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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 --FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1778.
A letter, of this day, from J. M'Kinley, Esq. and an extract from the minutes of the privy council of the State of Delaware, were read.3
[Note 3: 3 The letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 663; the Council minutes, dated Steptember 2, are on folio 659.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to the officers and privates of Colonel Nicola's regiment of invalids, their pay from the month
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of July last, and subsistence in lieu of rations for the officers for the same time, 940 8/90 dollars:
That there is due to Thomas Fitzsimons, his pay as commissioner of claims, from 12 of April to 27 August, 1777, 548 dollars:
That there is due to William Dodd, for his service as express, rider, from the 3d October, 1776, to the 31 October, 1777, as more fully appears by a particular state, filed with his account, a balance of 370 30/90 dollars:
That there is due to the Rev. Mons. Lotbinier, his pay and subsistence as chaplain to Colonel James Livingston's regiment, from the 11 August to 10th of September, inclusive, 60 dollars:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 543.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Pensylvania, for twenty thousand dollars, and another on William Armistead, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Virginia, for thirty thousand dollars, in favour of Colonel Baylor, being for the purchase of arms, horses and accoutrements for the use of the armies of the United States: for which sums, amounting to 50,000 dollars, the said Colonel Baylor is to be accountable:
That a Warrant issue on the Treasurer in favor of the Honorable Titus Hosmer, Esqure, one of the Delegates of the State of Connecticut, for Six Hundred Dollars advanced upon his application, the said State to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Colonel John Cox, assistant quarter master general, for three million five hundred thousand dollars, for the use of the
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quarter master general's department, and for which Major General Greene, quarter master general, is to be accountable:
And an other Warrant in his favor on Thomas Smith, Esquire, Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office in the State of Pennsylvania,Negatived, for five Hundred Thousand Dollars; both which Sums amounting to four Millions of Dollars are for the use of the Quarter Master General's Department, and for which Major General Greene, Quarter Master General is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer for three million dollars, in favour of Jeremiah Wadsworth, Esq. commissary general of purchases, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Joseph Hewes, for one thousand dollars, in discharge of a bill of John Ashe, Esq. treasurer of the State of North Carolina, in favour of John Easton, dated May 9, 1777, for that sum, being in part of the sum of 500,000 dollars heretofore granted by Congress for the use of that State, and for which the said State is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Joseph Hewes for six hundred and sixty-seven and forty-five ninetieth dollars, in discharge of a bill of Richard Caswell, Esq. governor of the State of North Carolina, in favour of Joseph Leech, Esq. for that sum, dated 19 June, 1777, expressed to be for "value received of him in part of the expences of horses, carriages and other necessaries, furnished Brigadier du Portail, under the character of Colonel d'Erford and his party, to enable them to prosecute their journey from North Carolina to the Continental Congress;" and for which the said Brigadier du Portail is to be accountable:
That a Warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of the Honorable the Delegates of the State of Pennsylvania, for one Hundred Thousand
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Dollars, it being advanced on a requisition of the General Assembly of that State of the 5th instant, and for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 539.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. Elbridge Gerry, one of the delegates of the State of Massachusetts Bay, for 1200 dollars, advanced upon his application; for which the said State is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated September 10, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 547. Two paragraphs are printed under September 17,post.]
Resolved, unanimously, That it is essential to the interest and honor of the United States, that a minister plenipotentiary be, without delay, appointed to represent these states at the court of France.
Resolved, unanimously, That to morrow be assigned for electing a minister plenipotentiary at the court of France.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letters from Colonel Hollingsworth, and Colonel Blaine, &c: Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolutions:
Whereas Congress, by their resolution of 13 January, made a requisition to General Sir William Howe, then commander in chief of his Britannic majesty's forces in America, for passports to American vessels to transport provisions and fuel for the use of the prisoners of the convention at Boston, declaring, at the same time, that, if the said requisition was not complied with the prisoners under the convention should be removed to such parts of the State of Massachusetts Bay as they could be most conveniently subsisted in; which requisition has not been complied with, nor measures adopted on the part of the British generals, to send timely and sufficient supplies for the use of the said troops; whereby great injury has been
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sustained by the United States; and particularly by the inhabitants of the town of Boston:
Resolved, That Major General Heath, with the concurrence of the council of the State of Massachusetts Bay, be authorized to remove the prisoners, under the convention of Saratoga, to such parts of the State of Massachusetts bay, as they can be most conveniently subsisted in.
Resolved, That application be made to Sir Henry Clinton for passports to American vessels to transport provisions and fuel to Boston for the use of the prisoners under the convention of Saratoga; the said passports to be subject to such restrictions as shall be agreed on between the Generals Washington and Sir Henry Clinton; and that General Washington be directed to inform General Clinton, that if such passports be not granted, [within three days after application made,1 or measures adopted by him for sending to the port of Boston ample supplies of provisions and fuel for the convention prisoners, on or before the 5th day of October, Congress will deem themselves justified in removing the said prisoners to such parts of the United States as they can be best subsisted in.
[Note 1: 1 Inserted by Henry Laurens.]
Ordered, That certified copies of this resolution, and of the resolution of the 13th January last, and of the 4th September inst. relative to the troops of the convention of Saratoga, be transmitted to General Clinton.
Resolved, That the measure recommended by General Washington, of forming magazines at convenient places, removed from the sound, in the States of Massachusetts bay and Connecticut, is expedient:
That General Washington be informed, that Congress have given orders for the purchase of 20,000 barrels of flour, to be transported by water for that purpose; and that he be authorized and directed to fix on the places
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where the said magazines shall be established, and to give the necessary orders to the quarter master general and commissary general for carrying this resolution into execution.
Resolved, That it be submitted to the consideration of General Washington, whether a considerable part of the cavalry now with the army, can, in the present seat of the war, be employed with an utility adequate to the great expence and difficulty which occur in supplying them with forage; and if he shall be of opinion that the duty of the whole, or any part of them, may be dispensed with at camp,1 that he be directed to order such of the cavalry as he shall deem proper, to such parts of these states as they can be best subsisted in.
[Note 1: 1 From this point to the words "highly injurious to the general welfare" the entries in the Journals are in the writing of Thomas Edison.]
That all officers of the army, not authorized by the resolutions of Congress, or by the special permission of the Commander in Chief, to keep horses, be prohibited, though at their own expence, from keeping any horse or horses within forty miles of the main body of the army, and that General Washington be desired to appoint proper officers to see this order carried into strict execution, and to bring to trial all offenders against it.
Whereas Congress have received information that several persons in the State of Maryland have eluded the embargo on provisions, by loading flour on board vessels, and obtaining a clearance for tobacco:
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the governor and council of the State of Maryland, to take measures for preventing the embargo being eluded, by this and such other practices, which, in the opinion of Congress, are highly injurious to the general welfare.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of William Duer, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 249.]
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The delegates from Delaware laid before Congress a letter, of 8, from Cæsar Rodney, Esq. president of the State of Delaware, with sundry papers enclosed, relative to a complaint against Count Pulaski:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee directed to enquire into the state of the legion commanded by Count Pulaski:
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed, in conjunction with a committee of the council of Pensylvania, to ascertain the property of goods, wares, and merchandise, &c. ∥in possession of the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia, at the time it was evacuated by the enemy;∥ and, after some time spent thereon,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed.
Three o'Clock, p. m.
A letter, of 5, from Baron Steuben, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 146.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of Captain Harper, and after some progress made therein,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed.
September 11th, 1778.
The Committee of Commerce report: That a warrant issued on the Treasurer in their favour for two thousand two hundred and thirty nine dollars and 7/90ths. to enable them to pay a balance due by the Secret Committee to Gerard William Beekman & Co. for freight and demurrage due to them on the ShipMary, Captain Kennedy, chartered by the said Committee on public account.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing ofis in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 189.]
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September 11, 1778.
The Committee of Commerce, having taken into consideration a Letter from Mr. Stephen Steward of Maryland, dated the 5th. September, 1778, beg leave to report thereon:
That in their Opinion the Sum of Two Thousand Dollars should be transmitted to Mr. Steward to enable him to purchase a Cable and some Running Rigging for the ShipChase.
That it would be improper to purchase the ShipDefence on the Public Account.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing ofis in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 193.]
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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