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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 --MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1778
Congress being informed that Colonel Wadsworth is arrived in town, and waits the orders of Congress:
Resolved, That a committee of four be appointed to confer with him, and enquire whether he will undertake the office of commissary general of purchases:
The members chosen, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Francis Lightfoot] Lee and Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer.
At the request of Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer and Mr. [Abraham] Clark,
Ordered, That they be excused from serving as members of the Board of Treasury, and that two others be elected in their room:
The members chosen, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott and Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder.
Congress proceeded to the appointment of an auditor of accounts in the northern district, in the room of Mr. Henderson, and a commissioner of accounts at the Board of Treasury, in the room of Mr. Benezet; and
Peter Boyer, Esqr. was appointed one of the auditors of accounts in the northern district; and
William Denning, Esqr. was appointed one of the commissioners of accounts at the Board of Treasury.
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A letter, of the 4, and one, of the 6, from A. Gillon, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee of Commerce, and that they report thereon.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare instructions to the commissioners appointed by General Washington to negotiate a cartel for the exchange of prisoners:
The members chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Chase, Mr. [Francis] Dana, and Mr. [William] Duer.
A report from the Board of War was read, relative to Count Pulaski's corps:
Resolved, That the same be referred to the committee at camp, and that they be authorized to consult with General Washington and Brigadier Pulaski respecting the appointment of officers for that corps, and to act thereon as they judge proper and expedient.
A petition from Lieutenant James Berwick was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This petition, dated March 29, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, I, folio 159.]
Ordered, That his account for services done in capacity of judge advocate of a general court martial held at Lancaster, from the 4 February to the 22 March, be paid.
Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, a delegate from South Carolina, attended and produced the credentials of the appointment of delegates from that State, which were read, and by which it appears that the honble. Henry Laurens, William Henry Drayton, John Mathews, Thomas Heyward, and Richard Hutson, esquires are duly elected to represent that State in the Congress of the United States.
The committee appointed to prepare instructions for the commissioners for settling a cartel, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration, and agreed to as follows:
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Whereas, Congress concur in opinion with General Washington, that there are some ambiguities characterising the measures taken by General Howe, respecting General Lee, which justify alarming surmises, notwithstanding all that has passed to the contrary:
Resolved, That General Washington be informed that it is the intention of Congress that it should be a preliminary in the proposed cartel for a general exchange of prisoners, that Major General Lee be absolutely exchanged for Major General Prescot, and if refused, that no exchange take place till the further order of Congress:
That it be proposed to exchange Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Allen for Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, or Lieutenant Colonel Anstruther, and, if not acceded to, that Lieutenant Colonel Campbell be sent back to the State of Massachusetts bay:
That General Washington be further directed to instruct the commissioners to be careful not to contravene, in settling the proposed cartel, any of the resolutions of Congress, particularly that of the 30 December, respecting such of the citizens of these states as may voluntarily join the enemy, and be taken in arms against these States:
That, if the enemy will not consent to exempt citizens from capture, agreeably to the law of nations, the commissioners be instructed positively to insist on their exchange, without any relation to rank:
That General Washington be directed not to permit any article of the proposed cartel to be finally concluded without his express approbation, and that the President be directed to inform him accordingly.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in fayour of Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of
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War and Ordnance, for 20,000 dollars, advanced upon application of the said Board, for the purpose of paying Colonel Hartley's regiment, three months' pay; for an advance to Christopher Ludwig, superintendent of bakers; and for contingent expences of the Board; the said pay master to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. N[athaniel] Folsom, delegate from the State of New Hampshire, for 500 dollars advanced upon his application, and to be charged to the said State:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of William Palfrey, Esqr. pay master general, for 500,000 dollars, for the use of his department; he to be accountable, and that it be transmitted to him by Joseph Nourse, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the president and council of the State of Pensylvania, for 30,000 dollars, to be by them put into the hands of proper persons, for the purpose of purchasing horses in the said State, for the use of the army of the United States; the said State to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Pensylvania, for 50,000 dollars, in favour of the president and council of the said State, to be by them put into the hands of proper persons, for the purpose of purchasing horses in that State, for the use of the army of the United States; the said State to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 189.]
The committee to whom the report of the Board of War, relative to Captain Ebenezer Sullivan was referred, brought in a report; Whereupon,
That they have conferred with, Captain Sullivan, who has communicated to them his motives for writing a letter to his Brother, General
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Sullivan, dated Montreal, August 14, 1776, during the time he was a Hostage with the Enemy in Canada; which Motives your Committee are of Opinion, cannot consistent with safety of Captain Sullivan be communicated untill Captain Sullivan shall be exchanged.
Resolved, That in consideration of the peculiarity of Captain Ebenezer Sullivan's case, he be allowed his pay and rations during the time he has been in captivity, and his pay while he shall continue a prisoner of war, any thing in the resolution of Congress of 19 January last to the contrary notwithstanding:
That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to adjust the accounts of Captain Sullivan, and make him such compensation for his losses and extraordinary trouble as they shall deem equitable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Duer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 463.]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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