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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, NOVEMBER 17, 1778
A letter and memorial from Mons. Bedaulx were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 1, from Captain Seth Harding, at Norwich, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
A letter, of 2, from Major General Schuyler, was read, enclosing a letter from Mr. James Deane, at Fort Schuyler.2
[Note 2: 2 Bedaulx's papers are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, III, folios 209 and 221; Schuyler's letter, in No. 153, III, folio 386; Deane's, on folio 390.]
Ordered, That a copy of Mr. Deane's letter be sent to General Washington, and that General Schuyler's letter, with the paper enclosed, be referred to the Board of War.
Whereas Congress have received intelligence that renders it necessary to abridge the indulgence heretofore granted to John Connolly:
Ordered, That he be confined to his room, and that no person be admitted to converse with him till the further order of Congress.
A letter, of 30 October, from Governor Greene, of Rhode Island, was read.
A letter, of 9 September, from Major Romand de Lisle, and one, of 5th September, from Colonel Elbert, in Georgia, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 The letter of Greene is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 64, folio 418; that of Delisle, in No. 78, XIX, folio 261; and that of Elbert, in VIII, folio 291.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 9th September, from J. Clay, pay master in Georgia, with his account enclosed, ∥was read:∥
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Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War,November 13th, 1778.
Present: Mr. Mathews, Mr. Peters, Mr. Sherman.
The Board taking into consideration the report of a committee of the Assembly of South Carolina relative to the military establishments of that State, are of opinion,
Resolved, That the troops raised in the State of South Carolina, are, and ought to be considered as being in the same situation, and subject to the same regulations, with the other forces of the United States, except in the cases where contrary stipulations were made at the time of their being received into the service of the United States, on the continental establishment.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 371.]
The committee to whom were referred the letter from Mr. President Lowndes, of South Carolina, and the letters from Major General R. Howe, brought in a report;
That upon examining the Resolve of Congress of the 16th September, 1776 referred to by Mr. Lowndes, they find it stands thus: "That the appointment of all Officers and filling up vacancies (except General Officers) be left to the Governments of the several States, &c." Whether the Resolve means only Regimental Officers, or means to include the Staff also, must be referred to the determination of Congress. But thus far your Committee will beg leave to give their opinion, that as the Deputy Adjutant General is appointed for both the States of South Carolina and Georgia, if the appointment be vested in the Government, there will arise this inconvenience, which of the governments are entitled to the appointment, or whether it must be with the concurrence of the two. This doubt may probably be productive of Dispute between the two States. If Congress should be of opinion, that the Resolve relates only to Regimental Officers, then your Committee beg leave to state the following facts: That upon Inquiry they find Captain Hyrne was appointed a Captain in the 1st. South Carolina Regiment in June, 1775; and that Mr. Grimkee was
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appointed a Lieutenant in the 3rd. Carolina Regiment, some time in the year 1776. They are both looked upon in their respective Corps as very good Officers, Therefore must refer to Congress which of these Gentleman, they shall be of opinion have the best claim to the appointment of Deputy Adjutant General for the States of South Carolina and Georgia.
Considering that part of Major General Howe's letter recommending the appointment of Col. Stephen Drayton as Deputy Quarter Master General in the Room of Col. Huger resigned, the same doubt arises in the minds of your Committee, as did respecting the appointment of the Deputy Adjutant General therefore the same determination on the first will be conclusive as to the latter. If Congress should proceed to the appointment of a Deputy Quarter Master General for South Carolina, your Committee beg leave to recommend Colonel Drayton as a gentleman extremely well qualified for that office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 203, It is endorsed; "Rec'd, 13 November."]
Whereupon,Resolved, That the president of the State of South Carolina be informed, that the resolution of Congress of the 16 September, 1776, relative to appointments, extends only to the appointment of regimental officers, and not to officers on the general staff.
Mr. Ed. Hyrne and John Grimké were nominated by the delegates of South Carolina for adjutants general, and Stephen Drayton by the same for quarter master general.
Congress then proceeded to the election of a deputy adjutant general and deputy quarter master general in the southern department, and, the ballots being taken,
Captain Edmund Hyrne was elected deputy adjutant general in the southern department.
Stephen Drayton was elected deputy quarter master general in the southern department.
Congress resumed the consideration of the recommendation to the states for setting apart a day of thanksgiving, which being amended, is as follows:
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It having pleased Almighty God, through the course of the present year, to bestow great and manifold mercies on the people of these United States; and it being the indispensable duty of all men gratefully to acknowledge their obligations to Him for benefits received:
Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the legislative or executive authority of each of the said states, to appoint Wednesday, the 30th day of December next, to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving and praise, that all the people may, with united hearts, on that day, express a just sense of his unmerited favours; particularly in that it hath pleased him, by his overruling providence, to support us in a just and necessary war, for the defence of our rights and liberties, by affording us seasonable supplies for our armies, by disposing the heart of a powerful monarch to enter into alliance with us, and aid our cause; by defeating the councils and evil designs of our enemies, and giving us victory over their troops; and, by the continuance of that union among these states, which, by his blessing, will be their future strength and glory.
And it is further recommended, that, together with devout thanksgiving, may be joined a penitent confession of our sins, and humble supplication for pardon, through the merits of our Saviour; so that, under the smiles of Heaven, our public councils may be directed, our arms by land and sea prospered, our liberty and independence secured, our schools and seminaries of learning flourish, our trade be revived, our husbandry and manufactures encreased, and the hearts of all impressed with undissembled piety, with benevolence and zeal for the public good.
And it is also recommended, that recreations unsuitable to the purpose of such a solemnity may be omitted on that day.
Done in Congress, this 17th day of November, 1778, and in the third year of the independence of the United States of America.1
[Note 1: 1 This proclamation, in the writing of Samuel Adams, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 445. It is endorsed as having passed November 3.]
According to order, Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole, to consider the four first propositions of the report of the committee on finance, and, after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee reported, that the committee have had under consideration the propositions referred to them,
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and have made some progress, but not having come to a conclusion desire leave to sit again:
Resolved, That to morrow at one o'clock, Congress be resolved into a committee of the whole, to consider farther the propositions referred to them:
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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