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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, JUNE 18, 1779
A petition of William and John Hackett was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee, and that they take order thereon.
A letter of 6 June, from Major General W. Philips, was read,2 recommending Captain Featherstone, of the troops of convention, who comes to Philadelphia by permission of Governor Henry and Colonel Bland, to be exchanged, and intimating that Captain Featherstone should be exchanged as lieutenant, his promotion to captain-lieutenancy having happened since the convention; Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 57, folio 349.]
Resolved, That Captain Featherstone repair immediately to the town of Mount Holly, and remain there until the treaty for his exchange between the commanders in chief of both armies shall be terminated; and that the President write to the General upon that subject, and inform him that Congress have no objection to the captain's exchange as a lieutenant, provided the principle on which the same shall be made be fully established, and that he give orders respecting Captain Featherstone's route to New York, in case the exchange take place.
A memorial of Charles Pettit for himself and John Cox, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 72.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James] Lovell and Mr. [William] Paca.
A letter, of 7th, from General Schuyler, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folio 450.]
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to money be referred to the Board of Treasury, and what relates to the Indians to the Board of War.
A letter, of 17th, from the Board of War was read, respecting the house taken for the Minister Plenipotentiary of France:
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Another letter, of 17th, from the Board of War was read, enclosing a report and sundry papers relating2 thereto:
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 457. The enclosures were four reports based upon a correspondence between the Board and General Washington.]
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed to Tuesday next.
The commissioners of accounts report,
That there is due to William Kinnan, copper plate printer, for his pay and board from 9th April to the 8 June, inclusive, four hundred and seventy three dollars and 30/90ths.
That there is due to John Aikin, for forrage, provisions, &c. supplied the 4th regiment of light dragoons, and Colonel Armand's corps, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Anthony W. White, from the 27 August to 1 September, 1777, three hundred and ninety seven dollars and 78/90ths; and for 48 gallons of Jamaica spirits delivered to the said Lieutenant Colonel White, and which is to be charged to him until he renders an account for the expenditure of the same, amounting to three hundred and twenty dollars, making in the whole seven hundred and seventeen dollars and 78/90ths.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated June 16, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 393.]
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
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The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carleton, Esq. paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, on the application of the said Board, for one hundred and sixty six thousand, six hundred and sixty six dollars and one third of a dollar, to be by him transmitted to Patrick Lockart, Esq. in Virginia, for the purpose of discharging debts contracted in supplying the troops employed in the western expedition, for which the said Patrick Lockart is to be accountable.
The Committee on the Treasury report,
That they have, according-to order, prepared bills of exchange on the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of France, in favor of Mr. Caron de Beaumarchais, consisting of fifty sets, six bills to each set, as specified in a schedule annexed, all dated the 15 day of this inst. June, amounting in the whole to two millions four hundred thousand livres tournois, and payable the 15 day of June, 1782; and also six sets, six bills to each set, all dated the same day, drawn on the said minister, in favor of the said Mr. C. de Beaumarchais, for the yearly interest of the said principal sum, at six per cent. being one hundred and forty four thousand livres yearly, in the whole 432,000 livres; the principal and interest so drawn for amounting, in the whole, to 2,832,000 livres, which last mentioned bills for the interest are particularly specified in the said schedule; and that they have also prepared letters of advice of the said bills of exchange to the said Minister Plenipotentiary; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the said draughts be signed by the President of Congress, and entered in the auditor's office as warrants are usually passed, and then delivered to Mr. Francey, agent for the said Mr. de Beaumarchais, on his giving the auditor general a receipt for the same; and that Mr. de Beaumarchais be charged with the amount of the said principal sum in the books of the treasury.
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Resolved, That the faith of the United States be pledged to make good any contract or engagement which shall be entered into by the said Minister Plenipotentiary, or any future minister of these United States at the court of Versailles, for obtaining money or credit to enable him to honor the said drafts and provide for their punctual discharge.
Ordered, That copies of the foregoing resolutions, and of that of the 5th instant and of the letters of advice subscribed by the President, be transmitted by the Committee for Foreign Affairs to the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated June 16, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 395.]
A petition from Benjamin May was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to superintend the departments of the quartermaster and commissary general.
Congress proceeded, in the order of the day, to the subject of finance; Whereupon, a motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
That when the interest on moneys which have been or may be placed in the several loan offices on or after the 1st day of March, 1778, shall become due, and be paid, the same shall be increased in proportion to the increase of the sum of continental paper money which may be in circulation after the dates of such loans respectively.
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, to strike out the words "have been or," and the words "on or after the 1st day of March, 1778," and also the words "and be paid," in order after loan office to insert, "on the loan of 20,000,000, voted to be borrowed by the resolution of."
On the question, shall the words moved to be struck out stand? The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
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{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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