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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 --TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 1779
A letter, of this day, from General Lee, was read, representing that in a publication of this day, there is a paragraph respecting General Moultrie's having defended Fort Sullivan against his (General Lee's) judgment, which throws him into the disagreeable alternative of either silently sitting down under a charge which may make an impression on the minds of the people unfavorable to his conduct and capacity, or of justifying himself by a publication which at this juncture may be inexpedient; that if Congress will condescend to appoint a committee to hear what he has to say on that subject, he has no doubt of making his conduct appear satisfactory; but if that measure should be thought improper, then requesting that they will order the letter of thanks, with which they honored him on the occasion, to be republished:1 Whereupon,
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 158, folio 139.]
Resolved That the vote of thanks to Major General Lee, on account of his conduct on the 28th June, 1776, be republished; and that Congress have no reason to alter their opinion of his conduct on that occasion.
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On motion by Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
Resolved That the Marine Committee take such order, respecting retaining the continental ship yard and workmen now in their employ, as they shall think most conducive to the public good.
A letter, of this day, from T. Edison, G. Bond, and J. Coit, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 2, from J. Carter, continental agent in Virginia, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
A letter, of this day, from Lieutenant Colonel Knobelauch, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIII, folio 471.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The committee appointed to consider what farther measures are necessary for the defence of South Carolina and Georgia, report,
"That the subjects of the most Christian King, residing in South Carolina have offered to form a corps of volunteers for the defence of the said State, to be commanded by officers of their own nation: That the said offer is approved by the Minister of France, and that the Marquis de Brétigny requests to be appointed to the command;" Whereupon,
Resolved That Congress have a high sense of the offer made by the subjects of his most Christian Majesty residing in South Carolina, to incorporate themselves for the defence of the said State, and that the same be accepted.
Resolved That the Marquis de Brétigny, who, from his generous sacrifices, from his great sufferings, and from his military abilities, is entitled to the regard of the United States, appears from his military talents, rank, and abilities,
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to be a proper person to command the said corps, [and that he be accordingly recommended to the governor of South Carolina.
Resolved That the said corps, while embodied in actual service, be upon continental establishment of pay and rations.]1
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets are not in the original report.]
Resolved That the State of Virginia be requested to lend to the United States 1000 stand of arms, for the purpose of arming the forces destined for the defence of South Carolina and Georgia; and that the Board of War be ordered to replace the same without delay.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 377.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report on the subject of supporting the expences of the war, which was read:
Ordered, That it be re-committed, together with their report respecting the arrangement of the Treasury Board, and that they cause a number of copies of the same to be printed for the consideration of the members.3
[Note 3: 3 See under April 22, p. 491, post.]
A letter, of 16 March, from W. Greene, governor of Rhode island, was read.4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 64, folio 432.]
A report from the Board of War on the letter of General Greene, Q. M. G., relative to the inlistment of waggoners was brought in, and the same being taken into consideration, a part was agreed to, part postponed, and a part re-committed.5
[Note 5: 5 See under April 17, p. 467, post. The report is endorsed: "Read 13th. Part agreed and part recommitted. No entry being made of the part agreed to, the Board of War is desired to send back this report so Congress when the report upon the part recommitted [is returned.]"]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to confer with the Commander in Chief,
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recommending the full value of rations allowed to the officers of the army, to be paid them in lieu of the present subsistance money, and on motion of Mr. [John] Penn, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
Resolved That three thousand dollars be advanced to the Marquis of Brétigny, for which sum he is to be accountable, deducting the necessary expence of his journey to Charles town.
Treasury Office March 31st 1779
The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to report
That having taken into consideration the late arrangement for the Treasury, and consulted Mr. Trumbull, appointed to the Office of Comptroller, and Mr. Gibson Auditor General thereon, the latter made his report which is annexed.
That your Committee conceive it will be sufficiently obvious from the said report that the present arrangement cannot be carried into practice.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 205. Gibson's report was as follows:
Auditor General, His report on the arrangement of the Treasury.
One of the greatest objections to the arrangement is perhaps that it by no means takes in the whole of the business incidental to the Treasury. It is confined merely to accounts, and leaves untouched, all that variety of business, which has hitherto employed the attention of the Treasury Board, and which would take up too much of the time of Congress if carried there. Therefore of necessity it follows that a Treasury Board must still exist for the despatch of these matters.
Another great objection seems to be, that for the sake of checks on the Superior Officers, the machine is so clogged, as to defeat in a great measure the intention of having the public accounts speedily settled. There are many accounts the Investigation of which will take up a set of Commissioners from three to six months, they must pass the like Examination in the Auditors Office, and will take up the same or nearly the same time; and consequently there cannot be more than from two to four of such settled in the course of a year.
It will be of little avail to the public in the present situation of the public accounts, which are now prodigiously aggregated, and indeed will be so far from diminishing the Mass, that at the end of the year (if the war proceeds) it will be found to have greatly increased.
It should seem that the mode of doing business hitherto practised, is liable to the objection, that frauds might be committed by the Superior Officers. The new arrangement don't seem to afford additional security; for by the first the same sum or balance appears in three different Offices, viz in the Commissioners, the Auditor General's and the Secretary of Congress; and by the last the like appears, viz in the Chambers of Accounts, the Auditors and Comptrollers offices. To detect Frauds in either an enquiry must be set on foot.
It is observable also, that the Commissioners are the sole Judges of Accounts; after they have passed them however exceptionably in his opinion, the auditor has no power to interfere, unless by an appeal from the Accomptant. Add to this the situation of the Auditor is humiliating, He is made the greatest of all Drudges, the Examiner of vouchers, and comparing them with the charges they are adduced to support; and this too after his Clerks have done the same Work. Another objection, and it may not be the least, is, that the duties required of the Comptroller and Auditor constrain their constant attendance otherwise business must be wholly suspended; and as often as either of them may be by sickness or necessity, called away; either Congress must interfere and supply a Remedy or disagreeable Inconveniences arise. But what is the proper duty of the Auditor General according to his original appointment. He was appointed to undertake the employment of "stating arranging and keeping the public accounts," and I should suppose as a matter incidental to his office he had the right of rejecting any improper charge in accounts presented for settlement, after they may have passed the Chambers, and to instruct the Commissioners in cases of difficulty.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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