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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 --THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1779
A letter, of this day, from Thomas Paine,2 was read.
[Note 2: 2 The letter of Paine is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 55, folio 69.]
A memorial of Israel Morris was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee on the letters from A. Lee, Esq. and the communications from the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, and some time being spent thereon,
Congress proceeded in the consideration of the report on the communications of the Minister of France, &c. And the sixth article in the report, under the first head, being read, the same was set aside by the previous question.
The articles under the second head were then taken into consideration; and the first and second were set aside by the previous question.
The third article was then read; and a division being called for, the first clause, to wit: "That it may be stipulated, that the United States shall not trade to the "East Indies, if adequate compensation can be obtained," was set aside by the previous question.
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On the second clause, viz. "or, engage in the slave "trade, if adequate compensation can be obtained," the previous question being moved, the yeas and nays thereon required by Mr. [John] Jay--
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So it was resolved in the affirmative, and the clause set aside.
The fourth, fifth and sixth articles were severally set aside by the previous question.
Resolved, That a cessation of hostilities during the negotations may be agreed to, but not without the consent or our ally, nor unless it shall be previously stipulated that all the forces of the enemy shall be immediately withdrawn from the United States.
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
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Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare the form of a commission to the minister who may be appointed to negotiate a peace.
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Dick'resort, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris and Mr. [Henry] Marchant.1
[Note 1: 1 These proceedings were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journals, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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