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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 --TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1778
A letter, of 19, from General Cadwallader, was read, expressing the highest sense of the honour conferred upon him by Congress, in appointing him a brigadier, with the command of the cavalry, but informing "them" that he cannot consent to enter into the service at this time, as the war appears to him to be near the close:2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Cadwallader is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 221.]
Ordered, That Monday, 3 October, be assigned for electing a commander of the horse.
A letter, of 26 February, from Major General R. Howe, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of this day, from Mr. S. Deane, was read, accompanied with two accounts of Mons. le Grand.
Whereas information hath been given to Congress, from which it is probable that William Carmichael, Esq. is possessed of a knowledge of the conduct of the Hon. Silas
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Deane, Esq. late commissioner at the court of Versailles, touching the application of the public monies of these United States, and other matters relating to his public character:
Resolved, That the said William Carmichael be directed to attend at the bar of the house this afternoon, to be examined in the premises.
Whereas certain dissentions, detrimental to the public service, are said to have existed among the American commissioners in Europe:
Resolved, That the said William Carmichael be also examined, touching the said dissentions, and the conduct of the said commissioners, as far as the same may have come to his knowledge.
Ordered, That the consideration of the letter of the Hon. Silas Deane, Esq. be postponed until the examination of William Carmichael, Esq. is taken, and that Mr. Deane be informed thereof.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 179.]
Three o'Clock, p. m.
On motion,Resolved, That Mr. Carmichael be examined upon oath; that Mr. Secretary take down in writing, the questions propounded and the answers given to them.
A motion was made, that the form of the oath be,
"You swear that you will true answers make to all such questions as shall be propounded to you by this house, so help you God."
To this an amendment was moved, that the form of the oath be,
"You swear that the evidence you shall give to this house, concerning the matters now in question, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God."
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Another amendment was moved,
"You shall declare what you know of the conduct of the honourable Silas Deane, Esquire, late commissioner at the court of Versailles, touching the application of the publick moneys of these United States, and other matters relating to his publick character; and also what you know of certain dissentions detrimental to the publick service, said to exist among the American commissioners in Europe; and of the conduct of the said commissioners. You shall tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help you God."
Question put on the last amendment, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Samuel] Chase,
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So it passed in the negative.
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The question was then put on the first amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. A[ndrew] Adams,
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So it passed in the negative.
Question was then put on the main question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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