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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, NOVEMBER 19, 1778
Mr. [William] Paca, Mr. [William] Carmichael, and Mr. [John] Henry, three of the delegates of Maryland, attended, and took their seats.
A letter, of 2, from Major General Heath was read, enclosing a letter of 1, from William de Passern, major of regiment of Hesse Hanau, and one of 31 October, from Brigadier General James Hamilton, both directed to Major General Heath. Also,
A letter, of 12, from General Washington.
One of this day from Rawleigh Downman and George Hancock, of the Georgia troops, and
A memorial from Colonel Matthews, of the 9th Virginia regiment, respecting specie procured for his officers, prisoners, ∥were read:∥
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Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 13, from Mr. President Rodney, of Delaware, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 Heath's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 157, folio 227; that of Washington, in No. 152, VI, folio 479; that of Downman and Hancock, in No. 78, VII, folio 225; that of Matthews, in No. 41, VI, folio 75; and that of Rodney, in No. 70, folio 683.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Thomas Baily, for one thousand four hundred and eighty-five dollars, in payment of a draught of Major General Robert Howe, dated Charleston, South Carolina, 24 August, 1778, in favour of and endorsed by Captain Rawleigh Downman, for that sum; it being agreeable to a letter of advice of the same date from Major General Howe, who is to be accountable:
That, upon the application of the Marine Committee, a warrant issue in their favour, on the treasurer, for ten thousand dollars, for the use of the navy board of the middle district; the said Marine Committee to be accountable.
The Committee on the Treasury having, agreeable to an order of Congress, considered a petition of William Dodd and others, dated November 9, 1778, report,
"That the allowance made by Congress to the petitioners for their services, as expresses, agreeable to a report of the commissioners of claims, appearing to be fully sufficient, the prayer of the petition for an augmentation of pay, ought not to be granted:"
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
The Committee having considered the petition of Lieutenant Colonel Crenis, referred to them:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Lieutenant Colonel Crenis, for six hundred dollars, in
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full for his services whilst employed in the army of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated November 17, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 701.]
In consequence of an adjustment by the commissioners of claims, the auditor general reports,
That there is due to Benjamin Armitage, for superintending the making of paper for loan office certificates, from 22 September to the 12 November, 1778, two hundred and sixty dollars:
That there is due to John Bates, for three fire-hoods for the treasury and commissioners' office, sixty two dollars:
That there is due to Michael Hay, for riding express to Morris town in March, 1777, twenty dollars:2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated November 18, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 705.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
Mr. [James] Duane, a delegate from New York, attended, and produced the credentials of the delegates of that State, which were read as follows:
State of New York,
In Assembly,Thursday, 9O'clock a. m.,
October 15, 1778.
A message from the honorable the senate, by Mr. Parks, and in the words following, to wit:
State of New York,
In Senate,October 15, 1778.
Resolved, That if the hon. house of assembly concur herein, the number of delegates from this state in general Congress be five: that three of them at least statedly attend, and that any two of the three attending, be authorized to represent this state.
Ordered, That Mr. Parks carry a copy of the foregoing resolution to the honorable house of assembly.
A true copy from the minutes:
Robert Benson,Clerk.
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Resolved, That this house do concur with the hon. senate in their resolution of this day, on the subject of electing delegates to the general Congress.
Ordered, That Mr. Vrooman and Mr. J. Clarke carry a copy of the above resolution of this house to the honorable senate.
Friday, nine o'Clock, a. m..
October 16, 1778.
Resolved, That the hon. James Duane, Gouverneur Morris, Philip Schuyler, William Floyd, and Francis Lewis, Esqrs. be, and they are hereby declared duly nominated and appointed delegates to represent this state in the general Congress of the United States of America.
By order of the house:
Walter Livingston,Speaker.
A similar resolution from the senate was read.
Signed by order of the senate:
Pierre Van Cortlandt,President.1
[Note 1: 1 The originals are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, New York,Credentials of Delegates.]
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter from Colonel Melcher, barrack master, brought in a report, which was read: on the question put,
Resolved, That the first part be re-committed.
The second part being read, the previous question was moved thereon, and on the question put, it was carried, that the question be not now put.
A report from the Board of War, on the letter from General Washington, of the 14th, and the copy of a letter from Sir Henry Clinton ∥of the 10th,∥ on the subject of the convention prisoners, being read:
Resolved, That General Washington be empowered and directed to appoint commissioners, and fix the time and place of their meeting, to confer with the commissioners appointed or to be appointed by Sir Henry Clinton, or other the commander in chief of the British forces in America, on behalf of his Britannic majesty, on the exchange proposed by Sir Henry Clinton in his letter to
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General Washington of the 10th instant, of the officers in the service of these states, now prisoners in the actual possession of the enemy, or out on parole, for the officers and men of the troops of the convention, according to their ranks and number; officers of equal rank to be first exchanged; after which, if it shall be necessary, an equivalent of inferior for superior officers, and, if agreeably to such equivalent, all the officers of the enemy shall be exchanged, and a balance of officers remain in their hands, then an equivalent of privates to be given in exchange for such officers, shall be settled according to the customary proportion, or such proportion as may be agreed on. The commissioners so to be appointed, by virtue hereof, to make report of their proceedings to General Washington, who is hereby fully authorized and empowered finally to ratify the terms of the said exchange on behalf of these United States.
Resolved, That General Washington be directed to call for Lieutenant General Burgoyne and other officers of the convention troops now prisoners to these United States on parole, whenever the interest of these United States shall, in his opinion, render it necessary,
Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean laid before Congress, in writing, an information of personal abuse he last night received from Brigadier General Thompson, on account of his conduct in Congress, and of abusive, disrespectful, and contemptuous expressions uttered by the said Brigadier Thompson against Congress;1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This information is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 159, folio 292.]
Ordered, That Brigadier Thompson attend at the bar of this house to morrow morning at eleven o'clock, to answer the charge brought against him by the Hon. Thomas M'Kean, Esq. a member of this house; and that the said
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Brigadier General Thompson be furnished with a copy of the charge against him.
A letter, of the 11, from General Washington, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, II, folio 451.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letters from the Marquis de la Fayette.
A letter, of 10, from Colonel R. H. Harrison, was read, expressing his obligations to Congress for the honor done him by appointing him a member of the Board of War, and informing, that "the difficulties which operated against his accepting a seat in the Board of War still prevail in his mind, and compel him again to decline the appointment."2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 367.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissioners of the continental loan offices of the United States be respectively directed to receive for loan office certificates, such bills of credit only as have been or may be emitted by Congress; any resolution to the contrary notwithstanding.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, II, folio 709.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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