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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, DECEMBER 4, 1777
A letter of the 30th November, from Joseph Reed, wherein he declines to accept the office of commissioner to the western frontiers, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 169.]
Resolved, That he be excused.
A letter, of the 1st, from General Washington, and one, of the same date, from Brigadier General Varnum, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 229. It is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford), VI, 229. That of Varnurn is in No. 78, XXIII, folio 73.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five. The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. [William] Duer, Mr. [Francis] Dana, Mr. [James] Duane, and Mr. [John] Harvie.
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Resolved, That the report of the Board of Treasury, on the regulations for the payment of the army, be referred to the new Board of War.
The Board of War brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas, experience hath evidenced that the laws which have been enacted in the State of Pensylvania, permitting the furnishing of substitutes to perform militia duty, have not only tended to impede the march of the militia on critical occasions, but likewise to impede the recruiting service, and to encourage desertions from the continental army:
Resolved, That it be submitted to the consideration of the legislature of the commonwealth of Pensylvania, forthwith to repeal the clause in the said laws which permits the hiring of substitutes to perform militia duty; and, in lieu thereof, to impose and lay such fines on those persons who neglect, or refuse to march when called forth on duty, as the said legislature shall deem adequate to personal service; the fines so levied to be appropriated as a fund for granting such additional bounties to continental recruits as the legislature may deem expedient, in order to complete the deficiencies in their quota of continental troops.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated November 27, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 399. The members of the Board present were, Francis Lightfoot Lee, William Duer, Joseph Jones, and John Harvie.]
Resolved, That the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department be authorised to offer the Indians, whom they may engage to undertake the reduction of the fort and garrison of Niagara, such reward, whether of money or goods, as they may think adequate to the purpose, having in contemplation as well the
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oeconomy necessary to be observed, as the importance of the object: And for this purpose, that they have authority to draw on the military chest in the northern department for a sum not exceeding 15,000 dollars, and also to receive out of the public stores in the northern department such a reasonable quantity of ammunition for the use of the said nations as may, in the opinion of the commissioners, be necessary to promote the public service.
Resolved, That if the commissioners of Indian affairs in the northern department cannot engage the Indians to undertake the enterprize against Niagara, unless a promise is previously made, that the fort, if taken shall be entirely dismantled, in such case, they be authorised to make this Convention.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of these resolves, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is m the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 63, folio 93.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esqr. auditor general, in favour of Michael Hillegas, Esqr. for three hundred and eighty dollars, for cash he advanced to Lieutenant Allen, and the price of a horse and chair to convey 300,000 dollars to North Carolina in July last; the same to be accounted for by the State of North Carolina, and to be considered as a part of the 500,000 dollars appropriated for the use of that State:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esqr. auditor general, in favour of Lieutenant John Allen, for 90 60/90 dollars, the balance of his expences to and from North Carolina with 300,000 dollars to that State in July last; the State to be accountable, and to be considered as a part of the 500,000 dollars ordered to that State:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esqr. auditor general, in favour of John Brown, for his services
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as clerk to the Secret Committee from the 18th March, 1776, to 21 July, 1777, at 50 dollars a month, 805 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, I, folio 511.]
A memorial from John Connolly, a prisoner in York Town gaol, was read:
Ordered, That it be dismissed.
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the legislatures of the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, Connecticut, and New York, to take effectual measures for the preservation of all pine timber growing within their respective territories, which may be suitable and useful for masts or other purposes of navigation, and for preventing any waste and destruction of that valuable kind of timber.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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