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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 --FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1778
A letter, of this day, from W. Buchanan, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, II, folio 411.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to revise the system of the commissary's department; and that a member be added to the said committee in the room of Mr. [John] Harvie, who is absent;
The member chosen, Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee.
A letter, of 7, from Egbert Benson, to the delegates of the State of New York, was read.
A letter, of 15, from W. Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Allan M'Donald, Alexander M'Donald, Allan M'Donald, Reynald and Archibald M'Donald, prisoners at Fredericktown, Maryland, and their three servants, fifteen weeks' allowance, from the 20 November last to 5th instant both days included, at
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3 66/90 dollars for themselves each, and one dollar for each servant, 325 dollars, which sum is to be paid to either of the M'Donald's:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated March 19, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 171.]
Ordered, That the said sum be paid.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Marine Committee; Whereupon,
Resolved, That officers of the continental navy not in actual service, be allowed their pay, but not their rations, nor the subsistence money allowed by the resolution of the 25 July, 1777:
That such officers of the navy as are or may be taken by the enemy, be allowed the pay while in the enemy's possession or under parole, and rations during their captivity, deducting therefrom such supplies, as they may, in that time, have received from the enemy.
Four o'Clock, p. m
A letter, of the 16, from General Washington, with two papers enclosed, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, V, folio 379.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War, who are directed to report this evening.
The committee to whom was referred the representation from the president and council of Pensylvania, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the supreme executive council of Pensylvania be requested to take measures, that the law lately passed in that State, for the express purpose of filling magazines for the use of the continental army, be effectually executed by the commissioners named in the said law,3 for obtaining the 30,000 barrels of flour directed to
[Note 3: 3 The original report here inserted: "As Congress have placed great Confidence in their Exertions."]
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be laid up, on the east side of Susquehanna, and such other kinds of provisions as may be in their power to procure, [unless Congress shall find that quantity of flour unnecessary to be procured, and shall give orders accordingly:]1 that the commissioners who act on the west side of Susquehanna, use their endeavours to purchase and lay up such quantities of provisions, and in such places as the Board of War shall deem necessary for the use of the army in case of emergency:
[Note 1: 1 These words were inserted by Henry Laurens.]
That Congress conceive all cause of complaint against the instructions of the Board of War to their superintendents must now cease, as three of the said superintendents have been dismissed,2 and it is expressly enjoined upon the others to conform to the regulations of the State in which they are, from time to time, employed:
[Note 2: 2 The original report here inserted: "for their unjustifiable practices."]
That it is not the desire of Congress, that any Officer of the United States, should with impunity offend against the Laws of any particular State.
That Congress, the Board of War and the Commanders of every Army, from the nature of their charges, must necessarily have and exercise a power to order Impresses of Carriages and other Articles, in cases of extraordinary Emergency; but it is the wish of Congress that every possible attention should be paid to the Laws of States, and the Rights of Individuals.3
[Note 3: 3 Against this paragraph is written: "Previous question carried."]
That the president of the State of Pensylvania be informed that whatever rate the legislature of that State has fixed for the wages of waggons, shall be paid for the waggons of that State employed in the service of the Continent since those rates were enacted:
That Major General Mifflin, late quarter master general, be directed to cause an immediate payment to be made of all wages justly due from him to the inhabitants of the
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State of Pensylvania, whose waggons have been employed by him in the continental service:
That the commissioners appointed by the law of Pensylvania to fill certain magazines for the use of the continental army, be directed to confine their purchases within the limits of their own State.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 35.]
A letter from Thomas Hite, of Berkley, in Virginia, to the president of the Board of War, was read:
Ordered, That it be returned to the Board of War, and that they be directed to take proper measures by writing to the deputy commissary general of purchases in that State, or to Mr. Hite, for securing the bacon mentioned in his letter.
Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole, ∥to consider farther the report of the committee on the letters relative to the claims of Roderique Hortales & Co.∥ and after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee reported, that the committee have had ∥the same∥ under their further consideration, and have come to some resolutions thereon, which he was directed to report when the house is ready to receive it:
Ordered, That it be now received, and that the consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
The Board of War, to whom the letter of the 16, from General Washington, was referred, having reported thereon,
Ordered, That the consideration of the report be postponed till to morrow.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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