| 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 --SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1778
Mr. [Thomas] Heyward, a delegate from South Carolina, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of the 4, from General Washington, with copies of letters that passed between him and Lord Howe and General Clinton;
Also a letter of the 27 May, from Lord Howe; and one, of the 3 June, from General Henry Clinton, at Philadelphia, accompanied with three acts of parliament ∥of Great Britain∥; were read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 63; that of Howe, in No. 78, XI, folio 299; and that of Clinton, in the Library of Congress, U.S. R.]
Page 573 | Page image
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of five;
The members chosen, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, and Mr. S[amuel] Adams.
Ordered, That the committee retire into the next room, and prepare an answer to Lord Howe and General Clinton's letters.
A letter, of the 6, from Thomas Conway, late major general in the service of the United States, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of the 5, from the council of Pensylvania to the delegates of that State in Congress, and a memorial and petition from sundry inhabitants of the county of Northumberland, were laid before Congress, and read:1
[Note 1: 1 The Council letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, I, folio 529; the Northumberland memorial is in No. 42, VI, folio 190.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
The Board of War brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the resolution of Congress of 2 June, relative to the subsistence money to be allowed to officers in the continental service, be extended to all militia or other troops which may from time to time, be called into the continental service, or which may be raised in pursuance of a special resolution of Congress.
At a Board of War, 5th June 1778
The Board of War being of Opinion, that great delays will be occasioned in raising the two Regiments, destined for the defence of the Western Frontiers, should they depend on their supply of Bounty Cloathing, from the Clothier General's Department, and that the public Interest will be greatly promoted by bringing these Regiments into the field with the utmost dispatch, beg leave to submit to Congress, the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That Brigadier M'Intosh be authorized to purchase, and cause to be made up, on the most reasonable
Page 574 | Page image
terms, such articles of the bounty cloathing for the two regiments which are to be raised in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of the 2 May last, as cannot be speedily procured from the commissary general of cloathing; and that to enable Brigadier M'Intosh to execute this resolution, the sum of 60,000 dollars be advanced: for which General M'Intosh is to be accountable.
The Board of War beg leave further to Report, That as the Command of the Western department will be of an extensive and important nature, That Brigr Genl Mc.Intosh be authorized to appoint a Secretary with the Salary allowed to the Secretaries of General Postponed Officers commanding in a separate Department, and also an additional Brigade Major to be taken out of the Line. The continuance of these persons in office to depend on the business of the department requiring the same for the public good.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 73.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That 1,125 dollars be paid to Brigadier Lachlan M'Intosh, in discharge of a bill in his favour drawn by Thomas Reed, assistant pay master general, dated camp, 19 May, 1778; William Palfrey, pay master general, to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 347.]
Another letter, of the 5, from the council of Pensylvania to the delegates of that State, was laid before Congress, and read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The committee appointed to prepare an answer to Lord Howe and General Clinton's letters, brought in a draught, which was read and agreed to as follows:
My Lord,
I have had the honor to lay your lordship's letter, of [May 27th,] with the acts of the British parliament enclosed, before Congress, and I am instructed to acquaint your lordship, that they have already expressed
Page 575 | Page image
their sentiments upon bills not essentially different from those acts, in a publication of the 95 of April last.
Your lordship may be assured, that when the king of Great Britain shall be seriously disposed to put an end to the unprovoked and cruel war waged against these United States, Congress will readily attend to such terms of peace, as may consist with the honor of independent nations, the interest of their constituents, and the sacred regard they mean to pay to treaties.
I have the honor to be, &c.
Ordered, That a similar letter be sent to General Clinton.
A letter, of 27, from Colonel Malcolm, lately appointed deputy adjutant general in the northern department, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 347.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of arrangement.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow ∥on Monday.∥
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |