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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 --SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1779
After reading the journal, Mr. [Henry] Laurens arose, and with the leave of the House read in his place a paper which he delivered in, and which being read at the table, was ordered to be entered on the journal, and is as follows:
"Mr. President, the motion which was made yesterday by one of the honorable delegates from Virginia, for reading a presumed copy of a letter said to have been written by me, and printed in the garrison of the enemy on New York island, and for calling upon me to declare whether I had written such a letter, appeared to me to be irregular, unprecedented, and full of dangerous consequences, derogatory to the honor and dignity of Congress, and alarming to the free and independent citizens of these United States: thence arose those cautions and admonitions which a sense of duty prompted me to offer to the House while the subject was under debate, and I rejoice in that wisdom which was displayed by the House in overruling the attempt.
Sir, had the gentleman who made the motion called on me, and in proper terms enquired whether the printed letter was a copy of an original address from me to Governor
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Houston, I would have given him all the satisfaction that could have been desired by any man of true honor.
And now, sir, as, if I have been guilty of aught criminal, or have inadvertently expressed any thing amiss in my correspondence as a private citizen with Mr. Houston, I would rather receive a censure or a reproof from Congress than be charged with a want of candour, or commit my conduct to the whispers of malice, I take the liberty of informing Congress that I did, on the 27 August, write a private letter to Governor Houston.
If the House shall judge it proper to determine by a vote that they may of right demand a copy of that private letter, and shall in consequence of such vote call on me, or if Congress shall be pleased by a vote to direct their President in writing to request me to lay before them a copy of that letter, I will, in either case, produce a genuine and true copy, reserving to myself in the mean time the privilege of voting, as I certainly should vote if I were not a party concerned.
I confide in the candor of the House to order this address to be entered on the journal, and if the House shall be pleased to call for, or request a copy of my letter, I shall expect that will also be entered on the journal. 15 May, 1779."
On the question for entering the above on the journal, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Mr. [Meriwether] Smith then moved, seconded by Mr. [John] Penn,
That the sense of the House be expressed, whether the motion he made yesterday was an attempt "irregular, unprecedented, and full of dangerous consequences, derogatory to the honor and dignity of Congress, and alarming to the free and independent citizens of these United States."
A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin, as a substitute to the foregoing, in the words following:
"That, by the vote for entering on the journal the paper delivered in by Mr. [Henry] Laurens, Congress did not mean to give any opinion on the suggestion therein contained, that the motion made by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith was unprecedented and full of dangerous consequences, derogatory to the honor and dignity of Congress, and alarming to the free and independent citizens of these United States."
On the question, shall this be received as a substitute,
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the substitute as a resolution, resolved in the affirmative.
A letter, of 24 April, from J. Powell, president of the council ofMassachusetts bay to the delegates of that State, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 15, from Brigadier W. Irvine was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIII, folio 105.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Adjourned to 10 Oclock on Monday next.
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