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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, JUNE 22, 1779
Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, a delegate from the State of New Hampshire, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
State of New Hampshire.
In the House of Representatives, Exeter, April 3, 1779.
Voted, That Nathaniel Peabody and Woodbury Langdon, Esquires, be and hereby are appointed delegates to represent this state in the Congress of the United States of America, in the room and stead of the honorable Josiah Bartlett and John Wentworth, Junior, Esquires, who have resigned.
Sent up for concurrence.
John Langdon,Speaker.
In council the same day, read and concurred,
M. Weare,President.
A true copy attestE. Thompson,Secretary.
A letter, of 13, from Colonel W. Malcom, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 465.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 21, from J. Reed, president of the State of Pennsylvania, was read, informing, that the inhabitants of
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the town of York, in this State, having complained to the council of John M'Callister, a deputy commissary of issues, and forwarded sundry affidavits taken in his presence, from which he appears to have been guilty of peculation and embezzlement of the public stores and provisions, the council have, agreeable to the resolves of Congress, suspended him from pay and employment until Congress shall take farther order respecting him; Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, II, folio 73.]
On motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be presented to the president and executive council of the State of Pensylvania, for their vigilance and attention, and that they be requested to cause a prosecution to be commenced against the said John M'Callister, at the expence of the United States.
A letter, of 9th, from James Avery, and one, of 1st, from J. Allan, at Machias, were read, enclosing sundry papers relative to the Indians in the eastern department:2
[Note 2: 2 Avery's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 58, folio 47; that of Allan, in No. 78, I, folio 279.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Frederick Bicking, for five thousand dollars, on account of making paper for the public service, for which he is to be accountable.
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the Treasurer in favour of Major Des Epinier for 500 guineas or a like sum in other specie advanced on the application of Genl Washington, for public service, he to be accountable, and that Major Des Epinier's receipt of the 19th. instant for that sum being
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annexed to this Warrant, be the Treasurer's voucher for Payment of the same.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated June 21, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 403. The last paragraph is taken from the original report, and marked as agreed to on June 22.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Major General Greene, quartermaster general, on the application of Charles Pettit, assistant quartermaster general, for five million dollars, for the use of his department, for which the said quartermaster general is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated June 18, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 399.]
Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned for the election of a cloathier general.
Peter Wykoff was nominated for that office by Mr. [John] Armstrong, and Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder; and Peter Fell, by Mr. [James] Duane.
Congress proceeded to the election of a commissioner for the Board of War; and, the ballots being taken, Major General W. Heath was elected, ∥having been previously nominated by Mr. [William] Ellery.¶
According to the order of the day, Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report of the Board of War of the 17th; Whereupon,
At a Board of War,June 17, 1779.
Present Col. Pickering and Mr. Peters.
The Board beg leave to report the following resolutions:
Whereas Congress are informed that their resolve of the 15th. of March last, for crediting the States affected thereby with the men enlisted into Corps not being on the establishment of any particular State, has in some instances been misunderstood,
Resolved, That it was not the intention of Congress in their resolution of the 15th. of March, for crediting the quotas of the States for any of their inhabitants enlisted in the Artillery, Horse or additional Battalions, that the numbers so enlisted into these extra corps should be deducted from the complements of the State Battalions.
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That in consideration of their extra duty as Brigade Inspectors the Majors of Brigade receive forty four dollars pr month in addition to their regimental Pay.
Ordered, That so much of the said report as relates to the resolution of March 15, 1779, together with the said resolution, be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, and Mr. [William] Ellery.
Resolved, That in consideration of their extra duty, majors acting as brigade inspectors, and majors of brigade, receive 44 dollars per month, in addition to their regimental pay.
Whereas numbers of soldiers from an early zeal in the cause of their Country, both honorable to them and advantageous to those States, have enlisted during the war at bounties much inferior to those now given to persons engaging in the army,
Resolved, That Congress entertain a grateful sense of the virtue and services of those faithful and zealous soldiers who, at an early period, engaged in the armies of these states during the war; and to encourage a continuance of their exertions, and as far as circumstances admit, to put them on a footing in pecuniary matters with other soldiers, General Washington be empowered to order a gratuity of one hundred dollars each, to be paid to the men so inlisted during the war; this gratuity to be paid only to such soldiers as inlisted before the 23 day of January, 1779.
Resolved, That the adjutant general for the time being, be also assistant inspector general.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 453.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter of May 20, from General Parsons, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislative and executive powers in the several states, more especially those that are adjacent to Long Island and other places in possession of the enemy, to take the most effectual measures to
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prevent plundering the inhabitants of such places, and all officers of the army are directed to use their utmost exertions to prevent such practices.
A memorial from the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, was read, accompanied with a commission by him given to the Sieur de St. Hilaire, of vice consul for the port of Alexandria, in Virginia, desiring that the same may be made known:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee, and that they take order thereon.
Another memorial from the said Minister was read, accompanied with two memorials relative to violence of which divers subjects of his most Christian Majesty complain:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Marine Committee.
Adjourned to 10 oClock to morrow.
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