| 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 --MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1779
Mr. [John] Jay, President, laid before Congress a continuation of his powers as delegate for the State of New York, which was read, as follows:
The people of the State of New York by the grace of God free and independent, to all to whom these presents shall come, send Greeting. Whereas our Senate and Assembly of our said State have lately by concurrent resolutions declared that the special occasion for which the
Page 261 | Page image
honble John Jay Esq. Chief Justice of this State, was elected a delegate from this State in Congress will very probably continue after the first day of March next, and therefore, that he be farther continued in office as a delegate until thirty days after the next meeting of the legislature, Now therefore, know ye, that in pursuance of the said concurrent resolutions, We do by these presents, commissionate the said John Jay Esq. a delegate to represent this, our State, in the general congress of the United States of America, on the said special occasion, and do hereby authorise him to hold and exercise all the powers and authorities to the office or place of delegate belonging by virtue of the said concurrent resolutions until thirty days after the next meeting of the legislature of this our State and no longer. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent and our great Seal of this our State to be hereunto annexed. Witness our trusty and well beloved George Clinton, Esq., our Governor of our said State, General and commander in chief of all the militia and admiral of the navy of the same at Pokeepsie, the ninth day of February in the third year of our independence, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine. Signed George Clinton with the great Seal appendant.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New York, Credentials of Delegates.]
A letter, of 26 February, from General Washington, was read, with an enclosed extract of a letter of 25 of the same month, from Brigadier General Maxwell, giving an account of an attempt of the enemy to surprize the post at Elizabeth town:2
[Note 2: 2 Washington's letter is in the Washington Papers, A, IV, 1, 289; that of Maxwell is II the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 119.]
Ordered, That the extract from Brigadier Maxwell be referred to the Committee of Intelligence:
That the letter from General Washington be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Plater, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. [William] Paca.
The memorial from Mr. Holker was again read:
Page 262 | Page image
On the question that it be committed, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the committee consist of three:
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. [Henry] Laurens, and Mr. [Meriwether] Smith.
In pursuance of an application from the general assembly of Pensylvania,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with a committee of the general assembly of Pensylvania, on the subject of the emissions of continental money ordered to be taken out of circulation:
The members chosen, Mr. [Elbridge] (Gerry, Mr. [William] Carmichael, and Mr. [James] Duane.
Page 263 | Page image
Resolved, That a member be added to the Committee on the Treasury:
The member chosen Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin.
Resolved, That the committee, to whom were referred the letters and papers from Mr. President Reed, respecting public waggons employed by Major General Arnold, be empowered to send for persons and papers, and to examine witnesses on oath.
Congress resumed the consideration of a report of the Board of War of 6 February, and thereupon,
Resolved, That Mons. Oneil be appointed captain of infantry in Brigadier General Count Pulaski's legion:
That Mons. Verdier, Mons. Beaulieu, Mons. Kerlevan, and Mons. la Close, be appointed lieutenants in the said legion.1
[Note 1: 1 See note under February 12, p. 179, ante.]
An appeal from a judgment of a court of Admiralty for the State of New Jersey was this day lodged with the Secretary.
Congress was resolved into a Committee of the Whole, and after some time, the President resumed the chair and Mr. F[rancis] L[ightfoot] Lee reported, that the committee have had under consideration the report of the committee on the communications of the Minister of France and made some farther progress, but not having come to a conclusion desire leave to sit again.
That the thirteen United States are bounded: North by a line drawn from the northwest angle of the boundary of Nova Scotia along the high lands, which divide the rivers that empty themselves Amendment A2 into the river St. Laurence from those which fall into the Atlantic, to Connecticut River; thence down that river to the 45th degree of North Latitude; thence in that latitude to the River St. Laurence; thence to the south end of the lake Nipissing and thence to the source of the Mississippi. West, by a line drawn
[Note 2: 2 "A. By a line drawn thence due East to the River Apalachicola or Catahouche, thence to the junction thereof with the Flint River, thence in a strait line to the Head of"]
Page 264 | Page image
along the middle of the River Mississippi from its source to the 31st degree of North latitude, that part of the said river which lies in latitude thirty one Degrees north from the Equator: South, by a line from the river Miss[iss]ippi in the beginning of the 31 degree of north latitude to the junction of the Catahouche and Flint rivers, thence by a line to the head of St. Mary's river; and thence by a line along the middle of St. Mary's river to the Atlantic Ocean.
Amendment to the first proposition.1
[Note 1: 1 A line in the writing of Francis Lightfoot Lee.]
That the thirteen United States are bounded. East by the Atlantic ocean. North by a line drawn from the north west angle of the boundary of Novia Scotia along the high lands, which Agreed to in Comee March 1 divide the rivers that empty themselves into the river St. Lawrence from those which fall into the Atlantic, to Connecticut river, and then down that River to the 45th. degree north Latitude; thence in that latitude to the River St. Laurence; thence to the south end of the Lake Nepissing, and thence to the source of the Mississippi. West, by a line drawn along the middle of the river Mississippi, from its source to the 31st. degree of North Latitude. South by a line from the river Mississippi in the 31st. degree of north latitude to the junction of the Catahouche and Flint Rivers, thence by a line to the head of St. Mary's river, and thence by a line along the middle of St. Mary's River to the Atlantic Ocean.2
[Note 2: 2 This amendment, in the writing of William Henry Drayton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 477.]
2d Page, 6 line: dele to the Mississippi and insert to the western boundary of the United States. Transpose the words (as contended for by Great Britian) and insert them immediately after Nipissing.3
[Note 3: 3 A memorandum by Charles Thomson on the same sheet.]
East, by a line to be settled and adjusted between that part of the state of Massachusetts Bay, formerly called the Province Amendment B4 of Maine, and the Province of Nova Scotia, agreeably to their respective rights.
[Note 4: 4 "B. East, by a line drawn along the middle of the River St. Johns from its source to its mouth or By"]
Comprehending all the Islands in the Atlantic Ocean lying contiguous to or within 20 leagues of any part of the shores Amendment C5 of the United States from the north easterly limits on the sea of East Florida to the South westerly bounds on the sea of Nova Scotia.
[Note 5: 5 "C. Comprehending all Islands within twenty leagues of any part of the shores of the United States between lines drawn due East from the points where their boundary lines between Nova Scotia on the one part and Florida on the other part shall touch the Atlantic Ocean."
These three amendments, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 501.]
Page 265 | Page image
In the 4th. prop.: Strike out the words "as low down as the Southern boundary of the United States." Second head, prop. 3d.: Strike out the words "if adequate compensation therefor can be obtained."1
[Note 1: 1 In writing of Charles Thomson.]
Page 3d., line 2d.: from the bottom, strike out the words "six thousand."2
[Note 2: 2 In the writing of Francis Lightfoot Lee. The paper itself, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 471.]
Page 4th. line 3d.: insert the words "and guaranteed,"2 line 4th.: strike out the words "and the possession and sovereignty thereof forever guaranteed."2
Resolved, That on Wednesday Congress be resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider farther the report of the Committee on communications, &c.
Resolved, That to morrow be assigned for taking into consideration the reports of the Committee of Conference.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |