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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 --SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1779
A letter, of this day, from Major General Arnold was read.
A letter, of 1, from J. Powell, president, in behalf of the general assembly of Massachusetts bay, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the delegates of Massachusetts bay.
A letter, of 20, from W. Livingston, governor of New Jersey,
And one, of 25, from R. Sewell and Frederick Kuhl, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 Arnold's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 173; that of Powell is in No. 65, I, folio 388; that of Livingston, in No. 68, folio 437; and that of Sewell, in No. 78, XX, folio 395.]
Mr. Joseph Spencer, a delegate from Connecticut, attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut in America, holden at Hartford by Adjournment on the seventh Day of January, Anno Domini 1779.
This Assembly do appoint the Honble Joseph Spencer, Esqr to be one of the Delegates to represent this State in the Honorable Congress of the United States, in the room of Andrew Adams, Esqr, resigned.
A true Copy of Record,
ExaminedBy George Wyllys, Secretary.2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut, Credentials of Delegates.]
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A motion was made by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and seconded by Mr. [John] Penn, That Congress take into consideration the report of the committee on the letter of 25 January last, from the president of the council of Pensylvania, and the letter, of 8 February from Major General Arnold;
On which, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Edward] Langworthy,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The report of the committee, and the papers accompanying it were then read.
After the papers were read, a motion was made by Mr. [James] Lovell, and seconded by Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee,
That the further consideration of the report be postponed until the House determine upon the propriety of
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appointing a committee to confer with the joint committee of the assembly and executive council of Pensylvania; on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Searle:
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
With the leave of the House a motion was made by Mr. M[eriwether] Smith, and seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, in the following words:
"Whereas it is of the utmost importance that the Congress should be well informed of the situation of the several courts of Europe, and particularly of the views and designs of the British ministry; and whereas the servants
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of the United States at foreign courts have not in their public letters given satisfactory information on that subject, and have written private letters to individuals, members of this House, which have lately arrived: therefore,
"Resolved, That the members of Congress be called on from the chair, to declare upon their honor whether they have received any, and what intelligence relative to the views and designs of any of the European courts, and particularly of the Court of Great Britain."
On the question to agree to the resolution, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. M[eriwether] Smith,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
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A motion was made by Mr. [Samuel] Holten, and seconded by Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, to strike out the words in the preamble, "and whereas the servants of the United States at foreign courts have not in their public letters given satisfactory information on that subject, and have written private letters to individuals, members of this House, which have lately arrived:" the words moved to be struck out containing two parts, the same were divided, and on the question, that the first part, as far as the words "on that subject," inclusive, stand as part of the preamble, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
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So it passed in the negative.
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Leave was then requested to withdraw the latter part, which being objected to, a question was then put, that the latter part, viz. "and have written private letters," &c. stand part of the preamble; on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Ellery, passed in the negative, every member answering no.
On the question to agree to the first part of the preamble: resolved in the affirmative.
The committee for publishing the journals desired the sense of the House on the question, shall the yeas and nays be printed in the journals now publishing?
And on the question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 10 o Clock on Monday next.
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