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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 --FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1779
A letter, of 15, from Colonel Lambert Cadwallader, of the Pensylvania forces, to the Board of War, was laid before Congress, and read, requesting leave to resign his commission:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 303.]
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter from Major General Lincoln [of 19 December], brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That letters be despatched to their excellencies the governors of Virginia and North Carolina, earnestly requesting them to press forward the relief formerly recommended by Congress to be sent from those states to South Carolina and Georgia, and such further assistance as may be requested by the commanding officer in the southern department, and that particular attention be paid to the arming them in the best manner and retaining them as long as the service shall render it necessary; [and that the governor of Virginia be requested to send forward to South Carolina such part of the regiment of artillery raised by the State of Virginia as may be spared on that service.]3
[Note 3: 3 The words in brackets were inserted by John Jay.]
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In debating the foregoing resolution, a motion was made to amend it as far as it respects North Carolina, in manner following:
"That the President write to the governor of North Carolina, requesting him to lay before the general assembly of that State, the earnest desire of Congress that they send such aid of militia to the assistance of South Carolina or Georgia, as the commanding officer in the southern department shall request."1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Thomas Burke, and amended by Samuel Adams, is on folio 555.]
An amendment on the amendment was moved as follows:
"And that the said State of North Carolina be requested to grant such further assistance as may be requested by the commanding officer in the southern department."2
[Note 2: 2 This amendment, in the writing of James Duane, with the Note, in that of Thomson, is on folio 553.]
On this the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
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So it passed in the negative.
Question put on the amendment: passed in the negative.
Resolved, That the President of Congress inform Count d'Estaing, or the admiral commanding the fleet of his most Christian Majesty, in the West Indies, of the circumstances of Georgia and South Carolina by the invasion of the enemy, and that he be requested to afford such relief as may be in his power; [and that the president of South Carolina be confidentially requested to send to the Count d'Estaing, from time to time, the earliest information respecting the force and situation of the enemy in Georgia or South Carolina.]1
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets were inserted by John Jay, the original report recommending that information be given by the governors of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.]
That the President of Congress confer with the Sr. Gérard, Minister Plenipotentiary from his most Christian Majesty, on the subject of the foregoing resolution, in order to obtain his interposition with the Count d'Estaing, for the relief aforesaid.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 551.]
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed forthwith to fit out two dispatch boats to carry the dispatches of Congress to the Count d'Estaing, and that LC
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the Marquis de Brétigny be requested to take charge of one of those dispatches to the Count.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph, and an outline of the earlier paragraphs, in the writing of William Henry Drayton, is on folio 557.]
Ordered, That the Committee, at their request, have leave to sit again.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letter from the hon. Sieur Gérard to the Marine Committee; and after debate;
Ordered, That the committee wait upon the Sieur Gérard and confer with him on the subject of supplies requested by him, and give him a candid representation of the condition of our resources for flour, bread, &c. from the best information we have been able to collect, and report what ought and may be done in respect to the supplies asked.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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