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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, DECEMBER 31, 1778
A letter, of 30th, from Mr. Deane, was read, informing that he waits the orders of Congress, and that he has received letters which he is desirous to communicate personally, which relate to parts of his narrative; Whereupon,
Ordered, That Mr. Deane be notified to attend immediately.
A letter, of 3d, from Major General Gates, at Boston, was read, enclosing a letter of 1 to him from Major General Phillips, proposing to enter into a negotiation with him for a release of the troops of the convention of Saratoga:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Gates is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 154, II, folio 33; that of Phillips is on folio 37.]
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Ordered, That the letter from Major General Phillips lie on the table, and that the President inform Major General Gates that Congress approve his conduct.
A letter, of 16, from B. Harrison, deputy pay master general in Virginia, was read, enclosing his monthly account:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial from Robert Patton, messenger, and one from W. Hurrie, doorkeeper, were read: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the sums deducted from the former accounts of the memorialists, by the commissioners of claims, be paid them as a reward for extraordinary service; and that they be paid what is now due to them at the rate of three dollars a day; and that they be paid for the future at the rate of four dollars a day.
A letter, of 30 November, from Major General Gates, was read, enclosing a memorial from Brigadier du Portail, respecting the fortifying the harbour of Boston:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Marine Committee.
Mr. Deane attending, was called in, and gave further information in writing, and having gone through,
Ordered,That he withdraw into the next room.
Accordingly he withdrew: Whereupon, a motion was made,
That a day be now assigned for Mr. Deane to attend Congress, that such questions may be asked as the house shall think proper, to elucidate the subject matter of his narrative: question put, passed in the negative.
Ordered, That Mr. Deane be called in and informed that he has leave to withdraw, and that Congress will notify to him their future orders:
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Mr. Deane being called in, was informed of the above order, and withdrew.
Congress proceeded to the consideration of the subject of finance; and thereupon,
7.Resolved, That, in addition to the fifteen millions of dollars to be paid the year ensuing, the states be called on to pay in their quotas of six million dollars, annually, for eighteen years, commencing with the year 1780, as a fund for sinking the loans and emissions of these United States to the 31 day of December, 1778, inclusive:
8. That if the continuance and circumstances of the war shall make any further emissions necessary the year ensuing, they shall be sunk in the manner and within the period aforesaid:
9. That any of the bills of credit, emitted by order of Congress prior to the year 1780, and no others, be received in payment of the said quotas:
On this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
{table}
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
10. That the bills received on said quotas be applied, first, for payment of the interest, secondly, of the principal of loans made by these United States prior to the year 1780; and that the residue of said bills, together with the fifteen millions of dollars for the year ensuing, be not re-issued, but burned and destroyed, as Congress shall direct:
Ordered, That the Committee on the Treasury select from the journal the resolutions respecting the calling in certain emissions, and providing a fund for sinking the bills of credit emitted by Congress, and prepare a proper preamble.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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