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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, AUGUST 13, 1778
Resolved, That no passes be granted to any person or persons to go into New York, but by Congress or the Commander in Chief; and that General Arnold be directed to recall any pass or passes he may have given to any persons going to New York from the city of Philadelphia, who have not yet gone under such passes.
The committee to whom was referred the report from the Treasury of the 15 April last, brought in a report, which was read.
The Committee to whom was referred the Report from the Treasury of the fifteenth of April last beg leave to report:
That it appears necessary to organize the several Treasury Departments immediately, for the following Reasons:
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That it appears to your Committee the following Particulars should be attended to in the Business referred to them:
Under these Ideas your Committee submit to the Consideration of Congress the following Arrangement, viz:
That for conducting the Affairs of the Treasury there be three [principal]1 Officers, a Comptroller, a Treasurer, and an Auditor; That each of them be allowed the sum ofDollars per Annum, and the sum ofDollars per Annum for the Expence of an Office and Clerk.
[Note 1: 1 Inserted by Laurens.]
That it shall be the Duty of the Comptroller to keep the Seal of the Treasury. That he shall receive the Accounts transmitted to him by the Auditor with the Vouchers, which he shall examine, and thereon shall determine to whom the several Sums audited are payable, and whether the same are payable by the United States;2 in which case he shall draw a Bill on the Treasurer in the following form annexed, and marked A., to which he shall affix the Treasury Seal: and if the same are not payable by the United States, then he shall redeliver the Vouchers thereof to the Auditor and mark them "not passed." That he shall keep regular Books containing the Accounts by him passed, in which Books a separate Account shall be opened between the United States and each Individual or State, and shall transmit monthly Accounts to Congress of the Monies by him drawn for and in whose
[Note 2: 2 In the margin Laurens has written "Proposed amendment."]
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favor. That he shall affix the Treasury Seal to all Loan Office Certificates, and shall deliver them to the Treasurer, whose Receipt for the same he shall file; and shall transmit monthly Accounts thereof to Congress specifying therein the Dates and Amount of such Certificates. That he shall receive from the Treasurer Receipts for the Monies by him received and shall thereon give a Discharge in the Form annexed and marked B., which he shall sign and affix thereto the Treasury Seal, and transmit the same to the Auditor to be indorsed, rendering a monthly Account as aforesaid. That he shall receive of the several Loan Officers monthly the Certificates which shall not have been by them employed, and shall give thereof a Receipt in the Form annexed and marked C., which he shall sign and transmit to the Auditor, to be indorsed, rendering monthly Account as aforesaid. That where a Resolution of Congress shall direct the Payment or Application of Monies he shall from Time to Time draw Bills on the Treasurer agreeable to such Resolutions in the Form annexed and marked D., which he shall sign and thereto affix the Treasury Seal, and transmit the same to the Auditor to be indorsed, rendering monthly Accounts thereof as aforesaid. That he shall keep a Book for the Entry and Record of Loans made to the United States by Persons who shall choose to put Money in [a Fund to be called the Confederal]1 Fund; and, upon receiving the Treasurer's Receipt therefor, shall make Entry thereof in the Form annexed and marked E.; a copy of which Entry under the Seal of the Treasury shall be given to the Party, and when he shall receive a Power of Attorney from the Person in whose Name the Entry is made, in the Form annexed and marked F., duly authenticated by a Writing in the Form annexed and marked G., which Authentication shall be under the Hand and Seal of such public Ministers or Officers as Congress shall from Time to Time direct, he shall file such Power of Attorney and authentication. And whensoever and as often as the Attorney therein named shall by Indorsement in the Form annexed and marked H., transfer all or any part of the Stock of his Principal, he shall make an Entry thereof in the Form annexed and marked I., opposite to the Entry above mentioned and marked E.; and also an Entry in the Form annexed and marked K. And he shall make regular Entries of the Interest arising on such sums as aforesaid on the Debit Side of the said Accounts or Entries, and whenever and as often as any Interest shall be paid thereon, he shall make Entry on
[Note 1: 1 Inserted by Laurens.]
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the Credit Side of the same Accounts; of all which Sums so lent andbeing due, together with the Interest payable and paid, he shallmonthly render an Account to Congress.
That where an Account shall be transmitted to him from the Auditor on which Monies shall be due to the United States, he shall hear the Party, if he chuse to be heard thereon, and shall then fix the Day of Payment and shall thereof notify the Auditor and Treasurer in the Form annexed and marked R.
That it shall be the Duty of the Treasurer to keep the Monies and Loan Office Certificates of the United States. That he shall issue the Monies upon Bills for that Purpose to be drawn by the Comptroller under the Treasury Seal, and shall file Duplicates of the Receipts for such Monies with the Auditor, and render Accounts thereof to Congress monthly. That upon Receipt of Monies paid into the Treasury, he shall give his Receipt therefor in the Form annexed and marked L., of which he shall also render Accounts monthly to Congress. That he shall monthly issue Loan Office Certificates to the several Loan Officers, and take Receipts for the same in the Form annexed and marked M., to which shall be annexed Schedules containing Lists of the Certificates issued, and which Receipts he shall transmit to the Auditor to be by him entered and indorsed, and shall transmit Accounts thereof to Congress monthly. That he shall also receive such Monies as shall be put into the [Confederal]1 Loan aforesaid, and give a Receipt in the Form annexed and marked N., of which he shall also render monthly Accounts to Congress.
[Note 1: 1 Inserted by Laurens.]
That it shall be the Duty of the Auditor to audit all Accounts brought against the United States, and also to call all Persons to account who may be indebted to the said States; that for these Purposes there be two chambers of Accounts, the one to be called the Chamber of Claims, and the other the Chamber of Debts, each to be composed of three Persons, who shall each of them have a Salary ofDollars per Annum.
That the Chamber of Claims shall digest and state all Accounts brought against the United States, examine the Vouchers, &c., as the Auditor shall direct and shall take Care that Articles furnished and Services done be not overrated, or if so, then to reduce them, after which they shall transmit the same to the Auditor with the Vouchers, marking the said Accounts examined. Thereupon the Auditor shall again examine the Accounts and compare them with the Vouchers and reduce any Demands
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which may be exorbitant, and having caused them to be entered in his Books, mark them in the Form annexed and marked O., and transmit them [with the Vouchers]1 to the Comptroller. That the Chamber of Debts shall digest and state all Accounts of Persons who are, or are supposed to be indebted to the United States, and also all those who may be called to Account in Manner hereafter mentioned; that they shall conduct their Business in like Manner as the Chamber of Claims, and the Auditor shall in like Manner as before examine and enter the Accounts; and where Monies are due to the United States shall mark the Accounts in the Form annexed and marked P., and transmit the same to the Comptroller to be filed, and render monthly Accounts to Congress. That when an Account shall be returned to the Auditor of Articles not passed, he do deliver the same with the Vouchers to the Party, and make Entry thereof and render Account as aforesaid. And where Discharges shall be transmitted to him of Persons who have paid Money into the Treasury, he shall enter the same in his Books and endorse them thus "Entered of Record in my Office, theDay of177. T. U. Auditor." And where Receipts of Loan Office Certificates shall be transmitted to him, he shall enter the same in his Books, and indorse them thus "Entered to the Credit of A. B., Loan Officer within mentioned, theDay of177in my Office. T. U. Auditor." And where the Comptroller shall transmit to him Drafts on the Treasurer according to Resolutions of Congress, he shall enter them in his Books and indorse them thus: "Entered to the Debit ofin my officeT. U. Auditor." That where any Person hath received public Monies which remain unaccounted for, or shall be otherwise indebted to the United States, or have an unsettled Account with them he shall issue a Summons in the Form annexed and marked S., in which a reasonable Time shall be given for the Appearance of the Party according to the Distance of his Place of Residence from the Treasury; and in case he shall not appear, then on Proof of the Service in due Time, or of other sufficient Notice of the Summons, a Requisition shall issue under the Treasury Seal, but shall be made out in the Auditor's Office in the Form annexed and marked T., which shall be directed to the executive Power of the State or States, in which the Party shall reside or be.
[Note 1: 1 Inserted by Laurens.]
That it be recommended to the several States to enact Laws for the taking of such Persons, and also to seize the Property of Persons, who being indebted to the United States shall neglect or refuse to pay the
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same. Notice whereof shall be given by the Auditor to the Executive Authority of the respective States in the Form annexed and marked V., the which Notice shall be under the Treasury Seal.
That the several Officers of the Treasury above mentioned do, before they take upon them their said Offices, take an oath faithfully and honestly to execute the same.
That the Loan Office Certificates be dated on the tenth Day of every Month respectively, and that Monies be received in the Loan Offices until the twentieth day of every Month and no longer.
That on the three last Days of every Month the Auditor and Treasurer and the Comptrollers do no other Business than to prepare their monthly Accounts for Congress.
That a Committee be appointed to prepare proper Books and other Blanks for the Use of the Treasury.
[FORMS.]
A. [L. S.] To the Treasurer of the United States, Greeting: You are hereby required to pay to A. B. the sum offor Account passed thisDay ofin the Year of our Lord.
Whereof take Notice.
Witness
E. F. Clerk.C. D. Comptroller.
B. [L. S.] To all whom it may concern: these Presents Witness that A. B. hath paid into the Treasury of the United States the Sum of
Whereof he is hereby Discharged.
Done atthisDay ofin the Year of our Lord.
Whereof take Notice.
WitnessC. D. Comptroller.
C. Received of A. B.the Loan Office Certificates mentioned in the Schedule hereunto annexed, amounting in the whole to the Sum ofthisDay ofin the Year of our Lord.
WitnessC. D. Comptroller.
D. [L. S.] To the Treasurer of the United States, Greeting: You are hereby required to pay to A. B., or his order, the Sum ofin of cash payable to him according to a Resolution of Congress of theDay of.
Given thisDay ofin the year of our Lord.
Whereof take notice.
Witness
E. F. Clerk.C. D. Comptroller.
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E. The United States to A. B. Dr.the Day offor the sum ofDollars put in the Treasury on Loan atpr cent, redeemable inYears.D. D.
F. I, A. B., Do empower by these presents G. H., as my Attorney, to transfer and dispose of at his Pleasure my Stock, (and if the same is to have an Operation on future Property therein, then add as well in present as in future) in the Confederal Fund of the United States of North America. Given attheDay ofin the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred andin due Form.
A. B.
G. I, the underwritten, by the Congress thereunto authorized, do hereby authenticate the Power above written. Given attheDay ofin the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and.I. K.
H. I, L. M., the Attorney within named, do transfer the sum ofDollars being Stock of the within named A. B. to N. O.
Witness my hand thisDay ofIn the Year of our Lord
L. M.
I. Cr. By Stock transferred to N. O.,Lib.fol. as for new Entry.
K. The United States to N. O., Dr. theDay offor the Sum ofDollars transferred from Stock of A. B. as for old Entry.
Lib. fol.
L. To the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States. Discharge A. B. of the Sumof paid into the Treasury of the United States, thisDay ofin the Year our Lord one thousand seven hundred and.
WitnessP. Q. Treasurer.
M. Received of P. Q., Treasurer of the United States, the Loan Office Certificates mentioned in the Schedule hereunto annexed, amounting in the Whole to the Sum of, thisDay ofin the Year of our Lord.
WitnessR. S. Loan Officer.
N. To the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States: Enter to account of A. B. on Confederal Loan, the Sum of, received theDay ofin the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and.
WitnessP. Q. Treasurer.
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O. Audited the within Account for the Sum of, this Day ofin the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and, byT. U. Auditor.
P. Audited the within Account for the Debt offrom A. B. to the United States, thisDay ofin the Year of our Lord, byT. U. Auditor.
R. Day is given unto A. B., who hath been found to be indebted to the United States in the Sum of, until theDay ofnext: whereof take notice, thisDay ofin the Year.
WitnessC. D. Comptroller.
S. To A. B., Greeting: You are required, on or beforethe Day ofnext, to appear and adjust your Accounts with the United States, on Pain of what may follow.
Given attheDay ofin the Year.
WitnessT. U. Auditor.
T. [L. S.] ToGreeting: The United States having summoned A. B. to appear and account, the which he hath neglected to do, it is their request that you cause to be taken and sent the said A. B. to be before them on theDay ofnext, in their Treasury, there to account, that justice may in this Behalf be done to the Public.
Given attheDay of, in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy
WitnessT. U. Auditor.
V. [L. S.] The United States to, Greeting: Whereof A. B. hath been before us in our Treasury duly found to be indebted in the Sum of, the which sum was decreed to be paid before theDay ofin the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and, these therefore are thereof to notify you, to the End that you according to the Powers and Authorities unto you given, may, by the lawful and rightful Officers of the said State of, cause to be made of the Estate real and personal of the said A. B. the Sum of aforesaid, together with the Costs and Charges, which may accrue thereon. And of the Proceedings had in the Premises you are desired to certify us in our said Treasury on theDay ofnext.
Given at, the Day and Year first above written.
WitnessT. U. Auditor.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 31.]
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On motion, Resolved, That Saturday in every week, be added to the days already set apart for regulating the business of the treasury and finances.
Ordered, That the report lie on the table for the perusal of the members, to be taken into consideration on Tuesday next.
Resolved, That Saturday next, be appointed to take into consideration the state of foreign affairs, and that Mr. S[ilas] Deane be requested to attend Congress on that day, to give them information respecting the general state of those affairs and a particular state of their funds and commercial transactions in Europe, and especially with Mons. Beaumarchais.
Ordered, That the Committee of Foreign Affairs lay before Congress, on Friday, all letters and other public papers which they have received from the commissioners, agents, or other persons, who have transacted business for the United States in Europe, from the original appointment of the Committee of Secret Correspondence, to this day.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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