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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, APRIL 26, 1779
A letter, of 20th, from T. Johnson, governor of Maryland, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. A letter, of this day, from Colonel M. Swoope, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the commissary general of prisoners.
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A letter, of this day, from Major General Arnold, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 181.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [William] Paca, Mr. [James] Duane, and Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
A letter, of this day, from S. Deane, was read:
Ordered, To lie on the table till the other dispatches are gone through.
A letter, of 24, from Charles Pettit, was read; also a letter of 23, from General Washington:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 263. Washington also wrote a private letter to Jay containing questions on marine policy, to which Jay replied:
"While the maritime Affairs of the Continent continue under the Direction of a Committee, they will be exposed to all the Consequences of Want of System, Attention and Knowledge. The Marine Committee consists of a Delegate from each State. It fluctuates, new Members constantly coming in and old ones going out. Three or four indeed have remained in it from the Beginning, and have a proportionate influence, or more properlyInterest in it. Very few of the Members understand even the State of our naval Affairs or have Time or Inclination to attend to them. But why is not this System changed? It is in my Opinion convenient to the Family Compact. The Commercial Committee is equally useless. A Proposition was made to appoint a commercial Agent for the States under certain Regulations. Opposition was made. The ostensible Reasons were various. The true Reason was its Interference with a certain commercial agent in Europe, and his Connections."Jay to Washington, April 26, 1779. Washington Papers.Letters to Washington, 32, folio 40.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Another letter, of 23, from General Washington, and One, of the same date from Major General Howe, were read.3
[Note 3: 3 The Washington letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 263; that of Howe, in No. 180, folio 515.]
A letter, of this day, from J. Carleton, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. A letter, of 22, from Monsr. de Compty was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 23, from W. Livingston, governor of New Jersey, was read, enclosing an original letter signed Dartmouth,
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directed to Earl of Dunmore, dated Whitehall, 2 August, 1775:1
[Note 1: 1 Compty's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 345; that of Livingston, in No. 68, folio 441, and that of Dartmouth, on folio 445.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
The delegates of South Carolina laid before Congress two letters from T. Bee, lieutenant governor of South Carolina, one of the 2d and the other of the 5th instant:2
[Note 2: 2 These letters are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folios 485, 489.]
Ordered, That the letter of the 2d be referred to the Board of Treasury, and that the letter of the 5th be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. R[ichard] H[enry] Lee, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, and Mr. [Henry] Laurens.3
[Note 3: 3 On April 28, Richard Henry Lee, for the Committee, wrote to Washington submitting "to your Excellencies wisdom, and better knowledge of military affairs and intended operations, the following measures: That the 2000 new recruits now in Virginia be forthwith regimented and ordered to join the southern army. That a sum of money be sent to Colo. Bland, with orders to reinlist the men of his regiment, and proceed without delay to the same destination." See under May 7, 1779,post.]
Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, a delegate from New Jersey, attended, and took his seat.
On motion of Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [James] Searle,
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be directed to purchase the vessel called theJason, lately captured and carried into Boston.
Resolved, That the reports of the Board of Treasury and Board of War be postponed till to morrow.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and after some time spent thereon,
Resolved, that the report on Foreign affairs and the charges reported with the evidence against the present and former Commissioners be taken up and considered, for the purpose of ascertaining
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whether the said evidence affords grounds to induce Congress to order the attendance of the said Commissioners or any of them to be heard on the said Charges.1
[Note 1: 1 This undated motion by William Paca, seconded by Meriwether Smith, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 18. It is endorsed, "April," and I have inserted it in this place as probably presented after the decision on was taken to mention specifically each minister or agent, and before the presentation of the so-called Paca-Drayton report.]
Adjourned to 10 o Clock to Morrow.
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