| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --SUNDAY, 31 JANUARY, 1779
At a Meeting of the Committee appointed by Congress to confer with the Commander in Chief.
A Letter from Colo. Gibson of one of the State Regiments of Virginia, setting forth that he had received no orders for reinlisting that said Regiment, and that the time for which the men were enlisted is daily expiring; that very few of the men were enlisted to serve during the war, and that they are willing to enlist on the same terms as the Troops from the State of Virginia, in Continental service, was read, and the said letter being referred to this Committee with powers to take such order thereon as they shall judge proper; It is also unanimously agreed that the Commander in Chief shall give orders for reinlisting the men belonging to the said Regiment for the war, allowing them the Continental bounty, and that if the State of Virginia shall incline to take the Regiment not so reinlisted into its own immediate service, it shall be at Liberty to do so, and in that case, the bounty money to be advanced out of the Continental Treasury, together with the expense of recruiting shall be returned.
Page 8 | Page image
It is further agreed, that if Colo. Smith and his Regiment raised for the service of the State of Virginia shall make a similar application to the Commander in Chief of the Army of these United States, the same measures in all respects be pursued with regard to that Regiment.
That a copy of this Resolution be delivered to the Commander in Chief, and the original lodged with the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 Washington Papers, Letters to Washington, 92, folio 344.]
Foreign affairs occupied much of the attention of Congress. The year opened with the injudicious blurting out of state secrets by Thomas Paine, for which he was disciplined by being dropped from all connection with Congress. The unfortunate controversies incident to the many-headed commission in Europe were brought to an end, in which reputations were damaged, careers blasted, and safety attained only at great sacrifices. The controversies were as influential in producing discord in Congress, and led to personal encounters involving serious charges and creating lasting ill-feeling. Yet the increasing importance of the French alliance, and the need of strengthening it were recognized, and the foreign intercourse was placed upon a sure and reasonable basis by the appointment of ministers acting under definite instructions. The possibilities of a peace with Great Britain were considered, and gave rise to some of the most important resolves of the year. The arrival of a French fleet was an assurance of effective military aid, and the grants of money by the French King constituted a welcome gift, not free from liability of abuse by awakening expectations of a continuance of such aids.
Worthington Chauncey Ford
Chief of Division of Manuscripts
Editor
Herbert Putnam
Librarian of Congress
December 30, 1908
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |