| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1778
Resolved, That Major General Gates be empowered to appoint two such persons from the line as he may think proper, to act as additional aids de camp.
A letter of 23, from Major General M'Dougall, at Fishkill, with sundry papers enclosed, was read:
Ordered, That extracts of the said letter be sent to the treasury, and that the letter, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the Board of War.
Page 399 | Page image
A letter, of 22, from Major General Conway, was read, requesting leave to resign his commission:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of McDougall is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 161, folio 87; that of Conway is in No. 159, folio 473.]
Whereupon, it was moved, that his resignation be accepted:
Question put, and the yeas and nays required,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A letter, of 28,2 from [Thomas] Burke, was reed, informing, that the instrument authenticating his last election as a delegate from North Carolina, is dated May 4, 1777: "That both his colleagues have informed him that they believed the election was made on the 28 April preceding;" that "the constitution of the State requires the election of delegates to be annual," &c. expressing his belief "that his power of representing that State is at an
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, 473. It is printed in State Records of North Carolina, XIII, 105.]
Page 400 | Page image
end;" intimating that "the instrument referred to is on the journals of Congress, and they can determine whether his attendance can be longer commanded;" and requesting "their opinion thereon;" that "his absenting himself may not be deemed a contempt or breach of order:" Whereupon, a motion was made, that Mr. [Thomas] Burke be directed to attend his duty in Congress:
Question put, passed in the negative.
A motion was then made, that Mr. [Thomas] Burke be informed, that Congress consider him as a delegate from the State of North Carolina, till the assembly of his State shall direct otherwise:
The previous question was moved, whether that question shall now be put? and the yeas and nays being required,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
A motion was made to resolve,
That Mr. [Thomas] Burke is not a member of this house.
Page 401 | Page image
To which the previous question was moved, whether that question be now put? the yeas and nays being required,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.1
[Note 1: 1 See Burke's letter to Governor Caswell, April 25, in State Records of North Carolina, XIII, 102.]
At a Board of War, April 27, 1778
Present: General Gates General Mifflin Colo. Pickering Mr. Peters
Whereas from the Situation of the Peninsula formed by the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, there is great Reason to believe that the same will, in the Course of the ensuing Campaign, be exposed to the Ravages of the Enemy, and on this Account, as well as the notorious Disaffection of great Numbers of the Inhabitants of that Country, it is to be apprehended that the British Army will draw very considerable Supplies of Horses therefrom;
Agreed to report to Congress,
That Major H. Lee, commanding an independent Corps of Cavalry, whose Services are immediately wanted in the Field, have liberty and be empowered to seize and take so many Horses as are necessary to
Page 402 | Page image
mount his Corps, from the Inhabitants of the said Peninsula. That in executing this Authority, he is to avoid as much as may be taking from the well affected, and take those Horses first which are the most likely to fall into the Enemy's Hands. That previous to his so seizing and taking the Horses, he tender a reasonable Price for any Horse he may think fit for Service, and in case of Refusal that he execute the Authority heretofore given, procuring a Valuation to be made by two or more indifferent and honest Men of the Horse so seized, and on such Valuation being made, that he pay or tender the Amount thereof to the Owner or Person having the Horse in Possession.
Resolved, That 50,000 dollars be advanced to Major Lee, on account, for the purpose of purchasing horses, and towards recruiting and equipping his corps.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the pay of a secretary of a major general, acting in a separate department, be increased to 50 dollars a month.
Ordered, That 100,000 dollars be paid to the delegates of Maryland, to be by them transmitted to the governor and council of their State, on whose application, by order of the general assembly, this sum is advanced; the said State to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 251.]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |