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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, JUNE 8, 1778
Mr. Henry Marchant, a delegate from Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, attended, and produced the credentials of the delegates of that State, which were read as follows:
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
I certify, that at the general election held at Providence, within and for the state aforesaid, on the first Wednesday in May inst. the hon. Stephen Hopkins, esq. the hon. William Ellery, esq. the hon. Henry Marchant, esq. and the hon. John Collins, esq. were chosen delegates to represent the said state in Congress, for one year, as appears of record. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight.
Henry Ward, Secretary.
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A letter, of 26 May, from Major General Sullivan, at Providence, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Sullivan is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 160, folio 125.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Intelligence, and that when they have extracted from it what they judge proper to be published, that it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of the 7th, and one, of the 28 February, from William Lee, esqr. at Paris, was read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs.
A letter, of May 28, from Mr. Chevallie, supercargo of the ship Brave ∥Fier∥ Roderique, arrived in Hampton road, Virginia, and one, of 23 March, from Messrs. Beaumarchais & Co. by the said ship, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, Mr. [John] Banister, and Mr. [Francis] Dana.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter of 28 May, from General Washington, having reported thereon, Congress came to the following resolution:
It appearing by General Washington's letter of the 28 May, that Lieutenant Colonel John Gibson, of the 6 Virginia regiment, has, since the twenty-fifth day of October last, been entitled to the commission of colonel in that line,
Resolved, That a commission of colonel in the Virginia line be granted to Lieutenant Colonel John Gibson; he to rank as colonel from the twenty-fifth day of October, 1777.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Timothy Pickering, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 71.]
The Board of War, to whom was referred the memorial and petition from sundry inhabitants of Northumberland,
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in the State of Pensylvania, having reported thereon, Congress came to the following resolutions:
Resolved, That one company of foot be raised in the county of Northumberland, in the State of Pensylvania, for its immediate defence, and the assistance of the inhabitants of the neighbouring counties, so far as it shall be in their power, against the Indians and other enemies who may infest the same, but not to be marched from these frontiers without their own consent:
That this company consist of one captain, one captain lieutenant, two lieutenants, and one ensign, five serjeants, five corporals, and eighty five privates, and continue in service for six months from the time of their inlistment, unless sooner discharged by Congress:
That the president and council of the State of Pensylvania be empowered to issue warrants to suitable persons for officers to inlist the company aforesaid, and to grant a commission to such one as shall inlist nineteen men:
That the same pay, rations, and subsistence money be allowed this company as to officers, of the like ranks, and soldiers in the continental army:
That the commissary general of purchases, or his deputy, be directed to contract with a suitable person to supply this company with provisions:
That each man provide himself with cloaths and a blanket:
That eight dollars be allowed to each man who shall furnish himself with a good rifle and accoutrements:
That the lieutenant, or in his absence, the sub-lieutenants, of the county of Northumberland, be empowered and desired to superintend the said company, give orders relative to its operations, and in case of failure in duty of any of the officers, to report the same to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 77.]
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A letter, of the 2, from Governor Johnson, of Maryland, to the delegates of that State, was laid before Congress:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 255.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, who are directed to enquire into the matters set forth therein, and to take such measures for the relief of the Maryland troops as can be adopted consistent with a regard to the general wants of the army.
Three o'Clock, p. m.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letter from Mr. Wadsworth, whereupon Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas, the exportation of provisions from these states hath occasioned much difficulty in procuring supplies for our armies, and by the capture of vessels concerned in such exportation, the armies of the enemy have been freed from distresses that would have greatly embarrassed their operations; and, whereas, for the easy supply of our armies, and to embarrass and distress the enemy the ensuing campaign, it is absolutely necessary an embargo should be immediately lind to prohibit such exportations; and as from the distance of the states from Congress, and the different periods of assembling their legislatures, the good end of such embargo would be wholly frustrated, should Congress not proceed to impose the embargo; therefore,
Resolved, That an embargo be, and it hereby is laid, to prohibit the exportation of wheat, flour, rye, Indian corn, rice, bread, beef, pork, bacon, live stock, and other provisions, from any of these United States, from and after the tenth day of June instant, until the fifteenth day of November next, unless sooner revoked by Congress; Provided, that this embargo shall not be construed to prevent the taking on board such provision as shall be necessary
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for the stores, only, of any ships or vessels of war, or others, trading to and from these states.
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the respective states, to take the most effectual measures for carrying the foregoing resolution into immediate execution.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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