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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 23, 1779
Mr. [John] Dickinson, a delegate for Delaware, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of this day, from T. Paine was read, enclosing a paper which he informs is part of an original letter sent to him about a month ago.
A letter from Leonard Albouy has read,1 soliciting an answer to the memorial from the inhabitants of Bermudas, on which the committee to whom the memorial was referred, report as follows:
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Paine is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 55, folio 55; that of Albouy is in No. 78, I, folio 241.]
"That they have examined the said memorial, and conversed with Captain Albouy, the bearer thereof:
"That it appears to your committee that the inhabitants of Bermuda are in deep distress for want of provisions: that theVirginia andGalatea ships of war are stationed at Bermuda: that it is garrisoned by British soldiers; and that it is not altogether certain that any provisions Captain Albouy may be permitted to export will go to the relief of the Bermudians; therefore the committee are of opinion,
"That so long as Bermuda shall continue to be guarded by British ships and garrisoned by British soldiers, how powerfully soever humanity may plead in their behalf, and the disposition of Congress incline them to relieve the distresses of Bermuda, yet sound policy and the duty they owe to their constituents, will constrain them to refuse a compliance with the request of the memorialists."2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 145. Thomson has recorded upon it the vote.]
On the question to agree with the report of the committee, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Jay,
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So the states were equally divided.
Ordered, That the report, with the memorial, be recommitted.
A letter, of this day, from Colonel F. Johnson was read, inclosing sundry accounts:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Ordered, That the consideration of the reports of the Board of Treasury and Board of War be postponed.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter of 22, from General Greene, Sharpe, quarter master general, brought in a report; Whereupon,
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Your Committee, to whom was referred the letter of General Greene, of the 22d. of April, 1779, beg leave to report:
That they have held a conference with Major General Greene, who informed the Committee that his Department is considerably in debt, and that the orders he has received from the Commander in Chief cannot possibly be complied with in the tune specified for that purpose, unless he can receive very considerable supplies of money.
That General Greene also laid before your Committee letters and estimates relative to the number of Waggoners to be employed, and the mode of obtaining them, to which they pray that reference may be had, and where they submit the following resolution:
Resolved, That the quarter master general be empowered and directed to employ so many waggoners as shall be necessary for the use of the army, upon the best terms on which they can be obtained, provided such terms are approved by the Commander in Chief.
That General Greene further informed your Committee, that unless an answer can be had to his former requests touching the assistant and deputies in his Department they will not continue in the service, wherefore your Committee submit the following order:
Ordered, That the Board of War make report with all convenient speed upon the letter of thefrom the Quartermaster General.
That the General further informed your Committee that the jealousies and suspicions which have prevailed with respect to the mode of paying for the services rendered in his Department; the very considerable tho' unavoidable expenditures, and the obloquy to which he finds himself exposed thereby, lay him under a necessity of resigning his office of Quartermaster General unless it can be held consistent with his reputation; wherefore he prays that Congress will take his Department into their early consideration, Your Committee thereupon submit the following order:
Ordered that the arrangement and salaries of the Quartermaster General's Department be taken into consideration onnext.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 439.]
A report from the Board of War on the salaries of officers in the department of the quarter master general was taken into consideration; after debate,
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Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee appointed to superintend the quarter master and commissary's department, and that they be directed to confer with the quarter master general, fill up the blanks and report to morrow morning.
Congress resumed the consideration of the resolution moved by the delegates of Rhode Island, and in lieu of the amendment moved by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris and Mr. [James] Duane, viz. "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:"
A substitute was moved by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, and seconded by Mr. [William] Whipple, in the words following:
Provided, that the said State shall not augment the pay of the officers and soldiers of the said brigade, beyond the pay allowed to officers and soldiers in the continental army.
On the question to adopt the substitute in lieu of the amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it passed in the negative.
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and seconded by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith, to amend the amendment, by inserting after "State," these words, "whether by the name of pay, wages or subsistence, or in any other manner."
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it passed in the negative.
On the question to agree to the amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith, to add "and provided that the continental battalions of the said State be first compleated."
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
So it passed in the negative.
On the question to agree to the amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it passed in the negative.
Adjourned to 10 o Clock to Morrow.
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