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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, AUGUST 3, 1778
A letter, of 2d, and one of 3d, from Cornelius Sweers, were read: Whereupon, a motion was made for an order,1
[Note 1: 1 These letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folios 239 and 241.]
"That Colonel Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores, be immediately arrested and closely confined in the gaol in this town:"
To this an amendment was moved,
"That a member of this house be appointed forthwith to repair to the place where Cornelius Sweets, late deputy commissary of military stores, is confined, and to take the deposition of the said Cornelius Sweers, relative to the charge made by him against Colonel Benjamin Flower, for frauds in his office; and in case it should appear, on the deposition of the said Cornelius Sweers, that Colonel B. Flower is charged with frauds and malpractices in the discharge of his office, in such case notice be given to the Board of War, who are hereby ordered to arrest the said Benjamin Flower without delay, and to confine him in gaol, taking care to secure his money and effects, and all his papers of a public nature."
∥On which amendment,∥ the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Duer,
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So it passed in the negative.
Another amendment was moved in the words following:
"Colonel Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores, being charged with mal-conduct in the execution of his office,
"Ordered, That he be arrested and safely kept until the further order of Congress:"
On the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Samuel] Chase,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That the Board of War carry into execution the foregoing order.
Ordered, That the continental treasurer make no farther payments of money to Colonel Benjamin Flower, or his order, upon any warrants heretofore granted, until farther order of Congress.
A letter, of the 2d, from Captain Hawker and other officers of the Mermaid, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 313. It was also signed by John Stoddart, Thomas Dickinson, John P. Peirs, Watkin Tench, and Thomas Dawkins.]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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