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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 --WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1778
The Committee of Treasury brought in a report: Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, Esqr. commissioner of the loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Elias Boudinot, Esqr. commissary
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general of prisoners for the United States for the sum of 25,000 dollars:
That one other warrant issue on the commissioner of the loan office for the State of Massachusetts bay, in his favour, for 4,000 dollars; and that another warrant also issue on the commissioner of the loan office in the State of Connecticut, for a like sum of 4,000 dollars; all which are for the use of his department, and to be charged to his account.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 165.]
A memorial of Alexander Forster, in behalf of B. M'Clenaghan, and others, owners of the schooner Liberty, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated March 13, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 189.]
Ordered, That the said memorial, together with the petition of William Bell, presented on the 10 February, and that of James Gallagher, on the 21, be referred to a committee of three: the members chosen, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, and Mr. [Edward] Langworthy.
Resolved, That Mr. [John] Banister be added to the Committee of Treasury.
An account of Timothy Edwards, a commissioner on Indian affairs, was presented, and referred to the treasury.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the General's letter of the 7 and 8, and after debate,
Resolved, That the consideration thereof be postponed ∥to the afternoon.∥
Four o'Clock, p. m
The Board of Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
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Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance, for 20,000 dollars, to be applied by the Board of War for the purpose of purchasing meat and hiring of waggons in Virginia, for the service of the grand army; the said pay master to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the loan office in the State of Georgia, in favour of Joseph Clay, Esqr. deputy pay master general in the said State, for 202,423 dollars, being the residue of the 300,000 dollars ordered by Congress in August last, to be sent to the State of Georgia for the military chest, that remains unappropriated, which are to be draughted by the commanding officer in the State of Georgia, for subsistence of the continental troops under his command; the said pay master to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on James Green, Jun. Esqr. commissioner of the loan office in the State of North Carolina, in favour of the assembly of the said State, for 30,000 dollars; the said State to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer for 1,200 dollars, in favour of Major Clark, one of the auditors of accounts in the army, for the purposes of purchasing a covered waggon and four horses for the use of the auditor's office in camp; Major Clark to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 167.]
The Marine Committee brought in a report:
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
A letter, of the 14, from General Washington, was read:2 and
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 373.]
Ordered, To be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial of Thomas Bedwell was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial, dated March 17, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 158.]
Ordered, To be referred to the Board of War.
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Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on General Washington's letter of the 7 and 8, continued to the 14, which, being amended, is as follows:
Whereas, by the express resolutions of Congress of the 19 of December and 26 of February last, no exchange of prisoners can take place until all accounts for support of the prisoners in our hands are liquidated, and the balance due thereon discharged: and, whereas, the time allowed to several of the states to adjust and exhibit their claims will occasion great delay; and as an exchange of prisoners hath been agreed upon between General Washington and General Howe, and it being the earnest wish of Congress to relieve, as soon as possible, the unhappy sufferers now labouring under a cruel captivity, and it appearing, by the late returns from the commissary of prisoners, that, if the present intended exchange shall take place, a sufficient number of the enemy, now in the power of the United States, will still remain to secure the payment of any balance that may be due on account of their support, and the views of Congress in the resolutions aforesaid be fully answered; therefore,
Resolved, That Gen. Washington be authorized and empowered to proceed to the exchange of such prisoners as are now in the power of the enemy, without waiting for the settlement of the accounts aforesaid; and take measures for settling a general cartel for the exchange of prisoners in future, upon such principles as may appear to him most advantageous to the United States, and agreeable to the aforementioned resolutions:
On this the question being put on the preamble of the resolution, and the first clause of the resolution, and the yeas and nays being required,
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{table}
So it passed in the affirmative.
The question being then put on the last clause, and the yeas and nays required;
{table}
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So it passed in the affirmative.
The Board of Treasury brought in a report, as follows:
That they have taken into consideration a letter of the 10 instant from Mr. John Benezet, to the president of Congress, to them referred, resigning his office; and are of opinion that his resignation should be accepted; and his pay cease from the date of the letter:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of Mr. Joseph Nourse, pay master of the Board of War and Ordnance, for 25,000 dollars, to be by him transmitted to William Finnie, deputy quarter master general in Virginia, and that General Mifflin, late quarter master general, be charged with the said sum, and furnished with a copy of this resolution:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. Joseph Nourse, pay master aforesaid, for fifty thousand dollars, to be by him transmitted to Benjamin Harrison, deputy pay master general in Virginia, for the use of his department; for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 169.]
Resolved, That Congress agree thereto.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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