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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, MAY 24, 1779
A petition of James Stevenson was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial from Colonel Lewis Dubois was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Stevenson's petition is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, folio 73; the memorial of Dubois, dated May 12, is in No. 41, II, folio 445.]
Ordered, That a copy thereof be sent to General Washington.
A letter, of 16, from B. P. Smith, was read:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
A letter, of 22nd, from Silas Deane, was read:
Whereupon sundry motions being made, a question of order was raised on the last; after debate, the member who moved the question of order desired leave to withdraw.
On the question shall the member have leave to withdraw his motion, all the States answered in the affirmative, except one which was divided;
Whereupon a question arose whether leave is given. On this question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Jay,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That the consideration of the letter of Mr. Deane, together with the last motion thereon, be postponed till to morrow.
Resolved, That the journals of a preceding day be open to correction during the whole of the next day.
A letter from Captain Thomas Buchanan was read, desiring leave for reasons therein set forth to resign his commission:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The delegates from Maryland laid before Congress a letter of 20th, from T. Johnson, governor of that State:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, and that the Board be directed to furnish,with all convenient despatch, to the State of Maryland, 600 stand of arms, for which the said State is to be accountable.
A letter, of this day, from the honble. Sr. Gérard was read: Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Johnson is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 327; the Gérard letter is printed in theDiplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, 184.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [William] Carmichael, in the words following:
Whereas Congress on the 15th of May last, did unanimously resolve, that all military officers commissioned by Congress, who then were or thereafter might be in the service of the United States, and should continue therein during the war, and not hold any office of profit under these states or any of
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them, should, after the conclusion of the war, be entitled to receive annually for the term of seven years, if they should live so long, one half of the present pay of such officers, with certain provisoes and limitations: and, whereas, the great sufferings, exemplary fortitude, and unshaken perseverance of the said officers, justly entitle them to the favorable notice of a grateful country, whose liberties they have bravely defended, supported and established: this Congress, therefore, mindful of their present sufferings, and willing to make future provision for the age of those whose youth, and health and ease, have been generously expended in the service of the public, do resolve and promise, that all military officers commissioned by Congress, who are or shall be in the service of the United States, and shall continue therein during the war, shall, after the conclusion thereof, receive annually during their natural lives one half of their present pay.
An objection being made against taking this into consideration, as being out of order; on the question, is the above motion in order, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Carmichael,
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So it passed in the negative.
Mr. [Meriwether] Smith moved for leave to substitute a motion, which he read in his place, and leave being granted, the same was read at the table as follows:
Mr. Smith having previously obtained the general consent of the House, moved the following resolutions:
Whereas it hath been represented to Congress, that the enemy, at the time of, and since their landing in Virginia, have perpetrated the most unnecessary, wanton, and outrageous barbarities on divers of the citizens of that State, as well as on several of the subjects of his most Christian majesty residing therein; deliberately putting many of them to death in cool blood, after they had surrendered, abusing women, and desolating the country with fire:
Resolved, That the governor of Virginia be requested to cause diligent enquiry to be made into the truth of the above representations, and to transmit to Congress the evidence he may collect on the subject.
Resolved, That Congress will retaliate for cruelties and violations of the laws of nations, committed in these states against the subjects of his most Christian majesty, in like manner and measure as if committed against citizens of the said states; and that the protection of Congress shall be, on all occasions, equally extended to both.
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Laurens, that the consideration thereof be
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postponed; and, on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it passed in the negative.
Congress proceeded to consider the first resolution, and on the question, resolved in the affirmative.
After considering the second resolution, when the question thereon was about to be put, the previous question was moved by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, and seconded by Mr. [Henry] Laurens.
And on the previous question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Jay,
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So it passed in the negative.
On the question to agree to the main question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee have leave of absence.
A letter, of 15, from B. Harrison, deputy paymaster general in Virginia, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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