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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, FEBRUARY 14, 1778
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to revise the rules and orders for regulating the conduct of Congress in transacting business, and report such farther rules and regulations as they judge proper:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [John] Witherspoon and Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean.
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The committee to whom the letter from the Board of War was referred, reported, that they have prepared sundry resolutions for forwarding the laying up magazines for the supply of the army, and preventing any interference between the commissioners appointed for that purpose by an act of the general assembly of Pensylvania and the superintendents appointed by the Board of War, and that it is their desire that these resolutions, if agreed to by Congress, should be substituted in the place of the report of the committee to whom the letter of the 3 from the executive council of Pensylvania, and the proceedings of the Board of War on the resolution of the 15 January were referred, and the resolutions passed by Congress thereon, except the granting 300,000 dollars, to the president of the State of Pensylvania:
The resolutions being read, were agreed to as follows:
Whereas it is expedient and necessary to lay up magazines of provisions for the support of the army, and, for that purpose, Congress have directed 12,000 barrels of flour to be deposited at or near Lancaster, 8,000 barrels at or near Reading, 6,000 barrels at or near Bethlehem, 2,000 barrels at Downings town, and 2,000 barrels at Pottsgrove; and, whereas, in consequence of the recommendation of Congress, the general assembly of Pensylvania have, by a law, appointed commissioners in each county within their State, to purchase or seize wheat, flour and other provisions, &c. for the supply of the army, pursuant to such orders as they shall receive from Congress;
Resolved, That the president and executive council of the State of Pensylvania be desired to issue the money, with which they have been or shall be furnished by Congress, to the said commissioners, in such proportions as they shall think fit; that they instruct the commissioners on the east side of Susquehanna, to proceed without delay,
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in the execution of the trust reposed in them; and that they instruct them to which of the above-mentioned places they shall convey the flour and other provisions which they shall purchase or seize, in order to form the magazines aforesaid:
That the said executive council be authorized and requested to appoint a suitable person at each of the above places, with such a salary as they shall judge reasonable, to inspect, receive, store and take care of the provisions aforesaid, and to issue the same upon the orders of the Board of War, until Congress shall appoint other storekeepers in their stead:
That the president and council aforesaid be requested to cause a weekly return to be made to the Board of War of the quantity of provisions stored at each of the places above-mentioned:
That the Board of War give directions and orders to the commissioners appointed by the aforesaid law, in the several counties on the west side of Susquehanna, respecting the quantity of provisions to be purchased or collected by them, and the places to which the same shall be conveyed; and that the said Board appoint a suitable person at each of the places they shall fix on, with such a salary as they shall judge reasonable, to inspect, receive, store and take care of the said provisions, and to issue the same upon the orders of the Board of War:
That the commissioners aforesaid be authorized to purchase every kind of provision and forage wanted for the army, not confining themselves to the article of flour; that the said commissioners deliver the live stock, by them purchased, to the order of the deputy commissary general of purchases, or his assistants, and the forage, to the order of the commissary of forage, or his assistants, to whom severally they are directed to send immediate
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notice, when such purchases are made, and to take duplicate receipts upon the delivery, one of which they shall transmit to the Board of War:
That the Board of War be directed to correspond, from time to time, with the president and council of Pensylvania, respecting the business aforesaid, and if, from the circumstances or situation of affairs, they shall judge it proper or necessary to lessen the quantity of provisions to be laid up between Susquehanna and Delaware rivers, or to change the places of the magazines, that they communicate the same to the president and council, who are requested to attend thereto, and to issue orders to the commissioners to govern themselves accordingly.
And, whereas, the Board of War have judged it expedient and necessary, that a greater quantity of flour and other provisions, than was directed by the resolution of Congress of the 15 January, should be purchased, and other magazines formed, besides those above mentioned; and have, agreeably to the powers vested in them by the said resolution of the 15th January, employed superintendents for the purchase of flour, &c.
Resolved, That the Board of War proceed in that business, and that they direct their superintendents, to purchase such farther quantities of flour and provisions, and have them conveyed to, and secured in, such places as the Board shall direct; and that they instruct such of their superintendents as may purchase in Pensylvania, to avoid clashing with the commissioners appointed by the law of that State, in the execution of their duty:
That the said Board be empowered to appoint a suitable person at each of the new magazines, which they shall establish, with such a salary as they shall judge reasonable, to inspect, receive, store and take care of the provisions purchased and conveyed thither by the said
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superintendents, and to issue the same upon the orders of the Board of War:
That the superintendents, appointed by the Board of War, be allowed a commission, not exceeding 2½ per cent. on all purchases by them made, in full for their trouble and expences therein; and that, in purchasing, they do not exceed the prices established by the laws of the states in which the purchases are made.
While this last was under debate, it was moved, and, by a vote, carried, that a vote should be first taken on the following resolution to be added: viz.
And that the president and council of Pensylvania be empowered to settle the pay, or allowance, to be made to the commissioners appointed by the law of their State, for their trouble and expence in purchasing, seizing and collecting provisions and forage, not exceeding 2½ per cent. on the provisions and forage by them so purchased, or seized, for the army:
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The question was then put to agree to the foregoing resolution ∥to which the last was moved as an addition;∥
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That the report of the Committee on the letter of the 3, from the council of Pensylvania, &c., and the proceedings of Congress thereon, except what relates to the grant of money be expunged.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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