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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 --THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1778
A letter, of the 1st, from B. Harrison, deputy pay master general at Williamsburgh, and one, of the 21, from James Mease, cloathier general, at Lancaster, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter of the 19, from Governor Johnson, of Maryland, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
A letter, of the 6th, and one, of the 8, from Major General Heath, at Boston, with copies of letters that passed between him and Lieutenant General Burgoyne, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Johnson is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 241; those of Heath are in No. 157, folio 65, and in No. 57, folio 113.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the Treasurer in favour of the Board of War, for two hundred thousand dollars, to be sent to Ebenezer Hancock, Esqr. deputy pay master general of the eastern district, who is to be accountable, and that the warrant for this sum and for the 100,000 dollars already ordered to him, be paid and the money forwarded, in preference to all warrants on the Treasury, excepting one drawn in favor of Jonathan Trumbull, Junr, for 200,000 dollars.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 33.]
Resolved, That two millions of dollars be emitted, under the direction of the Treasury Board, and on the faith of the United States:
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That the bills shall, excepting the numbers, be of the same tenor and date as the emission directed the 8th instant, be numbered from the last number of each respective denomination of that emission progressively, and consist of the following denominations, viz.
That all powers and duties of Michael Hillegas, Esqr. and of the inspectors of the press, signers and printers of the emission directed on the 20 May last, shall extend to the said two millions now to be emitted, subject, however, to such directions and instructions as the Board of Treasury may judge expedient.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 29.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the Treasurer, in favour of William Buchanan, Esqr., commissary general of purchases, for 50,000 dollars, to be transmitted to the western district, for the use of the said commissary general's department; who is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the loan officer of Pensylvania, for 100,000 dollars, and one other on the treasurer for 50,000 dollars, in favour of James Mease, Esqr. cloathier general, to answer the draughts of his deputies in the several states, for cloathing purchased by them, and that he be directed to transmit to the Board of Treasury a list of the draughts which he shall have paid, with the money aforesaid, before he applies for further sums for
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this purpose; the said James Mease, Esqr., to be accountable for the said draughts.
Resolved, That the cloathier general be directed to pay to Mr. Paul Zantzinger the balance which shall appear to be due to him for 650 suits of cloaths, or for any part thereof, which he has purchased by order of Brigadier General Wayne, upon Mr. Zantzinger's producing sufficient vouchers of the cost of the cloathing, and proper receipts of the delivery thereof.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 31.]
Three o'Clock, p. m
Resolved, That the pay master general, or his deputies, be directed to pay the aids-de-camp of the Marquis de la Fayette, according to their rank, as the aids of other major generals are paid.
The Commercial Committee, to whom were referred the letters of Governor Johnson, of Maryland, and Mr. Buchanan, commissary general of purchases, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissary general of purchases be directed to purchase, in the state of Maryland and Virginia, upon the most reasonable terms, such a quantity of salt as he may think necessary for the immediate use of the army; and that the president write to the governor of Maryland, thanking him for the pains he has taken on this matter, and requesting him to assist the commissary general in the business aforesaid.
The Board of War brought in a report on the several despatches received from the northern department, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That an irruption be made into Canada, and that the Board of War be authorized to take every necessary measure for the execution of the business, under
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such general officers as Congress shall appoint, and apply for such sums of money as may be thought by them proper and requisite for the expedition.
Ordered, That the appointment of the general officers ¶to conduct the irruption,¶ be postponed till to morrow.
A letter, of this day, from W. Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general, and one from W. Buchanan, commissary general of purchases, were read.
A petition from Isaac Zane, Joseph Janney, Benjamin Wright, William Jackson, John Parrish, and Joseph Wright, was presented to Congress and read:1
[Note 1: 1 The petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 732. It is dated January 21.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three, who are directed to hear the petitioners:
The members chosen, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [John] Henry, and Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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