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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, MAY 14, 1779
After reading the journal, Mr. M[eriwether] Smith arose, and in his place informed the House, that he saw printed in a newspaper, entitledRoyal Gazette, published in New York by James Rivington, a letter written by Henry Laurens, and directed to Governor Houston, of Georgia, which contained matter derogatory to the honor of Congress, injurious to the interest of these United States, and tending to destroy that confidence which the states should repose in that body; and therefore he moved as a matter of privilege, that the said letter be read, and that Mr. Laurens be called on to declare whether he wrote that letter:
Objections were made to the said motion, as out of order, being contrary to the order of yesterday, "that after reading the journal this morning, the report on finance should be considered;" but Mr. [Meriwether] Smith insisting on his
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motion as a matter of privilege, the debate was proceeding on the question of order, when intelligence was communicated to the House in the words following:
Extract of a letter from his Excellency Thomas Johnson, Esq. dated Annapolis, 12 May, 1779, to Colonel Henry Hollingsworth.
Sir: Last night Captain Hanson, with whom Captain Plunket was agoing as a supercargo, put hack to this place; they inform they saw a frigate, a brig of about 14 or 16 guns, a small armed vessel or two, and two prizes in the bay. Hanson narrowly escaped being taken: Captain Jack Nicholson was drove ashore on or near Gwin's Island. Yesterday near the mouth of Patuxent they met with one Mr. Robinson in a boat belonging to Choptank bound down the bay. Robinson told them that on Monday morning he spoke a schooner in the mouth of Puankatank bound to sea, and chased in by a fleet of between 20 and 30 sail, among them several large ships: that she made this fleet off the Horse-shoe on Saturday morning, but it being hazy, they could not make out the exact number: that there were several sloops and schooners amongst them: we have yet heard nothing farther. I am, sir, your obedient servant,
Thomas Johnson.1
[Note 1: 1 This extract is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 317.]
Whereupon, a motion was made by Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, seconded by Mr. S[amuel] Adams, that the consideration of the question of order be postponed, until order be taken on the intelligence aforesaid.
On this question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The intelligence being again read,
Resolved, That the said intelligence be committed to the Board of War, and that they be directed to take measures to prevent any stores from falling into the hands of the enemy, should the fleet in the said intelligence mentioned, attempt a descent any where in the bay of Chesapeake or the rivers that empty therein: and that copies of the said letter be transmitted to the Commander in Chief, the president of Pensylvania, and the governor of Delaware.
Congress resumed the consideration of the question under debate, and a division being called for by Mr. [James] Duane,
On the question, is the motion of Mr. [Meriwether] Smith for reading the letter referred to in his information, in order;
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it passed in the negative.
On the question, is that part of Mr. [Meriwether] Smith's motion, "that Mr. Laurens be called on to declare whether he wrote that letter," in order;
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it passed in the negative.
Resolved, That the order of the day be postponed.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.1
[Note 1: 1 A petition of David McMurtrie, of this date, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, V, folio 126.]
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