A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1778
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
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Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1778
Link to date-related documents.Resolved, That the quarter master general be directed to furnish Baron Steuben with two good horses for his use.
A petition from Moses Black, was read, praying, "in behalf of William Woolsey, and the owners of the private armed schooner Harlequin, that an action commenced at the inferior court of common pleas in the county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, &c. touching the capture of a certain prize sloop, may be referred to the court of appeals, for their decision thereon:"
Ordered, That it be dismissed.
The Board of War, to whom the application from Baron Bose was referred, having made report, the same was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the sum of five hundred dollars be paid to the Baron Bose, as a compensation for his sufferings in cause of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated May 22, in the writing of Timothy Pickering, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 55.]
The committee to whom were referred the letters from Mr. President Lowndes, and General Howe, and Brigadier Moultrie, brought in a report:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
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Mr. [Jonathan] Elmer, a delegate from New Jersey, and Mr. [Daniel] Roberdeau, a delegate from Pensylvania, attended and took their seats.
Congress resumed the consideration of the rules for the better conducting business, when the following were agreed to:
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1. As soon as nine states are represented in the house, the Congress may proceed to business.
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2. In determining questions in Congress, each State shall have one vote.
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3. Every member, before his vote shall be receiv No member shall read any printed paper in the house during the sitting thereof, without leave of the Congress.
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4. No member shall speak to another or otherwise interrupt the business of the house while the journals or public papers are reading for the information of Congress, or when any member is speaking in any debate.
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5. Every member, when he speaks, shall arise from his seat and address himself to the chair, and when he has finished, shall sit down again.
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6. No member shall speak more than twice in any one debate on the same day, without leave of the house.
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7. When two members rise together, the President shall name the person to speak.
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8. No motion shall be debated until the same be seconded.
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9. When a motion shall be made and seconded, it shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the President or any member, delivered in at the table and read by the President, before the same shall be allowed to be debated.
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10. While a question is before the house, no motion shall be received, unless for an amendment, for the previous question, to postpone the consideration of the main question, or to commit it.
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11. If a question in debate contains several points, any member may have the same divided.
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12. When a question is about to be put, it shall be in the power of any one of the states to postpone the determination thereof until the next day, after which, it shall not be again postponed, but by order of the house.
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13. The previous question (that is, that the main question be not now put) being moved, the question from the chair shall be, that those who are for the previous question say ay, and those against it, no; and if there be a majority of ays, then the main question shall not be then put, but otherwise it shall.
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14. Each member present shall declare openly and without debate his assent or dissent to a question by ay or no, when required by motion of any one member, whose name shall be entered as having made such motion previous to the President's putting the question; the name and vote in such cases shall be entered upon the journal, and the majority of votes of each State shall be the vote of that State.
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15. No ballot shall be counted for the appointment of any person to an office of trust or profit who has not been nominated to the house on a day previous to the balloting being entered into, except by consent of all the states present.
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16. Every morning the minutes of the preceding day shall be read, before Congress enter upon new business.
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17. Every morning, after the reading of the public letters and giving orders concerning them, the reports of the Board of Treasury and of the Board of War, if any, shall be immediately taken into consideration.
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18. No member shall leave Congress without permission of Congress or of his constituents.
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A memorial from the field officers "now prisoners on parole on Long Island, in behalf of themselves and at the particular joint request of their brethren in the like situation," was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 181.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three;
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, and Mr. [William] Duer.
A letter, of the 9th, and one of the 11th, from General Schuyler, the latter containing Indian intelligence from Mr. Kirkland, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letters of Schuyler are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folios 310 and 322.]
Ordered, That the letter of the 11, with the paper enclosed, be referred to the Board of War.
A petition from John Shearman was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This petition, dated May 18, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, folio 63; the letter of Conway is in No. 159, folio 477.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of the 18, from Thomas Conway, was read:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the arrangement of the army; and after some time spent,
Resolved, That the further consideration thereof be postponed till to morrow.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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