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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, OCTOBER 28, 1778
A letter, of 17 August last, from J[ohn] B. Girardeau, was read, informing, that, on account of his ill state of health, he has been obliged to resign his commission of deputy commissary general of issues in South Carolina and Georgia, to Major General Howe, who has appointed Mr. Mordecai Sheftall to act as deputy commissary general
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of issues in his stead, till the pleasure of Congress shall be known;
Also, a letter of 19 August, from Mordecai Sheftall, and one of 25 August, from G. Walton, were read;1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Girardeau is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, X, folio 113; that of Sheftall, in XX, folio 293; that of Walton in XXIII, folio 543.]
Resolved, That the resignation of Mr. J. B. Girardeau be accepted; and that the consideration of confirming the appointment of Mr. Sheftall be postponed:
That so much of Mr. Sheftall's letter as relates to rations be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of this day, from D. Franks, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to consider by what process it may be proper to take cognizance of D. Franks's offence.
A letter, of 20, from W. Palfrey, pay master general, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 27, from Lieutenant Girard, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IX, folio 189; that of Girard in X, folio 117.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A letter, of 22, from General Washington, enclosing an extract of a letter from Brigadier Hand, and a journal of Lieutenant Colonel Butler's expedition to Unandilla and Oncaquaga, was read:
Ordered, That the extract of Brigadier Hand's letter, with so much of the General's letter as relates thereto, be referred to a committee of three, who are directed to take into consideration the case of the settlers at Wyoming:
The members chosen, Mr. M[eriwether] Smith, Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, and Mr. [William] Duer:
That the journal of Lieutenant Colonel Butler be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
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The committee to whom was referred the memorial of Alexander McNutt report, That after a conference with the memorialist, it appears that any further proceeding thereon is at this time unnecessary; that the memorial be filed in the secretary's office, and that the sum of 300 dollars be presented to Mr. McNutt, in consideration of the expences he has incurred in his endeavours to serve the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Lovell, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 43.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
The Committee on the Treasury, to whom were referred the letters from Lieutenant Colonel Vrigny, report,
That they have taken into consideration the claim of Lieutenant Colonel Vrigny, and are of opinion, that no pay ought to be allowed to Lieutenant Colonel Vrigny from the first day of June, 1777, to the end of January, 1778, during which time he served as a volunteer; that he be referred to the pay master general, who is directed to see that the balance due to him for his pay and subsistence from the first day of February, be adjusted and discharged:
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a farther report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Major General Arnold, for eight thousand dollars, in consequence of his letter to the auditor general, of 27th inst., representing this sum due to him on account; he to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Philip Minis, for six thousand nine hundred and nineteen and one-half dollars, it being so much advanced by him to the late Mr. Kennon, deceased, acting pay master and commissary to the Virginia and North Carolina troops in the
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State of Georgia, as appears by certificate of the said pay master and Major General Howe, then commanding officer in the southern department; and that the account of the said William Kennon, deceased, be charged with the sum aforesaid:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated October 27, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 645.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mons. Florean Charles Mey, for ten thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight dollars, to answer a draught of Major General R. Howe, of 26 August last, on the President of Congress, in favour of Mons. John Pourein, for sundry military stores purchased of him to this amount by General Howe, for continental service in the State of Georgia; and that a copy of the said account be entered and filed in the war office:
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the committee to superintend the publication of matters relating to the disputes, petitions and negotiations to and with the court of Great Britain, for the sum of twelve hundred dollars, to enable them to proceed in the business: the said committee to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated October 27, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 649.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Captain Lieutenant Jonathan Brewer, of the Pensylvania regiment of artillery, commanded by Colonel Proctor, for his pay and rations or subsistence from the first of September, 1777, to 30th September, 1778, most of which time he was a prisoner with the enemy, a balance of six hundred and fifteen 7/90 dollars:
That there is due to the estate of Robert Ritchie, deceased, for his pay as one of the commissioners of claims,
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from the 12 April to 12 September, 1777, six hundred and sixteen dollars:
That there is due to David Tew, for engraving three copperplates for bill of exchange, one hundred and sixty dollars, n for repairing two of the same, fifty-three 30/90 dollars, making in the whole, 213 50/90 dollars.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated October 27, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 643.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of finance, and some time being spent thereon.
The Committee to whom was referred sundry Reports on the Currency and Finances of the United States, beg leave to report:
it is necessary to take out of CirculationAgreed 14 Nov. and destroy 46,500,000 dollars, being the whole sum emitted by Congress in Bills of Credit before the 11th of April last, [except Bills of and under the Denomination of two Dollars].3[Note 2: 2 Against these words Laurens has written "Qu. to Bills--to stand."]
[Note 3: 3 These words were inserted by Laurens. The entire paragraph was struck out in Congress.]
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If in the Course of the Year 1779 it shall be found that the Bills are again depreciating in Consequence of the issues, a further Sum may be taken out of Circulation.
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And thus the Interest will be annually diminished 360,000 Dollars during the Term of 10 Years, when the Principal being paid, the Interest will cease.
The Emissions from the 1st. of January next to the first of January, 1780, to be funded at the end of the next Campaign.
N. B. Whatever part of the 46,500,000 Dollars proposed to be borrowed, is paid in Taxes agreeable to the 4th Article, the Interest thereon for 1 Year will be saved by the United States, and the Bills paid in will be sunk and destroyed in the same Manner as if exchanged for Loan Office Certificates.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 27. On folio 29 are rough memoranda, also in Gerry's write ing, presumably forming the basis of the report. The committee was appointed October 13, and I have inserted the report on the first mention of a resumption of the consideration of the subject of finance.]
That of the Money to be raised from Time to Time by the several States as their Quotas so much shall be appropriated by Congress to the payment of the Interest of Continental Loans as shall be annually found necessary for this purpose.2
[Note 2: 2 An amendment, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, on folio 30.]
That the several States be called upon to provide Funds to the amount ofone two three Million Dollars annually, for six years next ensuing, for Payment of Interest of the Monies borrowed and ordered to be borrowed on the Credit of the United States.3
[Note 3: 3 An amendment, in the writing of Roger Sherman, on folio 30.]
Col. Smith's amendment 4 millions.4
[Note 4: 4 These words were added by Laurens.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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