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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 --MONDAY, JULY 12, 1779
Mr. [James] Forbes, a delegate for Maryland, attended and took his seat.
A letter, of 6, from J. Beatty, commissary general of prisoners, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, III, folio 329.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Henry, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, and Mr. [Samuel] Huntington.
Resolved, That on Thursday next immediately after reading the journal, Congress proceed to the election of a cloathier general.
A letter, of 4, from J[esse] Root and O[liver] Ellsworth, two of the committee appointed to repair to the inhabitants of the New Hampshire grants, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, III, folio 15.]
A letter, of 3d, from E. Hazard, was read, enclosing a letter from Major General Greene:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee on the Post office.
The delegates of Massachusetts bay laid before Congress a letter, of June 10th, from the general assembly of that State, which was read:3
[Note 3: 3 The Hazard letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 63; that of the Assembly of Massachusetts, in No. 65, I, folio 396.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The committee, to whom was referred an extract of a letter from his excellency the governor of North Carolina, to the delegates of the said State, requesting that the troops of that State in the continental line, may be ordered to march to the southward for the defence of South Carolina, brought in a report; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That the season of year renders it dangerous to the lives of the men, and that it will in other respects be inexpedient to march the troops of North Carolina in the continental line, from the main army to the southern states, but that as soon as it can consistently be done, Congress will cheerfully comply with the request of the said State. In the mean time, Congress earnestly recommend it to the State of North Carolina, to afford the army in South Carolina the reinforcements of which they stand in need, agreeably to their former recommendation.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 351. The first draft is in No. 33, folio 307, also in the writing of James Duane. He has endorsed upon it, "Mr. Smith, Mr. Morris and J. Duane agreed to this report 9th July. Showed it to Mr. Laurence the 10th, who approved of it."]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Treasury Office,July 12th., 1779
The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to offer the following resolutions:
Resolved, That an interest of 6 pr cent pr annum be allowed on all certificates issued by the several Commissioners of the Continental Loan Offices for Bills of the emissions of May the 20th., 1777, and April 11th., 1778, deposited in order to be exchanged; and that the interest be computed from the date of each certificate to the time when money shall be lodged in the respective offices to pay off the same, provided that each person to whom such certificates have been issued shall previously take the following oath or affirmation: "I do "swear, or solemnly affirm, that I have not directly or indirectly since "the 2nd. of January, 1779, obtained by discount any Bills of the "Emissions of May the 20th., 1777, and April 11th., 1778:"
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carleton, pay master to the Board of War and Ordnance, for four millions eight hundred and seventy nine thousand five hundred and thirty eight dollars, which he is to transmit to the following commissioners of the continental loan offices, to enable them to exchange bills of the emissions
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of May the 20, 1777, and April 11, 1778, the said commissioners to be accountable for the sums annexed to their names respectively; viz:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Geddes, Esq. one of the commissioners of claims at the Treasury, for two thousand dollars on account of his salary; for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 471.]
The President informed the House, that he had communicated to the Minister of France the resolution of Saturday, and that the Minister has agreed to meet Congress in a committee of the whole at 12 o'Clock this day.
Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole; and after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. [Henry] Laurens reported,
That the Committee have had a conference with the Minister Plenipotentiary of France; but not being prepared to report the substance of the conference, desire leave to sit again.
Resolved, That to morrow morning Congress be resolved into a committee of the whole on the subject of the conference this day held with the Minister Plenipotentiary of France.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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