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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, JULY 8, 1779
The delegates of South Carolina laid before Congress a letter, of 9 June, from J. Rutledge, governor of South Carolina, which was read.
On motion of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Marchant,
Resolved, That a standing committee of three be appointed to correspond with the commanding officer in South Carolina and Georgia, and report, from time to time, the necessary measures for defending the said states and that the letter now read, together with that from Major General Lincoln, be referred to this committee:
The members chosen, Mr. [Henry] Laurens, Mr. [Henry] Marchant and Mr. [Samuel] Holten.
A letter, of 7th, from John Cox and Charles Pettit, assistant quarter masters general was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter of 24th June, from Major General Greene.
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The Committee, to whom were referred the letter of General Greene, Quartermaster General, dated the 24th. of June last, and the Memorial of Colonel John Cox and Charles Pettit, Esquires, Assistant Quarter Masters General of the Army, beg leave to report:
That the letter of the said General Greene is conceived in terms too disrespectful of the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to receive countenance from Congress.
That your Committee have perused and maturely considered the Memorial of Messrs. Cox and Pettit, and the Act of Assembly of New Jersey referred to therein, whereby these officers are liable to be taxed for all their real and personal estates in New Jersey in common with other citizens, and also a specific sum on account of the offices which they hold under the United States.
That tho' the Legislature of New Jersey have an undoubted right to make laws for the raising supplies on the Citizens of the said states in the manner they shall think most equal and just, and to tax all property therein however or wherever acquired; yet your Committee apprehend it will be inconvenient and prejudicial to the service and interest of the United States, if their officers are taxed not only to the full value of their estates, but also for the salaries or pay allowed them by Congress; as the sum assessed upon the office will be so much taken from the whole States for the benefit of a particular state, and the allowance by Congress will be so far reduced below what was intended and engaged.
That therefore it be recommended to the Legislature of New Jersey to revise the Act of Assembly aforesaid, and to repeal so much thereof as imposes an additional tax upon the officers of the United States on account of their office, and if any such tax shall be collected before the said repeal can be effected, that they will be pleased to cause restitution thereof to be made.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 443.]
On motion of Mr. [William] Sharpe, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
Ordered, That the address from the committee of the merchants of Boston, and the papers enclosed, be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [William Henry] Drayton, and Mr. [Samuel] Huntington.
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The committee, to whom was referred the letter, of the 3d, from J. Cox and C. Pettit, assistant quarter masters general, brought in a report, which was read:
The Committee to whom the letter of John Cox and Charles Pettit was referred, report:
That on the 14th of June last, a report was made to Congress, containing a plan for regulating prices similar to that mentioned in the said letter.
Your Committee further reports the preamble to the 7th Resolution of that report: "Whereas many persons demand exhorbitant prices for commodities required for the use of the army, far exceeding an advance in proportion to the depreciation of the currency arising from its quantity, by which conduct they cause as much as they can that still greater depreciation, on the supposition whereof they demand such prices, thereby counteracting every measure that can be devised for appreciating the said currency,Resolved, therefore, "or
And this additional resolve to follow immediately after the said 7th. Resolve--
"Resolved, that Congress having good reason to expect that the Commodities, aforesaid may in a short time be purchased at prices much below the said rates, the Q. M. G. and C. G. of purchases, and all persons acting under either of them, be ordered in no case whatever to give any prices so exceeding the said rates.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Dickinson, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No, 19, V, folio 113.]
Ordered, That it be made an order of the day, as a subject of Finance, and taken into consideration to morrow.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 19 June, from T. Jefferson, governor of Virginia, with the papers enclosed, brought in a report, which was read.
The Committee upon Govr Jefferson's letter of the 19th. June, Report as follows:
Resolved, That Congress have a high sense of the military and enterprizing Spirit of Colonel Clarke, of the State of Virginia, and under the particular appointment of that State. That Congress contemplate with great pleasure the success of Colonel Clarke in the hazardous but necessary and well executed attack against the Post of St.
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Vincenne, the Capture of Governor Hamilton, and the Garrison under his Command.
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be communicated by the President to Colonel Clarke, and the brave officers and Soldiers under his Command, for their ardour bravery and intrepidity upon that striking and interesting occasion.
The said Committee Report also the following Resolution:
Resolved, That Congress have a high sense of the services of Colonel Shelby, of the State of Virginia, and under the particular appointment of that State, against the Cherokees of Chiccamagga highly interesting to the Peace and Happiness of the Frontiers of these United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Henry Marchant, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 240.]
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [John] Dickinson,
Resolved, That Colonels J. Cox and C. Pettit continue to discharge the duties of assistant quarter masters general until further order be taken on their letter of the 7th instant, which hath been referred to a committee.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, for one million dollars, on the application of the said Board, to provide cloathing for the army, to be purchased under their direction; and for which they are to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. Nathaniel Scudder, one of the delegates for the State of New Jersey, for fifteen hundred dollars, on his application; and for which the said State is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated June 23, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 415.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Colonel Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, for five millions eight hundred thousand dollars, on the application of
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Messrs. Chaloner and White, assistant purchasing commissaries, for the use of his department; for which the said commissary general is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated July 8, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 451.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Clarke, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Rhode island, for five hundred dollars, to be paid to Captain John Valentine Banks, and for which the said commissioner is to be accountable, and to be furnished with a copy of this order.
Whereas Jonathan Trumbull, Jun. esq. has represented to the Board of Treasury, that the trust reposed in him for settling the accounts of the deputies and agents of the late commissary general, Joseph Trumbull, deceased, cannot be discharged without more assistance than is allowed by the resolution of Congress of the 5th of May last:
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be authorized to employ so many additional accountants or clerks to assist in the execution of the said trust as they shall judge necessary.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated July 7, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 445.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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