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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 15, 1779
The President acquainted the House that, pursuant to their order, he had informed the Minister of France, that Congress will take his memorials of the 9th instant into immediate consideration; and that if he wishes to communicate any thing farther to them, Congress will receive the same in a private audience. That the minister wished to make farther communications to Congress, and would attend the house at twelve o'clock this day.
A letter, of 13, from P. Scull, secretary to the Board of War, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folio 391.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer.
A letter of this day from B. P. Smith was read.
A letter, of 8, and one of 12, from B. Arnold, major general, were read, with sundry papers enclosed.
Whereas, the Honorable the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania, by an Act passed on the third day of this instant February, have charged Major General Benedict Arnold with diverse misdemeanors in the course of the military command exercised by him in the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania.
Resolved, Therefore that the Commander in Chief be directed to cause the said Major General Arnold to be tried by a Court Martial for the several misdemeanors with which he so stands charged, in order that he may be brought to punishment if guilty; or if innocent, may have an opportunity of vindicating his honor.
Ordered, That the Commander in Chief give due notice to the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania of the time and place to be appointed for the trial of Major General Arnold, and that be he so request them to point out the evidence on which the charges alledged in their said Act are founded.2
[Note 2: 2 A motion, without date, and in the writing of James Duane, in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 171.]
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The Minister Plenipotentiary of France attending agreeably to his appointment, Congress was resolved into a Committee of the Whole; after the Minister had withdrawn, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee reported, that the Minister has had a private audience and free conference with the committee; that the committee have come to no resolutions thereon, and desire leave to sit again.
Treasury Office, February 13th., 1779.
The Committee on the Treasury have agreed to report the following state of facts on the subject of the application of the Commercial Committee for half a million of dollars, and complaint of delay in the Committee in making the report--
First. That before the application of the said Committee, which was delivered at the Board on the 6th. instant, the Committee on the Treasury had presented Congress with a state of the demands on the Treasury amounting to more than fifteen millions, specifying that at that time no more of the then last emission of ten millions was unappropriated than one million four hundred thousand dollars.
Second. That to answer these demands (which were prior to the Commercial Committee's application) in part, Congress have directed an emission of five millions which is not yet nearly completed.
Third. That for the Commissary and Quarter Masters General's Departments only three millions eight hundred thousand dollars have already been appropriated, besides a million for Georgia, and a million for the recruiting service, and other grants to the amount in the whole of six million four hundred and seventeen thousand dollars, which were indispensable, and fully appropriate all the money in the Treasury and to be emitted.
Fourth. That the Committee appointed to confer with the Commander in Chief reported a resolution that instead of remittances to satisfy Mr Beaumarchais and to obtain future supplies in a way of trade, a loan ought to be negotiated on government or private contracts in France for these purposes: which report yet remains to be decided upon; and if confirmed might supersede the necessity of such advance to the Commercial Committee.
Fifth. That the Board while the paper money laboured under the resolution for calling in the two emissions, thought it unadvisable to
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recommend the emissions of large sums; and therefore contented themselves with informing Congress of the true state of the public debts and with reporting an emission of five millions only, with a view to give the fullest influence to the said resolution.
Sixth. That since the passing the resolution for purchasing Tobacco, the Board received information that the price of Tobacco had risen from £7 to £10 Virginia currency, and that in Maryland the price was from £10 to £15 and still is on the rise; and that by a computation it appeared that little less than two millions of dollars would suffice to purchase and ensure the said three thousand hogsheads of Tobacco. The Committee therefore did not think it beyond the line of their duty to give this information to Congress; especially as the delay occasioned by it, in the exhausted state of the Treasury could not be attended with any inconvenience.
Seventh. That the Committee, being charged with neglect of duty, cannot help observing that although the resolution of Congress for purchasing Tobacco, passed on the 15th. day of January last, the application for the advance of half a million was not made until the 6th. day of February, after all the last emission was anticipated by other demands.
The Committee therefore submit it to Congress whether the Tobacco at the present excessive price, and in the critical situation of our Finances, ought to be purchased; in which case it will be necessary to order a further emission of money without delay.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 101.]
[Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow]
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