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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 --SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1778
A letter, of the 24, and 28 December last, from Brigadier General Hand, at Fort Pitt, to the Board of War, were laid before Congress:
And a letter of the 9, from W. Palfrey, pay master general, to the Board of Treasury, was laid before Congress, and read.
A letter, of the 2, from General Washington, at Valley Forge, was read, recommending Major Clark to the notice of Congress:1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Hand are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 159, folios 423 and 427; that of Washington is in No. 152, V, folio 245.]
Ordered, That the letter from General Washington, be referred to the Board of War.
That the letters from Brigadier General Hand be referred to the Board of War.
Resolved, That his excellency Governor Henry be requested to enquire of Gabriel Jones and John Walker, Esqrs. two of the commissioners appointed to repair, without delay, to Fort Pitt, agreeably to a resolution of Congress of the 20th of November last, whether they accept of this appointment, and if they, or either of them, declines, to appoint a proper person or persons in his or their stead, who shall enter upon the business without delay.
Congress proceeded to the election of two auditors to audit and settle the public accounts in the main army, and the ballots being taken, Matthew Clarkson and Major John Clark, Esqrs. were elected.
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Ordered, That the letter from Mr. Palfrey be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of John Penn, Esqr. ∥delegate from the State of North Carolina,∥ for 276 45/90 dollars, advanced him which is to be charged to the State of North Carolina, and to be considered as a part of the 500,000 dollars, formerly appropriated for the use of the said State:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esqr. auditor general, for 500 dollars, in favour of William Palfrey, Esqr. paymaster general, for which he is to be accountable:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mons. Lotbinier, a Canadian Chaplain, for his pay due this day for 40 dollars:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour Captain William Scott, for five hundred dollars, advanced for the pay, and to purchase blankets for his company, belonging to one of the 16 regiments, commanded by Colonel Thruston; the said Captain Scott to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 11.]
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.
Three o'Clock, p. m
The committee to whom was referred the motion for appointing a committee of Congress to repair to camp, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas, it is essential to the promotion of good discipline and oeconomy in the army of these states, that the most speedy and effectual measures should be adopted for
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reducing the number of regiments in the continental service, and for reforming the abuses which have too long prevailed in the different departments belonging to the army:
Resolved, That three members of Congress, together with three members of the Board of War, be appointed a committee to repair to General Washington's headquarters, as soon as may be, and, in concert with him, to form and execute a plan for reducing the number of batallions in the continental service, reporting to Congress the names and ranks of such officers of merit now in the service as cannot be annexed to the batallions retained in the establishment, taking particular care in the appointment of officers to these batallions not to annex officers belonging to one State, to the batallions raised by another State; to recommend to Congress the necessary appointments of general officers; to remove officers in the civil departments of the army for misconduct, negligence, or incompetency, and to appoint others in their room, till the pleasure of Congress can be known; to remove all just causes of complaint relative to rank, confining it as nearly as possible to the military line; to report upon the expediency of appointing brigade instead of regimental chaplains, and also to remove from office any chaplain for ignorance or negligence in the duties of his office or for immoral conduct; to determine, and report as soon as may be, to Congress, their opinion of the necessary reinforcements for the cavalry, artillery, and infantry, and the best mode of obtaining them; to report such alterations as they shall deem expedient in the regulations of the several departments of the army, and, in general, to adopt such other measures as they shall judge necessary for introducing oeconomy and promoting discipline and good morals in the army.
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The members of Congress chosen, Mr. [Francis] Dana, Mr. [Joseph] Reed, and Mr. [Nathaniel] Folsom.
∥Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.∥
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