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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 --TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1779
Mr. [Roger] Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut, attended, and delivered a resolution of the general assembly of that State, respecting the powers of their delegates, which was read as follows:
At a general assembly of the governor and company of the state of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, by special order of his excellency the governor, on the 7th day of April, 1779: Resolved by this assembly, that any one of the delegates of this state in Congress be, and is hereby fully authorized, in the absence of the others, to represent this state, until the articles of confederation are fully ratified, so as to be made the rule of proceeding in Congress.
A true copy of record, examined by
George Wyllys,Secretary.
Mr. [Daniel of St Thomas] Jenifer, a delegate of Maryland, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
A petition of B. Arnold;
A letter, of 15, from J. Trumbull, governor of Connecticut and;
One, of 17, from Major General Heath, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 Trumbull's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 66, Il, folio 9; those of Heath, in No. 157, folios 254, 269.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury. Another letter, of 17, from Major General Heath; one of 7, from W. Greene, governor of Rhode Island, and one, of this day, from S. Deane, were read.
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A letter, of 23d, from the Board of War was read, enclosing a letter from T. Bradford, deputy commissary of prisoners, respecting J. Connolly:1
[Note 1: 1 Greene's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 64, folio 434; that of the Board of War, in No. 147, III, folio 223, and that of Bradford, on folio 227.]
Ordered, That so much of the said letter as relates to J. Connolly be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, Mr. [John] Armstrong, and Mr. [Roger] Sherman.
On motion of Mr. [Richard Henry] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Atlee,
Ordered, That the Board of War confine J. Connolly to the new prison and the yard thereof until the committee make report.
Ordered, That the remainder of the letter from the Board of War, respecting the defence of the river Delaware, be referred to the delegates of Pensylvania.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carleton, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance for sixty dollars, in specie, to be by him transmitted to Major General Schuyler, one of the commissioners of Indian affairs for the northern department, the said commissioners to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. Whitmill Hill and Mr. Thomas Burke, delegates for the State of North Carolina, on their application, for four thousand dollars; the said State to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated April 21, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 263. The Indian appropriation granted was based upon a letter from Major General Schuyler of April 8.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. [Samuel] Atlee, delegate for the State of Pensylvania, on his application, for fifteen hundred dollars, the said State to be accountable.
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That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the delegates of Virginia, on their applications, for ten thousand dollars, the said State to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, for five hundred thousand dollars, to be transmitted to Thomas Reed, Esq. assistant paymaster general at Albany, for the use of his department, to be charged to William Palfrey, Esq. paymaster general, who is to be furnished with a copy of this resolution.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated April 20, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 261.]
That a Warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Isaac Forster, Esq. deputy director general of the hospital in the eastern district, for one hundred thousand dollars, to be paid agreeable to his request to John Adams, for the use of the hospitals in that district, the said Doctor Forster to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 Based upon Forster's letters of Hatch 9 and 10, 1779.]
The Board of Treasury having reported, that an additional auditor should be appointed for the army, and recommended Captain Joseph Howell to that office; and that the pay of the several auditors of the army be increased to eight dollars a day:3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated April 26, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 271.]
On the question,Resolved, That an additional auditor be appointed for the army;
Congress proceeded to the election: and the ballots being taken, Captain Joseph Howell was elected.
On the question to agree, that the pay of the several auditors of the army be increased to eight dollars a day, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The commissioners report,
That there is due to Thomas Bradford, his account, for printing 3000 auditors certificates, 1000 recruiting accounts with certificates, and for paper, six hundred and fifty three dollars and 30/90ths.
That there is due to Jeremiah Trexler, his account of expences for conducting six indians from Easton to Philadelphia, in July, 1777, thirty two dollars and 60/90ths, to be paid as per order to Joseph Deane.
Ordered, That the said accounts be paid.
The commissioners farther report that they have re-examined the account of John Dunlap, and having consulted the
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several printers respecting the particular charge of printing General Lee's trial, are of opinion, That the whole of his account amounting to eight thousand two hundred and twenty two dollars and 60/90ths should be paid to him.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated April 15, is in thePapers of Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 247. The commissioners added the following opinion: "From whose [the printers] information they cannot ascertain any other precise charge than he himself has made. We therefore, from the circumstances attending the work of striking one hundred copies only and the rapid depreciation of paper money since it was done, are induced with submission to think, that the whole amount of his account being, eight thousand, two hundred, twenty two and 60/ dollars should now be paid to him."]
On the question to agree to this report, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Jay,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a farther report; Whereupon
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the State of Maryland, for five hundred thousand dollars, to be paid to the delegates of that State and by them transmitted to Governor Johnson, for the purchase of flour for the continental army; the said State to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. [William] Sharpe, delegate from the State of North Carolina, on his application, for two thousand five hundred dollars, the said State to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated April 27, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 279. The first paragraph was based upon a letter of Johnson, of April 20.]
That a warrant issue on the deputy pay master general in the northern department, in favour of Colonel Morgan Lewis, deputy quarter master general in the said department, for the sum of fifty one thousand three hundred and nineteen dollars and 22½/90ths, being the balance reported to be due to him by the commissioners of accounts at Albany by their report, dated at Albany the 4th March last; and that the said sum be credited to the said deputy paymaster.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated April 27, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 281.]
Whereas many accounts of expenditures for the public service in the State of New York remain unsettled:
Resolved, That John Welles, Edward Chinn, and Eleazer Wales, Esqrs. the commissioners of accounts for the northern department, be continued in their present office so long as the Board of Treasury shall think it expedient, notwithstanding the appointment of Mr. Welles as a commissioner of the chamber of accounts; and that all such accounts as have arisen or shall arise within the said department, be adjusted by the said commissioners of accounts.3
[Note 3: 3 This paragraph formed part of a report of the committee, dated April 23, in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 269.]
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Treasury OfficeApril 21st. 1779.
The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to submit the following report:
It is the opinion of your Committee that Congress are loudly called upon to turn their attention to ways and means for supporting the war.
It is no longer probable that the expedient of calling in the emissions of May 20th., 1777, and April 11th., 1778, will afford any other extensive advantage than that of defeating frauds by counterfeits. Such are the thirst for traffic, the diffidence of our funds from the fluctuation of the paper money, and the arts of the disaffected, that little comparatively of those emissions will he drawn into the Loan offices: a vast proportion of the amount must consequently be exchanged after the first of August, and pass again into circulation, while experience has shewn that those emissions effectually suspend the attainment of other money on loan. Nor can the tax of fifteen million dollars produce very essential effects. The emission of new money is therefore our principal resource, and it must keep pace with the expenditures, at the same time that those expenditures increase with such rapidity that it is impossible to foresee where they will terminate. In fact your Committee are of opinion that unless vigorous and decisive measures are adopted, the present system, by which the expences of the war are supported, must he frustrated. Your Committee from these apprehensions beg leave to lay before Congress the remedies which appear to them to promise success.
OEconomy in the public expences is the first object.
The establishment of a Board of Treasury with competent authority to call public debtors and defaulters to account, a plan for which is herewith presented numbered (1).
The reduction of unnecessary Boards and supernumerary Officers, both in Civil and Military departments. The suppression of useless seperate commands.
A Reformation in the manner of rewarding Purchasing Commissaries and Quarter Masters; and a reduction of the expences of the Hospital, are some of the particulars which in the opinion of your Committee demand attention. To promote so necessary a reformation; your Committee are of opinion that a strict enquiry ought to be made by a select Committee (or one of the standing Boards) into the public expenditures, and the practicability of their reduction; for which purposes the resolutions No 2 and 3 are submitted.
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The second great object is to establish the funds for carrying on the War, for which purpose your Committee submit the following propositions:
That it be recommended to the respective States to call inmillion dollars by a tax the ensuing autumn, in the proportions and on the terms specified in a resolution for the late tax of 15 million for which purpose they have proposed the report (No 4).
That an alteration be made in the system of the loan offices so as to afford the lender a reasonable propect of security. At present the progressive depreciation of the paper medium, which at least keeps pace with the emissions, is an unsurmountable discouragement.
A plan for this purpose is contained in the report (No 5) herewith presented.
That twelve million dollars be borrowed on life annuities. Your Committee have reason to think that a plan of this nature would be very acceptable to the citizens of these States, and meet with great encouragement.
They have submitted it in the report (No 6).
A Recommendation to the States to licence and regulate retailers of foreign Commodities, so that they may be limited within some bounds.
Unless some remedy is provided the murmurs of the Citizens of these States will, it is feared, be followed by consequences still more disagreeable than the rapid depreciation of the money. Your Committee for this purpose have proposed the resolution No 7.
A foreign loan, at least to the amount of all the cloathing, arms and ammunition necessary to carry on the War. A Report for this purpose has long since been presented by the Committee of Conference and remains for consideration.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 265. It is endorsed as "Read April 27. Postponed to Thursday next." See p. 491n, ante.]
The Committee on the Treasury report as their opinion:
That Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays be assigned for considering the reports of the treasury or other committees, relative to finance, until a decision thereon is obtained, and that no other business be considered after 12 o clock on those days, unless by the unanimous consent of the members of the House.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph formed part of a report of the committee, dated April 23, in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 269.]
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A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [John] Penn,
To strike out the words "Tuesdays" and "Saturdays" On the question, shall Tuesdays stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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So it passed in the negative and the word was struck out.
On the question shall Saturdays stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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So it passed in the negative and the word was struck out.
In lieu of the report the following substitute was moved by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder,
That every Thursday, immediately after reading the journal, the House proceed to consider the reports of the Board of Treasury and other committees on finance,
Question put, resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was made by Mr. [Roger] Sherman, seconded by Mr. [James] Lovell, to strike out the word "every", and after Thursday insert the word "next".
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Question put, resolved in the affirmative.
On the question,
Resolved, That Thursday next, immediately after reading the journal, the House proceed to consider the reports of the Board of Treasury and other committees on finance.
On motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
Resolved, That when a motion is made to bring on or postpone any particular business, no member be allowed to speak more than once.
Resolved, That four thousand loan office certificates of one thousand dollars each, of the same tenor and date as the last emission of such certificates, be struck and sent to the several commissioners of the continental loan office, under the direction of the Board of Treasury; and that as many certificates of the lower denominations already struck, as amount to four millions of dollars, be retained in the hands of the treasurer of loans until the further orders of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph, and those on McKallaher, are in a report of the Committee on the Treasury, dated April 16 and 17, in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No, 136, III, folio 255;]
Ordered, That Mr. F[rancis] Lewis have leave of absence.
Resolved, That Captain John Helm be appointed one of the signers of the continental bills of credit.
The Committee on the Treasury report,
That information has been given to the Board of Treasury that Alexander McKallaher, the deputy commissary of the hospital at the Yellow Springs, has made a practice of exchanging the hospital stores, such as sugar, molasses, &c. for butter, poultry, eggs, &c. for his own and the doctors' table: That he keep a blooded horse in the guard house, and a mare and colt; and a hostler at his quarters, and another at the hospital, that he entertains all people who come to the hospitals with wine and toddy, alledging that he is allowed to
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do so by Congress or Doctor Shippen, the informant is not certain which.
That those circumstances have given occasion to great clamours among the inhabitants in the neighbourhood.
That it is a convalescent hospital: That they have repaired the Farmer's houses in the neighbourhood for their own convenience at the public expence; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the information from the Committee on the Treasury, relative to Alexander McKallaher be referred to the Medical Committee, and that they take such measures for ascertaining the facts; and if properly supported for bringing him to a tryal, as they shall judge expedient.1
[Note 1: 1 The committee's recommendation was that "an enquiry ought to be made into the truth of the said charges, without delay; and that on proof thereof the parties charged ought to be suspended and brought to trial." The resolution adopted was an amendment offered by Elbridge Gerry, to be found in his writing on folio 259½. The name is written McKallaster in the Journals, and McKallaher in the committee report.]
At a Board of War,April 27th., 1779.
Present, Col. Pickering and Mr. Peters
Col George Morgan having represented to Congress, that it was impossible for him to do the business of his department at the Commission of ½ pr cent allowed him as Deputy Commissary General of purchases for the Western District, and desiring either that the Commission be increased or an adequate salary fixed. The Board taking the same into consideration, beg leave to inform Congress:
That not knowing the views of Congress with respect to the compensation to be allowed to the Officers of the civil Departments, it is impossible for us to form a determinate report on the subject; but we beg leave to submit the following, that they may be pleased to act therein as they shall deem most proper.
That from the scattered situation of the settlements in the Western district; and the consequential difficulties in obtaining the supplies of provisions therein, Col Geo: Morgan, Deputy Commissary General of Purchases for that district be allowed a Commission ofpr Cent, on all purchases made by him for the Army of the United States. Or--That in consideration of the peculiar difficulties attending the purchases of provisions in the Western District, Colonel George
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Morgan, Deputy Commissary General of Purchases for that district be alloweddollars per month, as a compensation for his trouble and expences in making the necessary purchases of provisions for the use of the troops stationed at the posts depending upon him for supplies.
That each of his assistants be alloweddollars per month and two rations per day.
That his clerk be alloweddollars pr month and two rations pr day.
We have enclosed a paper signed by Colonel Morgan, which will shew Congresshis expectations andhis Ideas of the appointments necessary for the persons employed under him. We beg leave to add that a Commission of 2½ pr Cent on the probable expenditures for provisions in this Department for the year to come, will amount to twice as much as the pay Colonel Morgan asks for himself, of thirty dollars a day for pay and all travelling expences. He informs the Board that he would be extremely sorry to throw any embarrassments in the way of public business; on the contrary, that he is anxious to have the supplies for the Western Department procured; but cannot continue to conduct that business on his present allowance to his certain very great loss; that nevertheless, if the terms he proposes are not agreeable, he will exert himself to the utmost in making the necessary purchases until Congress shall appoint a proper person to Succeed him, so that the Department may not suffer from a want of provisions; hoping in this case that such appointment would not be long postponed; but for this purpose an immediate supply of money is indispensably necessary, but which he has notyet been able to obtain of the Commissary, Generals Agent, who says he cannot obtain it from the Treasury. He further represents, that so much time has already elapsed since his application to the Commissary Generals Agent for money it is out of his power to fulfil the orders he received from the Commander in Chief in the time limited; and that a longer delay will probably put it wholly out of his power to furnish the requisite supplies for the ensuing Campaign.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 241. The letter of Colonel Morgan, dated April 27, is on folio 245.]
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A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [John] Penn;
That a sum of money in specie be immediately sent to the Commander in Chief, for secret services.
In lieu of which a substitute was moved by Mr. [Henry] Laurens, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder in the words following, viz:
That the President write to the Commander in Chief and enquire whether he is in want of specie for secret services.
Question put, to admit the substitute. Passed in the affirmative.
An amendment was then moved by Mr. S[amuel] Adams, seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, instead of the words "enquire whether, &c.", to insert, "inform him that if he is in want of specie for secret services, he may draw for any sum or sums to the amount of two thousand guineas upon the treasurer, who will pay the same."
Question on the amendment, passed in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the motion as amended,
Resolved, That the President write to the Commander in Chief, and inform him that if he is in want of specie for secret services, he may draw for any sum or sums to the amount of two thousand guineas on the treasurer, who will pay the same.1
[Note 1: 1 The proceedings on this question of specie for Washington are taken from the Manuscript Secret Journal, no entry having been made in the regular journals.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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