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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 --THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1778
Mr. Andrew Adams, a delegate from Connecticut, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of 7, from General Washington, at Brunswick, was read: Whereupon,
Ordered, That the committee appointed to arrange the army, repair, without delay, to General Washington's head quarters, and proceed on the business committed to them.
A letter from Major Romand de Lisle, [dated Savannah, April 4] was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Washington is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VI, folio 163; that of Romand de Lisle is in No. 78, XIX, folio 241.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial from officers belonging to different regiments of the State of Pensylvania, was laid before Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee of arrangement.
A memorial from the lieutenants and masters in the navy and captains of marines, was read:
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
A memorial from the Chevalier Faillie, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Ordered, That Mr. [John] Hancock, and Mr. [William] Ellery have leave of absence.
On motion,
Resolved, That in the ratification of the articles of confederation, to be signed by the delegates, the following words be omitted, to wit: "which articles were by Congress proposed to the legislatures of all the United States, to be considered, and, if approved of by them, they are advised to authorize their delegates to ratify the same in the Congress of the United States."
The ratification of the articles of confederation, engrossed on a roll of parchment, being laid before Congress, was examined, and the blanks in the third line from the bottom being filled up at the table with the words "ninth," and "July," and the blank in the last line filled with the word "third," the states were called upon to sign, beginning with Now Hampshire, and the same was signed, on the part and in behalf of their respective states, by all the delegates present, except by the delegates from the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, who informed Congress that they were not authorized to sign.∥ of New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina, agreeably to the powers vested in them.
The delegates of the states of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, informed Congress that they have not yet received powers to ratify and sign.∥
North Carolina, whose legislature has ratified the articles of confederation, and the State of Georgia, were not at this time present in Congress.
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Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a circular letter to the states in this union, that have not hitherto authorized their delegates in Congress to ratify the confederation, informing such states how many, and what states have already ratified the same, and desiring that such states will, with all convenient despatch, authorize their delegates to ratify the confederation in the Congress of the United States:
The members chosen, Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, Mr. [Francis] Dana, and Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris.
Ordered, That the delegates of the several states lay upon the table the powers given by their constituents for ratifying the articles of confederation, in order that the same be entered on the journal, and the originals be lodged in the secretary's office.
Several members of Congress having intimated that they have received letters from some of the British commissioners;
Ordered, That all letters received by members of Congress from any of the British commissioners or their agents, or from any subject of the king of Great Britain, of a public nature, be laid before Congress.
Mr. R. Morris laid before Congress a letter directed to him, dated Philadelphia, June 16, 1778, and signed George Johnstone, which was read.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of this letter, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIII, folio 87.]
Ordered, That the Committee of Commerce consult with the Board of War, and jointly agree with the governor of Virginia for such part of the Roderique's cargo, purchased by the State of Virginia, as they shall think wanting for continental use.
A letter, of this day, from Major General Arnold, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 118.]
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The Board of War, to whom was referred an invoice of sundry merchandise, consigned to Mr. Holker, and lately arrived at York town, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce be directed and authorized to contract with Mr. Holker for all the hats, blankets and shoes, specified in the said invoice, on such terms as they shall deem expedient.
Resolved, That Mr. [Elias] Boudinot be added to the committee to whom was referred the petition from the prisoners in New York.
The president laid before Congress a bill drawn on him by John Baynton, deputy pay master general, in favour of Colonel John Piper, for £2,074 144, Pensylvania currency, being the amount of pay due the militia of Bedford county, in the continental service:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow to meet in the College hall.
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