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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, FEBRUARY 4, 1779
A letter, of 3, from Jos. Watkins, commissary of ordnance and military stores, was read, desiring leave to resign; also a letter, of the same day, from Mr. Girard, lieutenant in Count Pulaski's corps, was read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 3, from Colonel Armand, was read; whereupon, the committee appointed to confer with the Commander in Chief brought in a report, which was read:1 and, thereupon,
[Note 1: 1 The Watkins letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 5; that of Girard in No. 78, X, folio 137; that of Armand in No. 164, folio 392.]
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed to give the necessary orders for recruiting the corps commanded by General Count Pulaski and Colonel Armand respectively, to their full complement of infantry, to be inlisted for the war, and to receive the continental bounties granted to the rest of the infantry.
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed to proceed in such manner as he shall judge expedient, to compleat the arrangement of the army, and to settle the relative rank of officers under the degree of brigadier, agreeably to the principles established by an act of Congress on the 24th day of November, 1778; and that the Board of War furnish him with copies of the proceedings of the late committee of arrangement.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 281.]
A letter, of 22 December, 1778, from Marquis de la Fayette, at Boston, in favour of Mons. de Noirmont de la Neuville, and also a petition from Major Noirmont de la Neuville, praying to be favoured with the brevet commission of lieutenant colonel, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 The letter of Lafayette is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, IV, folio 172.]
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On the question, Resolved, That the rank prayed for by Major Noirmont be not granted.
Congress took into consideration the letter of the 3, from Colonel Armand, soliciting the rank of brigadier general by brevet:
On the question put, Resolved, That the rank solicited for by Colonel Armand be not granted.
A petition of James Rogers was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This petition, dated the 2d, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 427.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A petition from Captain Peery was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Board of Treasury to whom was referred the letter of Count Pulaski, relative to the pay of his legion, report, that the sum of fifty thousand dollars, which the Board recommended to be paid to the Board of War, on 2 [20] January, was intended for the payment of the Count's legion; whereupon, Congress resumed the consideration of the said report, and thereupon,
Ordered, That, agreeable to an application of the Board of War and Ordnance, a warrant issue in favour of their paymaster, Joseph Carleton, on the treasurer, for fifty thousand dollars; the said paymaster to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution was based upon a letter from William Govett, dated February 4, in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 85.]
An invoice of goods shipped by Messrs. Gardoqui & Sons, of Bilboa, on board the Hawke, Captain Brazilla Smith, for Boston, and directed to the honble E. Gerry, Esq. on account of Congress, was laid before the House, and read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
Ordered, That Mr. [Henry] Laurens have leave of absence.
A petition of Henry Sheetz and others, and
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A petition from Bernard Gatz; [Gratz; and]
A petition from Thomas Levis; were read:1
[Note 1: 1 Sheetz's petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IX, folio 62; that of Levis is in No. 42, IV, folio 180.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the committee appointed to superintend the commissary and quarter master general's department.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the commissioners of claims, of 26 January, wherein they report:
That there is due to Captain John Stotesbury, of the 11 Pensylvania regiment, a ballance of pay and subsistance, during his captivity, from the 8 April to 31 December, 1778, inclusive; and for extra services before he was taken prisoner, five hundred and one dollars and 24/90ths:
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
A petition and representation of Martin Pendergast was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition, dated January 25, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 200.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A motion being made, respecting petitions offered by persons, requesting rank and promotion in the army of the United States:
Whereas Congress have experienced great inconvenience from giving rank in the army of the United States upon applications made to them in the first instance, and also great loss of time and injurious delay to important affairs from the very great number of petitions offered to them by persons requesting the said rank:
Resolved, that for the future no rank be given to any person who shall not have first applied to the Board of War, and obtained from them a letter of recommendation approving his pretensions, and certifying that the same may be complied with without inconvenience or derangement to the army. And that no petition or memorial requesting rank or office in the Army shall hereafter be read, unless the same shall be accompanied with such letter from the Board of War.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 15.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The committee appointed to confer with the Commander in Chief, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration, and after debate,
Feby 2d 1779, The Committee appointed to confer with the Commander in Chief beg leave to report the following resolution.
Whereas, it is under divine Providence essential to the publick Safety that foreign Supplies of Cloathing, Artillery, Arms and military Stores, should from time to time be provided, and seasonably imported for carrying on the present just and necessary War with Vigour and Effect; And the mode of procuring those Supplies in a course of Trade which has hitherto prevailed being precarious and subject to Loss and Disappointment:
Resolved, That the Minister Plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of his Most Christian Majesty be instructed and authorized to enter into a Negociation with the said Court, for obtaining a Loan or credit for the purposes following:
And Congress do hereby solemnly pledge the publick Faith of these United States for the Payment of all such Monies as shall be advanced by, or obtained on the Credit or Security of his said Most Christian Majesty, his Ministers or Agents, in pursuance of such Negociation and Contract, with such Interest, not to exceed six per cent, and at such periods, to commence after the present War, as shall be agreed upon by the said Minister Plenipotentiary of these United States.
Whereas, Congress by an Act passed this day have instructed and authorized their Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles, to enter into a Negociation with the said Court for obtaining a govermental Loan or Credit for the Purposes and on the Security
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mentioned in the said Act, And good policy requiring that every practicable expedient should be adopted to secure a regular and competent Supply of Cloathing, Arms and military Stores for the use of these United States;
Resolved, therefore that if from any unforeseen Impediment the before mentioned Negociation should not take effect, that in such case the said Minister Plenipotentiary be, and he hereby is, further instructed and authorized to use his utmost Endearours to contract with any Company or Individuals for the Supplies mentioned in the said Act, and on the Terms therein specified, always giving a Preference to Monsieur Beaumarchée, of whose Zeal and spirited Efforts for the Service of these United States Congress entertain a high Sense. And if such private Contract shall take place, Congress do hereby solemnly pledge the Faith of these United States to the Party contracting to furnish such Supplies, for Payment and full Compensation, with such Interest, not to exceed six per cent; and at such Periods, to commence after the present War, as shall be agreed upon by the said Minister Plenipotentiary. And if it shall be found absolutely necessary to pay the Interest annually as it becomes due, the said Minister shall be at Liberty to insert a Clause in the Contract for that Purpose, And Congress will take the most effectual Measures in their Power, by Remittances or otherwise, to discharge such Interest accordingly.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 287. See under May 11 and May 28, 1779, post.]
Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed.
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for taking into consideration the reports of the committee appointed to confer with the Commander in Chief.
A letter, of 20th December, 1778, and continued to 6 January, 1779, from Mr. W. Bingham, at Martinique, was read.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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