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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 --TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1778
The committee to whom was referred the letter of 18th, from General Washington, with the several papers enclosed, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration, and the same being debated by paragraphs and amended, and each paragraph, on a question put, being agreed to,
A motion was made, that a question be put on the whole:
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Whereupon, a question of order was moved, whether a question can in such case be put; and the yeas and nays being required,
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So it passed in the negative.
The report, as amended and agreed to, is as follows:
Resolved, That Congress approve of the conduct of Colonel Grayson, Lieutenant Colonel Harrison, and Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot, Esqr. "commissioners appointed by General Washington to meet the commissioners appointed by General Sir William Howe, and with them to confer, determine and agree upon a treaty and convention for the exchange of prisoners of war, and for all matters whatsoever which may be properly contained therein," in the several meetings held at Germantown and Newton, with the commissioners of General Howe.
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Resolved, That Congress are sincerely desirous of settling a cartel for the exchange of prisoners, on principles of justice, humanity, and mutual advantage, and agreeable to the customary rules and practice of war among civilized nations; and that they lament the obstacles raised by General Howe and his commissioners during the negotiations held for this desirable purpose.
Ordered, That the letters and papers received from the General, relating to the said cartel, be published, together with these resolutions.
Ordered, That the committee have leave to sit again.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 239.]
Congress having received repeated information, that various abuses prevail in the department of the commissary of hides: for securing the hides and tallow belonging to the public,
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to make such regulations for conducting that department as they shall deem best calculated to answer the end of its institution; that they be authorized to dismiss, if they shall judge necessary, the persons who have been hitherto employed to conduct the same, and to appoint others in their stead, till the pleasure of Congress can be known, reporting to Congress the names of the principal persons by them appointed to conduct that business.
Resolved, That the members of the Board of War, or any one of them, be authorized, in conjunction with any two or more of the present commissioners, to manage the business of that department, till an additional number of commissioners shall be appointed by Congress to the Board of War, and shall be ready to attend that business.2
[Note 2: 2 These resolutions, in the writing of William Duer, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 247.]
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The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, Esq. commissioner of the loan office in the State of Pensylvania, for 20,000 dollars, in favor of William Henry, Esq. of Lancaster, for the purpose of paying for leather, &c. purchased by him, and for repairing arms for public service; he to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 239.]
Resolved, That Congress will, on Monday next, take into consideration the state of our affairs with foreign courts, and the instructions to the commissioners of Congress at such courts.
Four o'Clock, p. m
Ordered, That the quarter master in Yorktown provide a room for the clerk of the United States' lottery, to serve him for an office to transact his business in with conveniency and security.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That 7,939 dollars be paid to Samuel Ewing, Esq. in discharge of an order of Thomas Reed, assistant pay master general, in his favor, dated 18 inst.; William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general, to be accountable.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of the whole; Whereupon, the motion made on Friday last was read, and an amendment moved:
A motion was then made to take the sense of the House, whether it is in order that the resolution of Friday, which was entered on the minutes and then determined to be in order, should now be subject to any further amendment:
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And the yeas and nays being required,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question put to strike out "an establishment," and insert "it is expedient a provision;"
Resolved in the affirmative.
It was then moved, that the sense of the House be taken, whether "any provision shall be made for the officers, &c. after the conclusion of the present war:"
On which the yeas and nays being required,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 5 o'clock P. M. to Morrow.
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