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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 --WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1779
Congress resumed the consideration of the petition of G. Pierce, representing, that on first March, 1778, he lent to Mr. Matthew Boyd, commissioner of cloathing for Chester county, one thousand pounds without interest, to assist him in his department, which remained in his hands till within three weeks of the time when the emission of April 11, 1778, was called out of circulation: that at that time he was re-paid in bills of that emission: and praying, as he is in want of money by reason of losses occasioned by the enemy, that the said money may be exchanged for good bills in circulation:
Resolved, That the prayer of the petition be granted.
A memorial from the undertakers of the continental manufactory of arms was read,1 representing that the success of their undertaking depends on the presence, care and superintendence of Mr. Windel, one of the copartners; and that Mr. Windel having long been a captain of artillery, and for fifteen years past first director of the royal manufactory of Charleville, and being much esteemed in his own country and a man of fortune, declines to leave his country and come to this unless he is invited by the honorable Congress, and have a promise
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, without signatures, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 293.]
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of a rank superior to that he now enjoys, but without any pretensions to service or pay; and therefore praying such invitation and promise may be given agreeably to what they were encouraged to expect when they entered into the contract with the Board of War; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the resolution of the 2d. February, and a report from the Board of War on this subject, be reconsidered.
Resolved, That the prayer of the memorial be granted.
A letter, of this day, from B. P. Smith, was read.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial and petition from Tim. Taylor and John Thomson, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter from J. Hart.
Resolved, That a member be added to the said committee.
The member chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Atlee.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the memorial of Captain Sumner, report, "that it appears that the service of the armed vessels on Lake Champlain, in 1776, was disagreeable, and that officers reluctantly quitted the line to take command of them: that as an inducement to officers possessing the requisite talents to engage in that service, General Schuyler offered to lieutenants the commission of captains, and gave them hopes of a permanent provision in the navy; that influenced by these motives and a regard to the public good, Captain Sumner, among others, quitted his station in the line and took the command of one of the armed vessels abovementioned: that it further appears that by virtue of General Schuyler's orders, General Arnold, on the 1st day of July, 1776, appointed Mr. Sumner captain to the said command, in which capacity he in several actions behaved with great spirit and good conduct; and that in the opinion of the
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Board Captain Sumner's resignation of his lieutenancy inthe line to take the above command, should not prejudicehis claim to rank on account of prior services;"1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 185.]
Resolved, That Captain Job Sumner, of Colonel Greaton's regiment, have a commission of captain in the army of the United States, to rank as such from the first day of July, 1776.
The committee, to whom was referred the memorial of Alexander McNutt and others, agents for several townships in Nova Scotia, brought in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom was referred the memorial of Alexander McNutt and others, Agents for several Townships in Nova Scotia, beg leave to report,
That in their opinion it is greatly interesting to the United States of America that Nova Scotia should not remain subjected to the Government of Great Britain, to be used as an instrument to check their growth or molest their tranquillity. That the people in general of that Province have been thoroughly well disposed towards the United States from the beginning of the present war. That they made early application to Congress for direction how they might be serviceable to the Continental cause, offering to raise 3000 men in 10 days. That they have since repeatedly applied for countenance and aid to enable them to assert their Independence. That they have as often received friendly assurances from Congress, tho' circumstances prevented any vigorous efforts in their favor. That they begin now to apprehend the United States will rest satisfied with their own Independence and leave Nova Scotia under British Despotism.
That the Memorialists were sent forward by the people to obtain if possible from Congress some assurance to the contrary, hoping they may not be reduced to seek for ammunition and a guarantee of their freedom in France or Holland. That it wound tend greatly to animate the well disposed in Nova Scotia and to secure the Indians to the United States, as well as to promote desertion from the enemy and facilitate supplies of live stock to the Eastern parts of the Union, if a road was opened through the Country from Penobscot to St. Johns
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River. That for such a work a body of faithful men strongly interested to accomplish it might be found among those who have been driven by the hand of oppression from Nova Scotia. Your Committee therefore propose the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That Lieutenant Colonel Phineas Nevers and Captain Samuel Rogers be employed to lay out, mark and clear a road from Penobscot river to St. John's river in the most commodious line and in the most prudent manner.
That they be empowered to enlist for such service a body of men, not to exceed 1500.
That fifteen thousand dollars be advanced to them for carrying on the work, for the faithful expenditure of which they shall become bound to the United States in a bond to be given to the continental treasurer.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Lovell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 107.]
A letter, of 6, from the honble Sr. Gérard, minister-plenipotentiary of France was read, inclosing a paper of intelligence:
Ordered, That the paper enclosed be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, &c. and some time being spent thereon.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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