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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, APRIL 29, 1778
A letter, of 16, from Major General Schuyler, with sundry papers enclosed, relative to Indian affairs, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Schuyler is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folio 294.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
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Resolved, That three members be added to that committee:
The members chosen, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, Mr. T[homas] Adams, and Mr. J[onathan] B[ayard] Smith.
Another letter, of 16, from Major General Schuyler, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folio 306.]
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to examine the evidence collected, and state charges against the general officers who were in the northern department when Ticonderoga and Mount Independence were evacuated:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and Mr. [Francis] Dana.
Ordered, That the letter lie on the table.
A letter, of 27, from General Washington, with an extract of a letter from Major General Heath, and sundry other papers enclosed, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 529.]
Ordered, That the extract of the letter from Major General Heath be referred to the Board of Treasury:
That the letter from General Washington, with the other papers enclosed, be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
A letter, of 28, from the Board of War, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Two letters, of 24th, from Governor Rodney, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 These letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folios 647 and 651.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the committee appointed for the purposes expressed in sundry resolutions passed the 20th instant.
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A letter, of 17, from Major de Bois, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, folio 465.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Congress proceeded to the election of members for the Marine Committee, in the room of such as are absent; and the ballots being taken, Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder was elected for New Jersey; Mr. [George] Plater for Maryland; Mr. T[homas] Adams for Virginia.
The commissioners of accounts at the Treasury Board, with the approbation of the auditor general, report,
That there is due to Major James Armstrong Wilson, for his independent company, stationed at Carlisle, for the purpose of guarding public stores, two months' pay, commencing the 1st February, and ending 31 March last, both days included, 843 10/90 dollars; and to twelve men belonging to different regiments in General Wayne's division, doing duty with Major Wilson's company, their pay, commencing and ending the same time, 150 40/90 dollars:
That there is also due to Captain Samuel Postlethwaite's company, likewise stationed at Carlisle, for the same purpose, their pay from their first establishment to the 31 March, inclusive, amounting to 1,468 48/90 dollars:
That there is also due to Captain Postlethwaite, for taking up four deserters belonging to different regiments, the account of which will be sent to the pay master general, the sum of 52 dollars; the whole amounting to 2,514 44/90 dollars, from which is to be deducted 1,000 dollars, part of 2,020 dollars, which were formerly advanced to Major Wilson, the balance to be paid to Major Wilson, by a warrant on the treasurer, 1,514 44/90 dollars:2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 255.]
Ordered, That the said sum be paid.
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The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report: Whereupon,
Ordered, That 65,000 dollars be paid to Lieutenant Morrow, to be by him conveyed to Colonel Baylor, in Virginia, for the purpose of purchasing horses, arms, and accoutrements for the cavalry:
That a warrant issue on William Armistead, Esq. commissioner of the loan office in the State of Virginia, in favor of Colonel Baylor, for the sum of 35,000 dollars, to answer the same purpose; for both which sums, amounting to 100,000 dollars, the said Colonel Baylor is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 253.]
Resolved, That for the space of ten days, commencing to morrow, Congress meet precisely at ten, and adjourn at one, and on the same day, meet precisely at three, and adjourn at six o'clock, P. M. and that Congress be not, on any account whatever, kept over the times fixed for adjournment, if any one State shall insist upon adjourning.
The committee appointed to prepare proposals to such foreign officers and soldiers as incline to become citizens of America, brought in a report, which being read and amended, was agreed to as follows:
To the officers and soldiers in the service of the King of Great Britain, not subjects of the said King:
The citizens of the United States of America are engaged in a just and necessary war--a war in which they are not the only persons interested. They contend for the rights of human nature, and therefore merit the patronage and assistance of all mankind. Their success will secure a refuge from persecution and tyranny to those who wish to pursue the dictates of their own consciences, and to reap the fruits of their own industry.
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That kind Providence, who from seeming evil often produces real good, in permitting us to be involved in this cruel war, and you to be compelled to aid our enemies in their vain attempts to enslave us, doubtless hath in view to establish perfect freedom in this new world, for those who are borne down by the oppression and tyranny of the old.
Considering, therefore, that you are reluctantly compelled to be the instruments of avarice and ambition, we not only forgive the injuries which you have been constrained to offer us, but we hold out to your acceptance a participation of the privileges of free and independent states. Large and fertile tracts of country invite and will amply reward your industry.
Townships, from twenty to thirty thousand acres of land, shall be laid out and appropriated to such of you as will come over to us, in the following manner.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph reads in the original report: "Townships containing from twenty to sixty thousand acres shall be laid out for you, and divided into farms of one hundred acres each; and every non-commissioned officer and soldier, who shall leave the enemy, and come over to us, shall be entitled to one such farm; every ensign to two; every lieutenant to three; every captain to four, and so on, in progression, according to their rank."]
[Every captain who shall bring with himself forty men from the service of the enemy, before the first day of September, 1778, shall receive eight hundred acres of good woodland; also four oxen, one bull, three cows, and four hogs.2 If this captain is accompanied with his lieutenant, the lieutenant shall receive four hundred acres of woodland, also two oxen, two cows, and four hogs.
[Note 2: 2 The original also promised eight axes, fen shovels, and ten spades.]
[Every sergeant who shall accompany his captain shall receive two hundred acres of land, two oxen, one bull, one cow, and three hogs.
[Every soldier who shall accompany his captain shall receive fifty acres of land, one ox, one cow, and two hogs.
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[If a lieutenant, or other commissioned officer under the rank of a captain, shall bring off from his company twenty five men, he shall receive six hundred acres of land, two oxen, two cows, and four hogs.1
[Note 1: 1 The original promised in addition: "Double the quantity of stock and instruments of husbandry from what has been proposed to him in case he comes off with his captain."]
[Every sergeant, or non-commissioned officer who shall bring off parties of men, shall receive an additional bounty of twenty acres of land for every man so brought off. And every soldier, who shall come off without a commissioned or non-commissioned officer, shall receive fifty acres of land; and if he brings off his arms and accoutrements, an additional bounty of twenty dollars.
Both Officers and Soldiers who shall come off together, shall be at Liberty either to separate themselves, or to unite for the purpose of affording to each other Mutual Succour in the Establishments they make, and to form themselves into Townships after the Model of many German Settlements in various Parts of these States, which Exhibit an Example of that Happiness which is now offered to those who are wise Enough to accept of it.
[Such officers and soldiers shall be at liberty immediately to employ themselves in the settlement of their farms, without being obliged to do any military duty;2 and they shall receive rations in proportion to their rank for the space of six weeks.3
[Note 2: 2 The original added: "during the present war."]
[Note 3: 3 The original added: "From the time of their desertion."]
[The stock hereby offered shall be given to such officers and soldiers as shall actually settle on the lands respectively granted to them.4
[Note 4: 4 Paragraphs preceded by a [ were in the nature of a substitute for the original proposition, and are in the writing of William Duer.]
Such of the officers and non-commissioned officers as choose to enter into the military line, shall receive an additional rank in detached corps, which shall be formed of native Germans of those who now reside in America;
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which corps shall not be employed but with their own consent in any other service than that of guards at a distance from the enemy, or in garrison upon the western frontiers.1
[Note 1: 1 The original added: "to defend the Frontiers against the Incursions of the Indians. The Term of Enlistment shall be for three Years or during the present War, at the Expiration of which they, if they think proper, shall receive the Lands which have been promised them."]
Such of you as are skilled in manufactures, over and above these lands and other articles, will find riches in prosecuting your occupations, the necessaries of life being very cheap in proportion to the price of manufactures, and the demand for them is so great, that every mechanick will find full employment. Some of you have had an opportunity of observing the truth of these assertions, and will doubtless inform their countrymen and acquaintance of these facts.
We have hitherto met you in the field of battle, with hostile minds, urged on by the great principle of self-defence; yet in those instances, where the fortune of war hath delivered any of your countrymen into our hands, we appeal to them that our enmity hath ceased the moment they were disarmed; and we have treated them more like citizens than prisoners of war. We now address you as part of the great family of mankind, whose freedom and happiness we most earnestly wish to promote and establish.
Disdain, then, to continue the instruments of frantick ambition and lawless power. Feel the dignity and importance of your nature. Rise into the rank of free citizens of free states. Desist from the vain attempt to ravage and depopulate a country you cannot subdue, and accept from our munificence what can never be obtained from our fears. We are willing to receive you with open arms into the bosom of our country. Come, then, and partake of the blessings we tender you in sincerity of heart.
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In the name of these sovereign, free, and independent states we promise and engage to you that great privilege of man, the free and uninterrupted exercise of your religion, complete protection of your persons from injury, the peaceable possession of the fruits of your honest industry, the absolute property in the soil granted to you to defend, unless you shall otherwise dispose of it, to your children and your children's children for ever.1
[Note 1: 1 The original added: "and, in fine, to admit you into the full enjoyment of all the rights, liberties, privileges and immunities of free and natural born subjects of these States."]
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states, who have vacant lands, to lay off with as much expedition as possible, a sufficient quantity of lands to answer the purposes expressed in the foregoing address; for which lands no charge is to be made against the United States.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Francis Dana, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 25. The last paragraph is in the writing of Charles Thomson.]
On the question to agree to the foregoing address and resolution, the yeas and nays being required
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
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Ordered, That one thousand copies of the address be published in the German language and dispersed as General Washington and the Board of War shall direct.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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