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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 --SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1778
Mr. John Collins, a delegate from Rhode Island, attended, and took his seat.
A letter, of 18, from General Washington, was read, informing, that the enemy have evacuated Philadelphia:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
A letter, of the 11, from Governor Livingston, and one, of 28 May, from Colonel Ethan Alien, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 115; that of Governor Livingston is in No. 68, folio 379; and that of Allen in United States Revolution, sub dato.]
Ordered, That the letter from Colonel Allen be referred to the Board of War.
The Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the letter of Colonel G. Morgan, dated the 10th instant, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce be directed to procure goods, and such other articles as are proper for presents to the western Indian nations, to the amount of ten thousand dollars, and transmit the same to Fort Pitt, to the commissioners, who are to treat with the Indians there on the 23 day of July next: and that the said commissioners be also directed to dispose of the said goods amongst the said Indians in such manner as they shall judge will best conduce to conciliate their affections and secure them in the interest of these states:
That the said commissioners be empowered to draw on the military chest, at Fort Pitt, for such sums as shall be necessary to defray the contingent expences of the said treaty.
Ordered, That the several boards of Congress put themselves in readiness to remove from this place.
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A motion being made for an advance of 100,000 dollars to the State of New York,
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That five millions of dollars be emitted under the direction of the Board of Treasury, and on the faith of the United States:
That the bills shall, excepting the numbers, be of the same tenor and date as the emission directed on the 11 day of April last, and be numbered from the last number of each respective denomination progressively, and to consist of the following denominations,
That all powers and duties of Michael Hillegas, Esqr. and of the inspectors of the press, signers, and printers of the emission on the 20th day of May, 1777, shall extend to the said 5,000,000 of dollars now to be emitted, subject, however, to such directions and instructions as the Board of Treasury may judge expedient.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 373.]
The Committee on the Treasury, report, "That the commissioners of claims have communicated to the Board, sundry errors in the accounts of Colonel B. Flower, commissary general of military stores, referred to them for their examination, and that it appears to the Board that
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some of the accounts and receipts strongly indicate intentions of fraud in Cornelius Sweers, deputy commissary of military stores:" Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed, forthwith, to cause the said Cornelius Sweers to be arrested and secured until farther enquiry can be made into his conduct in the premises.
That the Warrant on the Treasurer of the 19th instant for four hundred and forty two Dollars and 8/90, and a set of Bills of Exchange Agreed. of the same date for one hundred and ten Livres Tournois, on the Commissioners of the United States of North America in Paris, in favor of Lieut. Colonel Thomas Mullens, be delivered to Major General Conway, to whom the Treasurer is directed to pay the Warrant.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 375.]
Congress proceeded to take into consideration the articles of confederation: Whereupon, on motion,
Resolved, That the delegates of the states, beginning with New Hampshire, be called upon for the report of their constituents upon the confederation, and the powers committed to them; and that no amendments be proposed but such as come from a State.
Resolved, That the proceeding on the articles of confederation be postponed to Monday next, and that it be taken up immediately after the reading of the public letters and reports of the treasury, if any there are.
Ordered, That a copy of the report of the committee "appointed to examine the evidence collected, and to state the charges against the general officers who were in the northern department when Ticonderoga and Mount Independence were evacuated," and which is on the files, be sent to General Washington, and that he be directed to appoint a court martial to proceed to trial.
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Six o'Clock, p. m.
A letter, of the 18, from General Washington, accompanied with the proceedings of the court of enquiry, respecting the losses of the forts in the Highlands, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 119.]
Ordered, That the proceedings of the court of enquiry be referred to the Board of War.2
[Note 2: 2 Two letters of Robert Howe, dated Savannah, April 13, 1778, in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 160, folios 444 and 450, are endorsed as having been read on this day.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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