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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 --FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1779
A letter, of this day, from Major General Arnold was read,2 earnestly requesting the decision of Congress on the sixth, seventh and eighth charges against him, in the proceedings of the supreme executive council of Pensylvania, of the 3d February, on which their committee hath reported:
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 177.]
On which a motion was made by Mr. [John] Witherspoon, and seconded by Mr. S[amuel] Adams,
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That the said letter lie on the table.
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Penn,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A letter, of 27 March, from Will. Bingham, at Martinique, directed to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, was laid before Congress and read, enclosing accounts of disbursements on account of the frigate Deane, Captain Nicholson, and the brig General Gates, Captain Waters:
Ordered, That the accounts be referred to the Marine Committee, and that they report the ways and means of paying the same.
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The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Henry Laurens and William Henry Drayton, Esquires, delegates of the State of South Carolina, on their application, for forty one thousand dollars, of which thirty six thousand five hundred, is for the purpose of answering an order of the State in favour of Don Juan Mirailles, and four thousand five hundred, for the use of the delegates; the said State to be accountable.
Whereas Major General Baron Steuben has been employed upwards of six months in preparing regulations for the department of Inspector General, and the discipline of the army, in which he has been assisted by the gentlemen hereafter named, and it being represented by the Board of War that they have been indefatigable in the said business and expended large sums for their support in this city, and that the regulations have great merit and will be productive of signal advantage in the ceconomy and discipline of the army; therefore,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Baron Steuben, for two thousand five hundred dollars; one thousand whereof for the use of Lieutenant Colonel Fleury, six hundred for the use of Captain Walker, five hundred for the use of Captain L'Enfant, and four hundred for the use of Captain du Ponceaux, as a compensation for their respective services and expences aforesaid.
That another warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Baron Steuben, for four thousand dollars on account of his expences.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated April 15, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 243.]
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The commissioners report,
... 11314.[Note 1: 1 This report, dated April 10, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folin 235.]
That there is due to Colonel David Kennedy for a detachment of militia employed in escorting and guarding British prisoners to and in Winchester, rations &c, the sum of seventeen thousand three hundred and fifteen dollars and 10/90.
Ordered, That the said account be paid.
The Committee on the Treasury report,
Treasury Office April 13th 1779
The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to report the following Resolutions
Resolved That six thousand tickets of the 3d class of the Lottery of the United States be delivered toto be by him disposed of in Europe and invested in such articles of Clothing as the Board of Wax shall direct
Thatper cent be allowed on the sale of the tickets and per cent on the returns.
That the Board of Treasury give necessary directions for checking and conducting this business.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Doctor jonathan Potts, deputy director general of the military hospitals for the middle department, upon the application of
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the Medical Committee, for one million of dollars, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated April 13 and 14, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 241. In the same report were the paragraphs on Colonel Flower and John Penn, printed under April 19, post.]
A motion was made by Mr. S[amuel] Adams, and seconded by Mr. [James] Searle, to strike out the words "one million", in order to insert a less sum, and on the question,
Shall the words "one million" stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
{table}
So it passed in the negative and the words were struck out.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, to insert "eight hundred
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thousand"; on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Jay,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. S[amuel] Adams, to insert five hundred thousand; on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Jay,
{table}
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the report as amended,
Resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 At this point the entries are in the writing of George Bond.]
The committee on the post office having conferred with the post master, and other principal officers of that department, report,
That it will be proper to supply the post master general immediately with 6967 dollars and one third of a dollar, to pay the debts due from the post office for the quarter ending the 5th of this month:
That it will be proper to advance to the post master, on account, the further sum of 5000 dollars, for the accruing expences of his department, to the end that, dealing with ready money, he may be enabled to make the best bargains for the public:
That the present rate of postage be doubled.2
[Note 2: 2 "The officers of the American Army beg leave to inform their friends and correspondents, that the postage of all letters to and from the Army is doubled; but as their pay is fully adequate to every expence, they therefore request them to send all letters by the public post, and not, through any economical view, by a private conveyance.
"Tis a pity that the Honorable Congress did not treble the postage for Officers letters as a large annual sum by this means would be put into the public Treasury.
"†§†The several Printers of news-papers on the Continent are requested to insert the above." Pennsylvania Packet, June 22, 1779.]
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That the annual salary of the post master general for the future be 2000 dollars per annum:
That the surveyor's pay be increased from six dollars to 12 dollars per day each:
That the comptroller's salary be increased from 340 dollars to 680 dollars per annum:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, with different allowance, in the writing of Richard Henry Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 457.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
At a Board of War, April 15th., 1779.
Present, Col. Pickering and Mr. Peters.
The Board taking into consideration the Memorial of Colonel de Knoblauch beg leave to report:
That from the circumstances of our Army it is impracticable to employ Colonel Knoblauch (altho' we believe him to be an experienced Officer) in the rank he desires.
That the sumof be allowed Colonel Knoblauch to enable him to defray his expences to Europe, and also to reimburse what he has already incurred in his passage hither.
That Colonel Knoblauch receive the thanks of Congress for his zeal in the cause of America, and his willingness to serve in the armies of the United States; and that he be informed, that altho' Congress have a high opinion of his merit, it is impracticable to employ him in a way suitable to his wishes.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 213. It is endorsed: "Referred to the Comee to whom was referred a letter offrom Lieutenant Colonel Knoblauch."]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.3
[Note 3: 3 Charles Thomson resumed the entries at this point.]
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