| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1778
A letter from the Rev. Mons. Lotbinier, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
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 Captain Peter Dolliver, for 2,2471/3 dollars, in discharge of Colonel Palfrey his draught of the 13 instant on the president of Congress, in favour of Lieutenant Colonel
Page 176 | Page image
William Smith, and endorsed by him to the said Dolliver for that sum; William Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 87.]
A letter of the 14, from Major General Mifflin, at Reading, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 161, folio 32.]
The committee, to whom was referred the letter from the Board of War, with the letter from R. L. Hooper, and others, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: And thereupon, Congress passed the following resolution:
Whereas, by the resolutions of the 14 instant the commissioners appointed by the State of Pensylvania were authorized and directed to purchase and store in magazines, 30,000 barrels of flour, on the east side of the Susquehanna, and by a letter, since laid before Congress, from R. L. Hooper, Nathaniel Falconer, and Jonathan Mifflin, Jun. three of the superintendents appointed by the Board of War, in pursuance of a resolve of the 15 January last, it appears that the said superintendents are making contracts for executing the business entrusted with the said commissioners, contrary to the intentions of Congress expressed in their said resolutions: and whereas, it also appears by the aforesaid letter, that the above named superintendents, without any authority, in direct violation of the laws of Pensylvania, and contrary to the instructions given by the Board of War, have presumed to fix and ascertain the prices of several other articles wanted in the army, much higher than fixed by law in the State, directing the quarter masters to govern themselves by such illegal rates: therefore,
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed immediately to recal and suspend the said R. L. Hooper, Nathaniel
Page 177 | Page image
Falconer, and Jonathan Mifflin, who are required to lay before Congress their proceedings and accounts.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Nathaniel Scudder, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 77.]
On motion, That the Committee for Foreign Affairs be directed to write to the commissioners at Paris, and direct them, upon the application of the executive powers of any of these United States, to apply to the court of France for an extension of the leave of absence to such French officers as may be employed in the service of such State:2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, with the vote, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Pavers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 79.]
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A petition from Joseph White was read:
Resolved, That four members be added to the Committee on Appeals:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, Mr. [John] Henry, and Mr. [James] Smith.
Page 178 | Page image
Ordered, That the foregoing petition be referred to the Committee on Appeals.
A petition from Peter Shultz, Francis Jones, and others, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the commissioners of claims, at the Board of Treasury.
The committee to whom the letter of 9th, from General Washington, was referred brought in a report, which was taken into consideration: Whereupon, Congress passed the following:
Whereas, doubts have arisen in the mind of General Washington, to whom the one month's extra pay allowed to the army under his immediate command, by the resolutions of Congress of the 29 of December last, should be confined:
Resolved, That the General be directed to order the same to be paid to all the continental forces under his immediate command at the time of passing the said resolution, whether in camp, hospitals, or on furlough, excepting all such as were then absent, without leave regularly obtained, or who had abused the indulgence granted them.
Congress took into consideration a report of the Board of War, of the 22d July last, to whom was referred the letter of the 8 of the same month, from Brigadier General R. Howe; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Brigadier General Robert Howe's appointment of Henry Purcell, to be deputy judge advocate general for the states of South Carolina and Georgia, be confirmed.
That Brigadier General Robert Howe's appointment of Mr. Nicholas Eveleigh to be deputy adjutant general for the states of South Carolina and Georgia, be confirmed.
A letter, of 31 January, from Governor Caswell, of North Carolina, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, I, folio 77.]
Page 179 | Page image
Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. [Francis Lightfoot] Lee and Mr. [James] Lovell.
A letter, of the 8, from General Washington, with sundry letters, which passed between him and General Howe, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No, 152, V, folio 287.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, and Mr. [William] Ellery.
Resolved, That to morrow be assigned for taking into consideration the letters from the committee ∥at camp,∥ respecting recruiting the army.
Mr. [Francis] Lewis, one of the delegates from the State of New York, laid before Congress an account of moneys expended by that State for the support of prisoners, with the vouchers:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the state of Georgia; and after debate,
Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |