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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, FEBRUARY 8, 1779
A letter, of 4, from C. Rodney, president of the State of Delaware, was read, informing that the legislature of that State have passed a law impowering their delegates to ratify the Confederation, in behalf of that State.
A letter, of 3, from Major General Greene, quarter master general; and one, of same date, from Jer. Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 Rodney's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 695; that of Greene in No. 155, 1, folio 87; that of Wadsworth in No. 78, XXIV, folio 1.]
A letter, of 7, from F. Wade, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee, appointed to superintend the commissary and quartermasters department, and that the committee transmit a copy thereof to the executive power of the State of Delaware.
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A letter, of the 26 January, from Major General Schuyler, and one of the 27, the latter enclosing a copy of a letter from J. Deane, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 Schuyler's letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folios 412 and 416; that of Deane is on folio 420.]
Ordered, That a copy of the letter of the 27, and paper enclosed, be sent to General Washington.
A letter and memorial from Richard Varick, deputy commissary general of musters, in the northern department, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter, dated January 28, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 7 , XXIII, folio 157.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial from Elihu Trowbridge was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 57.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
A memorial from W. Shippen, director general, in behalf of himself and the medical officers of the general hospital in the middle, eastern and northern districts, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee.
Ordered, That the commissary general of military stores do ship for South Carolina, 2000 round shot three pounders, 408 do. fixed, 580 grape do. and 474 case do.
The committee to whom was referred the representation of the delegates of Rhode Island, brought in a report; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:
Resolved, that it be recommended to the States of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, to permit such vessels from the States of Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations to load with bread and flour for the said States, as shall produce authenticated vouchers from the executive bodies of said States, that such vessels have been authorized to import such bread and flour for the said States and have given bond and security for the execution of said trust. And that vessels belonging to the States of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina be permitted to export bread and flour to the
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States of Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, upon their giving bond and security to the executive bodies of the States of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina to produce certificates from the executive Power of the State where the same shall be delivered, that the same was there unladed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 47. It is endorsed "Recommitted."]
Whereas the delegates of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in pursuance of an express vote of the general assembly of the said State, have represented to Congress that many of its inhabitants, especially those who have come off from the island of Rhode Island, must inevitably perish unless they are speedily supplied with the necessaries of life, and have in the strongest terms requested us to recommend to the states of Connecticut and New York, to repeal their acts laying an embargo on provisions, so far as respects supplying the said inhabitants with provisions by land:
Resolved, That the President write to the governors of the states of Connecticut and New York, requesting them to afford such supplies of flour and other provisions for the distressed inhabitants of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations as their necessities call for, so far as circumstances will admit, and under such regulations as may best answer the end proposed.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter from J. Powell, president of the Council of Massachusetts Bay, brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
An appeal from the judgment of a court of admiralty, for the State of Pensylvania, on the libel Francis Gurney v. Tam Ploy, was lodged with the Secretary, and referred to the Committee on Appeals.
The committee appointed to confer with the Minister of France, on the subject of an act of Congress, of the
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28 day January last 5th instant, declaring their intention in requesting aid from Count d'Estaing, made report of their proceedings; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it will not be expedient to make the proposed application for aid to Count d'Estaing, and that the several acts of Congress on that subject be, and they are hereby repealed.
Ordered, That the President inform the honble Sr. Gérard, minister plenipotentiary of France, of the above resolution.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter from W. Bingham, brought in a report; whereupon, Congress came to the following resolution:
Your Committee to whom were referred the Report of the Committee to confer with Monsr. Gérard, and the Letters from Mr. Bingham, of the 5th, 20th, 25th and 31st. December and 6th of January last, beg leave to report the following Resolutions:
Whereas it is highly probable that the ships and troops of his most Christian Majesty in the West Indies are employed in matters highly interesting to the said King, Resolved, That no aid whatever be requested from the Count d'Estaing for the succor of the southern states.
Whereas the General of Martineco hath made application through the continental Agent there to Congress, stating the extreme necessity of the islands for provisions, and whereas, it is utterly impracticable to furnish the necessary supplies unless from the State of South Carolina or Georgia and requesting that supplies may be exported from these United States,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a letter, to be signed by the President, to Mr. Bingham, informing him [that the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts bay, Rhode island, and Connecticut, have not a sufficiency of flour for their own consumption; that the military operations of which New York, New
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Jersey, Pensylvania and Delaware have been the scene, have so reduced their resources of bread, as not to admit of further supplies than may be necessary for the Army; that the wheat in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina has been so injured by a fly which infests those States as not to afford the succours in question; that South Carolina and Georgia abound in rice, and great quantities of that article and some others of provisions may be had there, but that]1 the navigation by the late efforts of the enemy hath become very insecure, and many Vessels the Property of French Subjects are thereby exposed to the vessels which may be sent there will be exposed to great hazard, unless accompanied by a strong convoy, or the marine force of the enemy in those States destroyed:
[Note 1: 1 The part in brackets was an amendment in the writing of Meriwether Smith, on folio 331.]
Resolved, That a state of the circumstances and resources of the several states be forthwith transmitted to the said Agent, and also to his Excellency the Count d'Estaing, to the end that proper measures may be taken to obtain the said Supplies.
Resolved, That the President be directed forthwith to prepare the necessary Dispatches, and triplicates thereof be transmitted by the committee of foreign correspondence, that the Marquis de Britigny be requested to take charge of the said letters to the Count d'Estaing, and that the President prepare Instructions for him.
Resolved, That copies of the foregoing Resolutions, and also of that part of the Agent's Letters which relates to Provisions, Together with Copies of the Dispatches and Instructions in the Postponed foregoing Resolution mentioned, be delivered the Honble. the Sieur Gérard, Minister Plenipotentiary of his most Christian Majesty.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, with amendments by Meriwether Smith, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 325. On folio 327 is a motion, in the writing of William Ellery, as follows:
"Whereas the General of Martinico hath made application to Congress thro' the Continental Agent there respecting a supply of provisions for the French Islands in the West Indies,
"Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare a letter to be signed by the President, informing the Continental Agent of the general State of provisions in the several States, of the french trade now in the harbour of Charlestown in South Carolina, and of the force of the enemy in the States of South Carolina and Georgia both by sea and land."
On folio 329 is a resolution, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, as follows:
"Resolved, that Information be given to the Count D'Estaing of the force and situation of the enemy's squadron in the river Savannah, and of the exposed situation of vessels belonging to Subjects of his Most Christian Majesty in the port of Charlestown, and that the President be requested to inform the Minister of France that Congress have tho't it their duty, as good and faithful Allies to transmit the said information, that the Count D'Estaing may take such measures thereon as may consist with his plan of operation, and the interest and views of his Royal Master; and they are further induced hereto from a consideration that the Islands may be much concerned in the resources of rice in South Carolina and Georgia."]
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The members chosen, Mr. [Meriwether] Smith, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of these resolutions, in the writing of George Bond, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, II, folio 175.]
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be postponed.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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