| 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 --FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1778
Two letters, of the 6, from the Marquis de la Fayette, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 25 June, from Major General Heath, enclosing a copy of a letter from him to Major General Phillips; and a letter, of 1 instant, from Major General Schuyler; were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The letters of Lafayette are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 156, folios 13 and 17; that of Heath, in No. 57, folio 313; and that of Schuyler, in No. 153, III, folio 344.]
The delegates from Pensylvania laid before Congress the following letters, which were read, viz. one, of the 2d, from Samuel Hunter to John Hambright, Esqr.; one, of
Page 680 | Page image
the 8, from Robert Levers to George Bryan, Esqr. vice president of Pensylvania; and one, of the 7th, from Jacob Stroud to R. L. Hooper, Esqr.
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A petition from August Wille, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This petition, dated July 3, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VIII, folio 175.]
Ordered, That it lie on the table.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report: Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esqr. auditor general, in favour of Colonel John Piper, for five thousand five hundred and thirty two and fifty two ninetieths dollars, to answer a draught in his favour from John Baynton, deputy pay master of the western district, dated Fort Pitt, April 27, 1778, for £2,074 144, Pensylvania currency; the said John Baynton to be accountable:
That, upon application of Major General R. Howe, by his letter, dated Savannah, 26 April, 1778, a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esq. for two thousand and twenty nine dollars, in favour of Colonel Marbury, to reimburse part of a sum which he advanced for the payment and subsistence of the troops under the command of Major General Howe, who is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on John Gibson, Esqr. for one hundred thousand dollars, and another warrant on Joseph Borden, Esqr. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of New Jersey, for one hundred thousand dollars, in favour of the delegates of that State, it being agreeably to an application of the general assembly thereof, for the purpose of discharging the arrears due to their militia; the said State to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 395.]
Page 681 | Page image
The committee 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, brought in a draft, which being read and amended, was agreed to as follows:
Sir: Congress, intent upon the present and future security of these United States, has never ceased to consider a confederacy as the great principle of union, which can alone establish the liberty of America and exclude for ever, the hopes of its enemies. Influenced by considerations so powerful, and duly weighing the difficulties, which oppose the expectation of any plan being formed, that can exactly meet the wishes and obtain the approbation of so many states, differing essentially in various points; Congress have, after mature deliberation, agreed to adopt, without amendments, the confederation transmitted to the several states for their approbation. The states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, have ratified the same, and it remains only for your State with those of [] and [] to conclude the glorious compact, which, by uniting the wealth, strength, and councils, of the whole, may bid defiance to external violence and internal dissentions, whilst it secures the public credit both at home and abroad. Congress is willing to hope that the patriotism and good sense of your State will be influenced by motives so important, and they request, sir, that you will be pleased to lay this letter before the legislature ofin order that, if they judge it proper, their delegates may be instructed to ratify the confederation with all convenient despatch; trusting to future deliberation to make such alterations and amendments as experience may shew to be expedient and just.
I have the honor to be, &c.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |