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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 --MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1779
After the reading of the journal of Saturday,
A motion was made that a state of facts, reduced to writing which happened in Congress on Friday last, after the reading of the letter from Thomas Paine of the same day, be entered on the journal in the blank which the Secretary left until, as he mentioned on Saturday, he received the order of Congress.
After debate, ordered that the consideration of that matter be postponed.
A memorial from the honble. Sr. Gérard, of the 10th, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, 16.]
Ordered, That the subject under debate on Thursday ∥ last ∥ be immediately taken into consideration.
And the question being put to substitute the third set of resolutions in lieu of the two foregoing, passed in the negative.
On the question to substitute the second set of resolutions in the room of the first, resolved in the affirmative.
The first resolution of the second set was then read: and taken into consideration, to which the following was moved, as an amendment, viz:
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That Congress has at no time received any supplies of any kind as a present from the Court of France.
Question put on the amendment,
Resolved in the affirmative.
Question put to agree to the same as a resolution,
Resolved, unanimously, in the affirmative.
Resolved, that the consideration of the remaining propositions be postponed.
That the Secretary of Congress be directed to furnish Mr. Thomas Payne with a copy of the exceptionable Paragraph in the two public Papers on which he was yesterday questioned at the Bar of this House.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Nathaniel Scudder, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 55, folio 27. It is endorsed "January 9, 1779, withdrawn."]
A letter, of 29 December, from Major General Gates, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 154, II, folio 41.]
Mr. [Henry] Laurens having reduced to writing the relation he gave to Congress on Saturday last, read the same in his place, and laid it on the table according to order.
11 January, 1779.
Some time in the course of last winter, while Congress was sitting at York Town, Mr Laurens being in conversation in the Congress Room with the Honble Francis Lewis, Esqr on the subject of the Secret Committee's books and accounts, and the public commercial affairs in general, Mr. Lewis intimated that there had in several instances, been sad doings, some of which he mentioned generally, one instance Mr Lewis particularized nearly in the following terms:
I'll tell you one extraordinary affair. There was a large Ship Laden with tobacco (I think he said about 470 Hhds); the bills of loading for that cargo were filled up consigned to the order of either Willing & Morris, or Willing, Morris & Co, I cannot be certain which. Mr Morris was asked, how the property of the Cargo would appear? He replied, that would appear at a proper time, or words to that effect. The vessel was taken by the enemy as she was going out, after which it appeared that there was only I think eleven Hhds., but in a subsequent
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conversation Mr Lewis said, (if I remember right) 23 or 27 Hhds. on private account, and all the rest on public. Mr Laurens replied, good God, Sir, is it possible? I am glad you have not enjoined me to secrecy. If you had I believe I should have mentioned this circumstance, for it ought not to be kept secret. Justice to the public as well as to Mr Morris requires it should not--or words of the same meaning and import.
Mr Lewis and Mr Laurens continued in conversation on the same topic, in which Mr Lewis heightened Mr Laurens's suspicions by frequent repetitions, that the Commercial affairs had been sadly conducted.
Some days after the conversation abovementioned, the books of the Secret Committee being a subject of debate in Congress, Mr Laurens (being then President) begged leave to be heard. He expressed his astonishment at the long detention of those books, which were then in the hands of the Honble. Robert Morris, Esqr. at Manheim, and were wanted or said to be wanted by the Commercial Committee. He said, that according to his ideas of the Nature of those books, admitting the entries had been properly made in the waste book, he would undertake to post up the whole in nine days, or would forfeit two of his fingers. He added that he wished for the adjustment of the books and their return the more earnestly, because of a circumstance which had come to his knowledge; and then briefly related what he had heard from Mr Lewis, as abovementioned. Mr Lewis was then standing in a window at the left of and nearly touching the presidents chair. Mr Laurens turning himself to Mr Lewis added, pointing with his left hand, and I have now in my eye the honorable Gentlemen from whom I received the information.
Mr Lewis, after the adjournment of Congress, called on Mr Laurens, and said, I am very sorry you mentioned that affair in Congress. Why so, Sir? said Mr Laurens, you know I told you I would mention it at the first proper opportunity. Justice to all parties required that I should do so. Mr Lewis answered, because I had intended to mention it to Mr Morris himself the first proper opportunity.
The above writing contains substantially the truth of every Article and matter therein referred to. I do not presume to aver the several conversations are related verbatim.1
[Note 1: 1 This paper, in the writing of Henry Laurens, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 203.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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