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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 --WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1778
A letter, of this day,2 from Joseph Nourse, was read, renewing his application for leave to resign his office of secretary of the Board of Ordnance, and treasurer of the Board of War and Ordnance, and signifying the necessity he is under of going to Virginia in three weeks: ∥Whereupon,∥
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVII, folio 59.]
Ordered, That Wednesday, the 23 instant, be assigned for electing a secretary of the Board of Ordnance, and treasurer of the Board of War and Ordnance, and that then Mr. Nourse have leave to resign.
A letter, of 14, from three officers of theMermaid, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
A letter, of 19th August, from the council of New Hampshire, with sundry papers enclosed, relative to the
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conduct of the inhabitants of the New Hampshire grants, stiling themselves "the state of Vermont," was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter and enclosures are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, I, folio 157.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of the whole.
Resolved, That Congress, on Friday next, in the afternoon, be resolved into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the foregoing papers, and other papers heretofore received relative to the conduct of the said inhabitants.
A letter, of 31 July, and one of 3 September, from the council of Massachusetts bay, were read, relative to the resolution of 8 April, 1777, recommending the erecting a monument to the memory of Major General Warren:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of September 3 is in No. 65, I, folio 352.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [William] Duer, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, and Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee.
The Committee, to whom were referred the Letters of July 31st and Sept. 3d, from the Council of Massachusetts Bay, relative to the Family of the late Major General Warren, beg leave to lay before [Congress] the following state of Facts:
That the late Major General Warren, having for some time before his Death devoted his whole Attention to the Service of his Country, left a small Fortune so Encumbered with Claims, that after a Settlement of the Accounts, the Value of the Estate will not at the highest Computation Exceed One thousand Pounds lawful.
That the General left behind him four Children, two Sons and two Daughters.
That the Education of the Eldest Son, being directed to be at the Expence of the United States by a Resolution of Congress of the [April 8, 1777,] is at present under the Care of the Reverend Mr. Payson, who has not been paid for the Charge of his Education.
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That the Eldest Daughter, of 12 Years of Age, is at present with a Family at Boston, which will probably at a future Day Expect a Compensation for the Care and Expense of her Education.
That the second Son lives with his Grandmother in the Country, and though at the Age of Eight Years is scarcely instructed in the Knowledge of the Alphabet.
That the Youngest Daughter, being Six Years of Age, has since the Death of her Father been brought up under the Care of a Lady, the intimate Friend of General Warren, who having but a bare Competency for herself, laments the Necessity she must soon be under of sending her to the Country, where her Education must be totally neglected.
From which State of Facts, your Committee taking into Consideration the Important Services rendered by Major General Warren to the Cause of America, and by his gallant Fall in Defense of the Liberties of the United States, his Family is bereft of the Support and Attention of a Virtuous Parent, Submit to the Consideration of Congress the following Resolution, Vizt.
That the Second Son, and two Daughters of the late Major General Warren, be educated in a manner suitable to the Rank and Character of the Father, at the Expense of the United States; till the Son shall attain the Age of Twenty one, and the Daughter of Eighteen Years respectively.
That Dr. John Warren, Executor of the late Major General Warren be authorised and requested to superintend their Education, and to make quarterly Drafts on the Treasury of the United States for the Expences incident to the same, transmitting to the Board the necessary Accounts.
That when the Son and Daughters shall have attained the respective Ages above mentioned, they be authorised to receive out of the public Treasurythousand Pounds lawful Money of Massachusetts Bay, to Enable them to set up in some Genteel Profession for their future Maintenance and Support.
That the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay be requested to Enquire what Expences have necessarily accrued in maintaining the Sons and Daughters above mentioned, since the Death of the General, in order that the same may be refunded out of the public Treasury to the Persons who have advanced the same.
That a Warrant issue on the Treasury in favor of the Council of the State of Massachusetts Bay, for One hundred and Sixty Pounds four
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shillings, in order to Enable them to discharge the several accounts exhibited to them for the Education of the Eldest Son of General Warren, to the 20th Day of July last, and that the said Council be authorised to make quarterly Drafts on the Treasury of the United States for the Expence of the Education of the Eldest Son of General Warren, transmitting to the Board of Treasury the necessary Accounts.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Duer, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 155. There is no record of its presentation to Congress, and it is endorsed "1780," probably referring to the action taken by Congress on the motion presented July 1, 1780, by Robert R. Livingston.]
Ordered, That the committee be instructed to take into consideration other resolutions of Congress, similar to that mentioned in the foregoing letters, and report on them also.
A letter, of 3, from J[ames] Warren, Esq. member of the navy board, at Boston, and directed to the Committee of Commerce, was read, informing of the arrival of 56 bales of blankets, on Board the schoonerTabby:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIII, folio 555.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The committee to whom was referred the letter of the 12, from General Washington, with the report of the board of general officers, brought in a report.
Resolved, That General Washington be informed that Congress highly approve of his laying up magazines of forage and provisions at such places as he shall think proper for prosecuting an expedition into Canada in the winter, if the motions of the enemy shall render this measure expedient; and that the General be desired to make every preparation of clothing, and new shoes, and other articles for this purpose, which he shall deem necessary.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of William Duer, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 13, I, folio 14a. It bears a note by Charles Thomson: "To be entered on a secret Journal and the house under an injunction of secrecy, September 16, 1778."]
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Congress resumed the consideration of the letter of the 11, from Mr. Deane; Whereupon, a motion was made,
That Mr. Deane be directed to attend Congress on Friday morning next, to answer such questions as the members may propose to him, for the better understanding of the state and progress of public affairs during his mission in France.
An amendment was moved to strike out "members," and insert the word "house;"
And the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Samuel] Chase,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
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Question put on the motion as amended:
Resolved in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 9 o'Clock to Morrow.
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