, after debate,
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The farther consideration thereof was postponed to the afternoon.
Adjourned to 4 o'Clock.
Four o'Clock, p.m.
Met.
Ordered, That Mr. [Robert] Morris have leave of absence for the remainder of this week.
The Committee of Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That there be advanced to William Buchanan, Esqr. commissary general of purchases, one hundred thousand dollars, on account of his department, for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 439.]
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider of and report a competent allowance to support the extraordinary expence of the president of Congress in the execution of his office:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Henry] Laurens, and Mr. [Robert] Morris.
Congress resumed the consideration of the 14 article of the confederation ∥under debate this morning;∥ whereon it was moved,
" That, in order to render the present union and confederacy firm and perpetual, it is essential that the limits of each respective territorial jurisdiction should be ascertained by the articles of confederation; and, therefore, it is recommended to the legislatures of every State to lay before Congress a description of the territorial lands of each of their respective states, and a summary of the grants, treaties, and proofs upon which they are claimed or established:" and the yeas and nays being required:
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So it passed in the negative.
It was then moved "That the United States in Congress assembled, shall have the sole and exclusive right and power to ascertain and fix the western boundary of such states as claim to the South Sea, and to dispose of all land beyond the boundary so ascertained, for the benefit of the United States;" and the question being put, passed in the negative.
It was then moved, "That the United States, in Congress assembled, shall have the sole and exclusive right and power to ascertain and fix the western boundary of such states as claim to the Mississippi or South Sea, and lay out the land beyond the boundary, so ascertained, into separate and independent states, from time to time, as the numbers and circumstances of the people thereof may require:"
And the yeas and nays being required:
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{table}
So it passed in the negative1
[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 82.]
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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