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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 20, 1779
A letter, of 30th March, from G. Clinton, governor of New York, was read;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Clinton is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 178.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and seconded by Mr. [James] Duane. After debate,
Ordered That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, Mr. [ Willlam Paca, and Mr. [Meriwether] Smith.
A letter, of 20, from George Ewing, commissary of hides, was read, resigning his office:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VIII, folio 315.]
Ordered That it be referred to the Board of War.
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A motion was made by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, that the House proceed to the order of the day upon the report of the committee of 13 upon foreign affairs:
And upon the question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Thereupon Congress resumed the consideration of the amendment moved on the fourth article of the report; and
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on the question, shall the words "which may be," stand part of the report,
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton,
{table}
So it passed in the negative, and the words were struck out.
A division was then called for by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, and that the first question be to agree to the first part of the 4th article, viz. "that suspicions and animosities have arisen among the said commissioners."
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, to amend the clause by striking out
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the word "said;" and in lieu thereof inserting "late and present."
On the question put, resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Frederick A.] Muhlenberg, before the words "late and present," to insert "some of."
On the question put, the states were equally divided, and the amendment lost.
A motion was made by Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, seconded by Mr. [William] Ellery, that the consideration of the 4th article be postponed until the 5th article is considered and determined on:
Question put, the states were equally divided.
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, to add the names of the commissioners, taking the sense of the House on each name to be added:
On the question, shall the names be added, resolved in the affirmative.
On the question, shall Dr. B. Franklin's name be inserted, resolved in the affirmative.
On the question, shall Mr. Silas Deane's name be added,
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
{table}
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question, shall Mr. Arthur Lee's name be added,
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
{table}
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question, shall Mr. Ralph Izard's name be added,
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question, shall Mr. William Lee's name be added,
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
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{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question, shall Mr. John Adams's name be added,
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
{table}
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So it passed in the negative.
The first clause being amended so as to read,
That suspicions and animosities have arisen among the late and present commissioners, namely, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Mr. Silas Deane, Mr. Arthur Lee, Mr. Ralph Izard, and Mr. William Lee; and the question being ready to be put, the previous question was moved by Mr. S[amuell Adams and seconded by Mr. [James] Lovell,
That the question be not now put; on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton,
{table}
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So it passed in the negative.
The question being then put to agree to the first clause as amended, and the yeas and nays [being] required by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
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The question was then put, to agree to the second clause, on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton,
{table}
So it was Resolved, That suspicions and animosities have arisen among the late and present commissioners, namely, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Mr. Silas Deane, Mr. Arthur Lee, Mr. Ralph Izard, and Mr. William Lee, highly prejudicial to the honor and interest of these United States.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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