| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1778
A letter, of 27, from General Weedon, was read;1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 159, folio 384.]
A motion was made for commitment; and, on motion,
Resolved, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
In consequence of a settlement by the auditor general and commissioner of claims,
York Town, May 27th, 1778.
James Millegan, Esqr. Commissioner of Claims (by special Direction of the Treasury in the absence of Mr. Turnbull) having liquidated and rendered to the Auditor General, the under mentioned Account, he begs Leave to report the same to Congress for Allowance:
Page 545 | Page image
Captain Folger claims pay for three Months he attended to fitting out a Frigate in France before he sailed; which is thought proper to be deferred till Mr. Silas Deane arrives to certify the Fact.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 317.]
Ordered, That 1,145 78/90 dollars be paid to Captain John Folger, being the balance of his account for his service and expences, from 21 October, 1777, to 1 June, 1778.
The Board of War brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Major Henry Lee's corps of partizan light dragoons consist of three, instead of two, troops:
That these troops be formed on the old establishment, with the usual allowance of officers; and that those wanted in addition to the present officers in the corps be appointed by General Washington, who is also authorized to appoint a proper person to act as quarter master to the corps, with the rank of cornet.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated May 26, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 61.]
The committee to whom was referred a motion respecting the cloathier general's department, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That all further purchases of cloathing on account of the United States, by the cloathier general, his deputies, or agents, be forthwith suspended, and that they be directed immediately to prepare and bring in their accounts to the Board of Treasury, to be liquidated and settled.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to provide shoes, stockings and shirts, sufficient for their respective Quotas of Troops in the Continental Army.
Resolved, That the hides belonging to the United States be applied toward furnishing the army with shoes, as heretofore, under the direction of the Board of War; [and that the said Board do purchase, or cause to be purchased,
Page 546 | Page image
shoes, stockings, and linen, for the use of the continental army,]1 [till the cloathing department shall be properly arranged and organized.]2
[Note 1: 1 In the writing of Gouverneur Morris.]
[Note 2: 2 In the writing of Henry Laurens. The report, in the writing of Roger Sherman, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 1.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That 16,000 dollars be advanced to the Marine Committee, to be by them paid to William Smith, Esq. of Baltimore, on account of flour and iron he has purchased for the use of the navy in the eastern department; the said Committee to be accountable:
That 755 42/90 dollars be advanced to the Committee of Commerce, to enable them to pay Andrew and James Caldwell the freight of sundry medicines imported in their sloop from Martinico, on public account; the said Committee to be accountable.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 321.]
Congress proceeded to the election of a commissary of prisoners, and the ballots being taken,
Major John Beatty was elected.
Congress proceeded to the election of a secretary to the Board of War and Ordnance, and the ballots being taken,
Captain Robert Smith was elected,4
[Note 4: 4 The letter from the Board of War asking for a Secretary and recommending Captain Robert Smith was dated April 11, 1778, and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 9. A second letter, dated May 26, is on folio 65.]
The Committee on Foreign Affairs reported a draught of instructions and a new form of a commission to the Commissioners of the United States at the courts of Vienna, Berlin and Tuscany, which were read:
Resolved, That the form of the commission be approved, and copies thereof be engrossed in order to be duly executed and sent forward.
Page 547 | Page image
Ordered, That the instructions lie on the table for the consideration of the members.
The form of the commission is as follows:
The delegates of the United States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, in Congress assembled--To all who shall see these presents, Greeting.
Whereas a friendly commercial connexion between the subjects ofand the people of these United States will be beneficial to both nations: Know ye, therefore, that we, reposing special trust and confidence in the zeal, fidelity, abilities and assiduity ofhave appointed and deputed, and by these presents do appoint and depute the saidour commissioner; giving and granting to our said commissioner full power and authority to communicate, treat and conclude with, or with such person or persons as shall be by him for such purpose authorized, of and upon a true and sincere friendship, and a firm, inviolable and universal peace, for the defence, protection and safety of the navigation and mutual commerce of the subjects ofand the people of these United States; and to do, not only all such things as may conduce to these desirable ends, but also to transact all such other matters, as shall hereafter be given to him in charge by us; promising, in good faith, to ratify whatever our said commissioner shall transact in the premises.
Done in Congress, at Yorktown, the 28th day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1778. In testimony whereof, the President, by order of the said Congress, hath hereunto subscribed his name, and affixed his seal.
President.
Attest.
C. T. Secretary.
Resolved, That until the secretary of the Board of War and Ordnance be duly qualified and enter upon the execution of his office, all military commissions be attested by the secretary of Congress.
The committee to whom was referred General Washington's letter of the 18, brought in a report: Whereupon,
Page 548 | Page image
Ordered, That all the linen, shirts, stockings, shoes, and blankets, lately imported on account of these United States now in Boston, Portsmouth, or in any other places in the State of Massachusetts bay or New Hampshire, in whose hands soever the same may be, be immediately sent forward to the cloathier general or his order, to be by him delivered out, if necessary, for the use of the main army; and that the other articles of imported cloathing only, whether they should have been delivered out to any persons in the cloathing department, or others, or not, be removed with all convenient speed, to Springfield, in the county of Hampshire, in the State of Massachusetts bay, there to be stored, if practicable, under the constant care of a suitable store keeper, who shall see that they be properly aired and otherwise attended to, so that they receive no damage by being stored; and the person or persons in whose care the same cloathing shall be, is hereby strictly forbidden to deliver out any part of the same without the special order of Congress or the Board of War.
If the last mentioned cloathing cannot all be conveniently stored in Springfield, that then the residue be stored at Worcester, in the same State, in like manner, and subject to the same directions as that part which may be stored at Springfield. The packages are to be carefully preserved for future transportation.
Ordered, That the Board of War attend to, and give proper directions for the punctual execution of the foregoing order.
Congress being informed, that cloathing and other articles imported into Massachusetts bay, on account of the United States, have been delivered partly to the navy board in the eastern district, partly to the board of war of that State, and partly to the continental agent there,
Page 549 | Page image
and that parcels thereof have been issued by the said navy board without the order of Congress, Committee of Commerce, or of the Board of War, from all which great confusion, misapplication, and waste may insue; therefore,
Ordered, That for the future, all such importations, where not otherwise directed, be delivered into the hands of the continental agent, or his order, only; and the said agent is hereby strictly forbidden to deliver out any part thereof, without the special order of Congress, the [Board of War and Ordnance, or the Committee of Commerce.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Francis Dana, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 247.]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |