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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 --MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1778
The President laid before Congress a packet containing blank papers, which he informed Congress he received yesterday from a John Folger, who says he was sent by the commissioners at Paris, with despatches to Congress:
Ordered, That Mr. [Francis] Dana and the Board of War take the examination of the said John Folger respecting this packet.
Congress proceeded to the election of three members of the Board of War, to join the three members of Congress, and proceed to the camp for the purposes mentioned in the resolution passed on Saturday, and, the ballots being taken, Major General Gates, Major General Mifflin, and Colonel Pickering, were elected.
Resolved, That another member of Congress be added to the foregoing committee.
The member chosen, Mr. [John] Harvie.
A letter, of the 10th, from Samuel and Robert Purviance, at Baltimore, was read informing among other thing that a vessel is arrived there with 2500 bushels of salt.
Adjourned to 3 o'Clock.
Three o'Clock, p. m
The committee appointed to examine J. Folger respecting the despatches with which he was charged by the commissioners at Paris, laid before Congress his examination, reduced to writing, which was read; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That the president inform Governor Caswell, of North Carolina, of the purport of the said examination, and request him to examine the persons who came over in the vessel with J. Folger, and inform Congress of every circumstance that may come to his knowledge respecting the said despatches:
That the Board of War be directed to confine the said John Folger in close prison, till advice can be received from Governor Caswell, or till further orders from Congress.
Resolved, That copies of the report of the committee on the letters that passed between General Heath and General Burgoyne, and General Burgoyne's letter to General Gates, together with resolutions of Congress thereon, signed by the president, and attested by the secretary, be transmitted to the several states, to General Washington, and two copies to Major General Heath, who is directed to furnish Lieutenant General Burgoyne with one copy of the same, and to order the vessels which may have arrived, or which shall arrive, for the transportation of the army under Lieutenant General Burgoyne, to quit, without delay, the port of Boston.
Resolved, That the council of Massachusetts bay be requested to afford to General Heath the necessary assistance for immediately increasing the guards placed over the troops of General Burgoyne, to the number, if they judge proper, of fifteen hundred or more, and that they be not reduced until the transports of the enemy shall have left the port of Boston, and the post at Providence shall be properly reinforced so long afterwards as the council shall judge necessary.
Whereas, Congress have received information that a sloop named the Pennsylvania Farmer is arrived at Baltimore from Curoçoa, with a load of salt, the property of
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Mr. Gerardus Beekman, a citizen of the State of New York, but now with the enemy in the city of Philadelphia: and whereas, the delegates representing the State of New York have applied for the interposition of Congress, that proper measures might be taken for seizing the salt, and whereas the public service will suffer the most material injury if the most expeditious measures are not adopted for securing this cargo for the use of the United States:
Resolved, That the governor and council of the State of Maryland be desired forthwith to take measures for securing the said salt for the use of the United States, and to cause the same, without delay, to be delivered to the commissary general of purchases, or any of his deputies; and in case the information given to Congress should be ill founded, and that the cargo above-mentioned should be bona fide the property of any faithful citizen of these states, or of any foreigner, that the governor and council of the State of Maryland be desired to seize the same, as well as all other quantities of salt, and to cause the same to be delivered, agreeable to the directions above mentioned.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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