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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 --FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1777
Ordered, That the letters from R. Varick, ∥read yesterday,∥ with the muster rolls enclosed, be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of the 15, from Monsieur de la Balme, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 145.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee sent to confer with General Washington, and the remonstrance from the council and assembly of Pensylvania:
Mention being made in the report, of letters containing the opinions of the general officers, on different subjects, which were laid before the committees by the General, and on which they had founded their opinion: the committee were asked whether they had those letters?
The committee replied that they had brought the letters with them, but that the General, when he delivered them the letters, mentioned that they might keep them to satisfy themselves and form their judgment, and return them to him when they had done with them. And therefore, they considered themselves obliged to return them to the General.
Ordered, That the committee lay the said letters on the table for the perusal of the members.
The letters were accordingly brought and laid on the table.
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.
Three o'Clock, p. m.
A certificate from Major General Gates, certifying that he has promoted Dennis John de Bouchet, to the rank of major, was laid before Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
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Congress resumed the consideration of the report from the committee sent to confer with General Washington, and the remonstrance from the executive council and assembly of Pensylvania; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a copy of the remonstrance be transmitted by express to General Washington, and that he be desired to inform Congress whether he has come to a fixed resolution to canton the army; and if he has, what line of cantonment he has proposed; in particular, what measures are agreed on for the protection of that part of Pensylvania which lies on the easterly side of Schuylkill, and of the State of New Jersey:
That General Washington be farther informed, that, in the opinion of Congress, the State of New Jersey demands, in a peculiar degree, the protection of the armies of the United States, so far as the same can possibly be extended, consistent with the safety of the army and the general welfare; as that State lies open to attacks from so many quarters, and the struggles which have been made by the brave and virtuous inhabitants of that State, in defence of the common cause, cannot fail of exposing them to the particular resentment of a merciless enemy.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of War of the 12, and thereupon, came to the following resolution:
Whereas, Sir William Howe, commander in chief of his Britannic majesty's forces, has required that provisions should be sent in for the subsistence of the American prisoners in his possession, and for the purchase of such necessaries as they may stand in need of, and has prohibited the circulation of the money struck by the authority of these states, within such parts of the country as are at present subjected to his power; whereby great difficulties have occurred in relieving the distresses of the American
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prisoners; and whereas large sums of continental bills of credit1 have been counterfeited and issued by the agents,emissaries and abettors of Sir William Howe:2
[Note 1: 1 The original report here read: "Which have been plundered by the enemy from the Citizens of these States.]
[Note 2: 2 The original report added: "have not only facilitated to them the means of supplying the Prisoners in the Power of these States at a very low Rate, whilst great obstructions have been thrown in our way, but have likewise tended to encourage the circulation of counterfeit Continental Bills."]
Resolved, That the accounts of all provisions and other necessaries which already have been, or which hereafter may be supplied by the public to prisoners in the power of these states, shall be discharged by either receiving from the British commissary of prisoners or any of his agents, provisions or other necessaries, equal in quality and kind to what have been supplied, or the amount thereof in gold and silver, at the rate of four shillings and six pence sterling for every dollar of the currency of these states: and that all these accounts be liquidated and discharged, previous to the release of any prisoners to whom provisions or other necessaries shall have been supplied.
The Board taking into Consideration the Letter from General Heath of the 1st Instant with the Petition and Papers enclosed from the Canadian Prisoners, beg leave to report as their opinion, that Congress take into their immediate Consideration a report of a Committee of Congress respecting the establishment of a French Legion, as the most eligible mode of providing for the said Prisoners.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 417. The members of the Board present were: Francis Lightfoot Lee, William Duer, John Harvie, and Jonathan Bayard Smith.]
Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for taking into consideration the report of the committee, respecting the establishment of a French legion.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereon,
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Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of John Gibson, Esqr. auditor general, for six thousand dollars, to enable him to discharge a part of the warrant of Congress of 1st September last, drawn on him in favour of the delegates of Georgia; the said auditor general to be accountable.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the Honorable Henry Laurens, Esqr. for 400 dollars, to discharge William Palfrey, pay master general, his draft, of the 11 December, in favour of Colonel Moses Rawlins; the said pay master general to be accountable.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Isaac Wikoff, for 600 dollars, to discharge John Ashe his draft, dated State of North Carolina, 5th of March last, in favour of William Dry, expressed to be for the payment and support of continental troops; the said State to be accountable, and to be considered as a part of the 500,000 dollars, appropriated for the use of that State.
∥The several matters to this day referred, being postponed,∥
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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