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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 --MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1779
A memorial from sundry inhabitants of the island of Bermuda was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated March 28, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 176.]
Ordered That it be referred to a committee of three:
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The members chosen, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [John] Fell and Mr. [Henry] Laurens, who are directed to report with all convenient speed.
A letter, of 15, from N. Greene, Q. M. G. and a memorial from American officers, prisoners on Long Island, were read:
Ordered That they be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial from Gideon Olmstead and Artemas White, in behalf of themselves and others, claimants of the sloop Active, was read:
Ordered That Wednesday next be assigned for taking into consideration the report of the committee of Conference, relative to the sloop Active.
A letter, of 15, from General Washington, was read.
A memorial of Samuel Rogers was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This prisoners' memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 243; that of Olmstead, in the same volume, folio 247; the letter of Washington, in No. 152, VII, folio 255; and the memorial of Samuel Rogers, in No. 41, VIII, folio 264.]
Ordered That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [William] Whipple, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [John] Collins.
A letter, of 16, from Captain Stoddert, was read, desiring leave to resign his commission:
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.
A memorial from the Chevalier Sureau Duvivier, was read,2 representing that he had been nominated by the general assembly of North Carolina, major of a French regiment proposed to be raised in that State and commanded by Colonel Chariol: that the impossibility of procuring men to inlist induced the said assembly to dissolve the regiment: that the governor, well satisfied with his conduct, gave him a recommendation to the honorable Congress to be employed as major in the continental army: that having expended his
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Stoddert is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 39; the memorial of Duvivier, in No. 41, X, folio 301.]
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money he returned to Guadaloupe for a fresh supply, and is now returned, and praying that he be continued a major in the continental army, or have an allowance for his expences, and a brevet of lieutenant colonel:
On motion by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
Resolved, That the Chevalier Sureau Duvivier be informed that Congress cannot agree to his request.
A letter, of 2, from Major General Schuyler, was read, renewing his request for leave to resign:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III. folio 430.]
On motion by Mr. S[amuel] Adams, seconded by Mr. [John] Witherspoon,
Resolved, That his request be complied with.
A letter, of 8th, from General Schuyler, was read:
Ordered That so much thereof as relates to money be referred to the Board of Treasury.
That so much as relates to supplies for the Indians be referred to the Board of War, who are to take order thereon.
A letter, of 17, from S. Deane, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, 118.]
Ordered To lie on the table until the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which is the order of the day, be taken into consideration.
A letter, of 15, from the Board of War, was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That whensoever a colonel in the army of the United States, shall command a brigade of the troops of these states in the absence of a brigadier, he shall be permitted to draw six rations in addition to the one he draws as colonel, in consideration of the extra expence he is subjected to by such command.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated April 15 (present, Pickering and Peters), is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 205.]
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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 Mr. [John] Penn, a delegate from the State of North Carolina, on his application, for three thousand dollars; the said State to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 See note under April 16, p. 461, ante.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Benjamin Armitage, for one thousand dollars advanced on Iris application, to enable him to support his expences as superintendent of the mills for making of paper for bills of credit, exchange and loan office certificates; for which he is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Hoskins, for nine hundred and eighteen dollars, in full of his account for pay as clerk to the comptroller.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of John Beatty, Esq. commissary general of prisoners, for fifty thousand dollars in specie, for the use of his department; he to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carlton, paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, for one million of dollars, to pay for cloathing purchased, and ordered to be purchased by the said Board for the army; and for which that Board is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated April 16, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 253.]
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Thomas Edison and George Bond, for eight hundred dollars each, and of Joshua Coif for five hundred dollars, for extra expences.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated April 16, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 249.]
The Committee on the Treasury report,
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Colonel Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores, for
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one million of dollars, to be advanced to him on the recommendation of the Board of War, for the use of his department, for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 See note under April 16, p. 461, ante.]
A motion was made by Mr. [ElDridge] Gerry and seconded by Mr. [William] Carmichael, to strike out the words "one million", and in lieu thereof to insert "five hundred thousand." The question being put, Shall the words one million stand, passed in the negative.
On the question to insert five hundred thousand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
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On the question to agree to the report as amended,
Resolved in the affirmative.
Another report from the Board of Treasury was read, relative to bills of exchange drawn by British officers, which were delivered to Mr. Boudinot and sent to New York to be negociated.
Ordered That it be re-committed.
The determination of the question which was on Saturday postponed in right of a State, was called for:
On motion of Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. S[amuel] Adams,
Resolved, That when a question is postponed in right of a State, it shall be put at the next meeting of the House immediately after going through the public despatches, without debate, provided such meeting shall not be on the same day.
The question being put, shall the words moved to be struck out stand, passed in the negative.
A motion was made to amend the amendment proposed to be inserted, by striking out the words "200."
Question put, shall these words stand, passed in the negative.
On motion of Mr. S[amuel] Adams, seconded by Mr. [ William] Whipple, to insert "150 dollars;" the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the amendment as amended:
Resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and seconded by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith, to amend the main question farther, by striking out the words, "that Congress approve the raising of a brigade of 1500 men by the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations;" and in lieu thereof, to insert, "that the men who may be raised by the State of Rhode Island, in addition to their quota of continental troops, to serve."
On the question, shall the words moved to be struck out, stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Another amendment was moved by Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane, to add to the main question as amended, the following words:
"Upon condition that no farther or other wages be allowed to the said men by the said State than what is paid to other the continental troops."1
[Note 1: 1 This amendment, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 68.]
After debate,
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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