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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 --THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1777
Prayers.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That there be advanced to Stevens Thomson Mason, Esqr. appointed deputy commissary for the prisoners of war in Virginia, two thousand dollars, for the maintenance of the said prisoners, and for which he is to be accountable; and that a copy of this order, signed by
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the secretary, be a sufficient voucher to the treasurer to pay this sum.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 425.]
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the government of the State of Connecticut be requested to permit the workmen at Salisbury iron works to cast mortars for continental use of such calibres, and in such numbers, as shall be directed by Brigadier General Knox, and that he be informed of this resolution, and desired to write to Governor Trumbull on the subject:
That a letter be written by the Board of War to the government of the State of New York, representing, in the strongest terms, the great want of lead, the absolute necessity there is for providing seasonable resources of that article: that it be therefore earnestly recommended to the said government forthwith to take measures for having the lead mines in that State worked; and that, in case a sufficient number of labourers cannot be procured for that purpose, the commissary general of prisoners be directed to furnish a competent number of prisoners of war for that end.2
[Note 2: 2 These paragraphs were in two reports of the Board, dated October 28 and 29, in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folios 375 and 377.]
Resolved, That William Feltman, second lieutenant in Captain Weaver's independent company, be advanced to the rank of first lieutenant:
That Ensign Bachenstone be promoted to the rank of second lieutenant; and
That Joseph Bank be appointed an ensign in the said company.3
[Note 3: 3 These promotions were made on a report from the Board of War, dated October 24, in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 373. The report had the following note: "An Officer is Waiting in Town for the Confirmation of the above promotions, by Congress, and for the Commissions."]
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Congress resumed the consideration of the 14 article of confederation, whereon it was moved in the 2d 1. 4 p. to strike out "council of state, and such"1 and insert "a committee to sit in the recess of Congress, to consist of one delegate from each State, and to appoint such other," and then to strike out what follows "direction" to the end of the paragraph, and on the question put,
[Note 1: 1 Some words necessary to clearness were omitted by Thomson.]
Resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was then made [on] the first part of the next paragraph, when, at the desire of a State, the consideration thereof was postponed.
It was then moved to strike out "and a suitable person for a secretary," ∥and read "to appoint one of their number to preside:"∥ and after the word "year" in the 8 line to insert, "so that no period of adjournment be for a longer duration than the space of six months."
In the 9 line to strike out "agree on and fix" and assert "ascertain," and after "sums" to strike out "and expences," and insert, "of money to be raised for the service of the United States, and to appropriate and apply the same for defraying the public expences:"
in the 11 line after "States" to add, "transmitting every half year to the respective states an account of the money so borrowed or emitted."
in the 16 line after "and," to insert "cloath."
in the 171, after "manner," to insert "at the expence of the united states."
in the 18 l. after "so," to insert "cloathed."
in the 27 l. after "officered," to insert "cloathed."
in the 32 l. before "arm," to insert "cloath."
in the 34 l. before "armed," to insert "cloathed."
in the 39 l. to strike out "except for peace."
And the questions being severally put thereon,
Resolved in the affirmative.
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It was then moved after "same" in the 47 l. to insert "provided that the nine states so assenting shall comprehend a majority of the people of the united states excluding negroes and indians, for which purpose a true account of the number of free people in each State shall be triennially taken and transmitted to the assembly of the united states." And the yeas and nays being required:
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
It was then moved after "kind" in the 8 1. to strike out "shall be capable of being a delegate."
And in the 6 l. after "person" to insert "being a delegate shall be capable of."
On the question put,
Resolved in the affirmative.
And the question being put on the several paragraphs as amended, the same were agreed to.
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The next paragraph was divided, and the question being put on the first part,
Resolved in the affirmative.
It was moved to amend the second part:
In the 14 l.5 p. after "question," to insert "except on a previous question."
In the 16 line to strike out "delegate" and insert "state;" and the question being severally put,
Passed in the negative.
The yeas and nays being required, and the question put on the second part as reported:
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The question being put on the third and last part of the paragraph,
Resolved in the affirmative.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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