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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 29, 1779
A letter, of this day, from W. Smith, was read, enclosing a memorial signed by him in behalf of William Moore:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter and memorial are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, folios 439, 443.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 28, from Captain Baldesqui, pay master of Brigadier Count Pulaski's legion, was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be authorized to cause the accounts of the said legion, for the reason set forth in the said letter, to be settled on such proofs as in the discretion of the auditors or commissioners of accounts shall be judged satisfactory.
A letter, datedRaisonable, off New York, 23 July, 1779, signed "John Marr, secretary to the Commander in Chief," and directed to the secretary of Congress, in answer to his letter of the 17th, was read,2 reciting that, "he has it in command from the Commodore, to inform, that no prisoners are ever treated to his knowledge, by the King's officers, contrary to the dictates of humanity, and as it is the practice of civilized nations to punish criminals in the usual course of justice, Gustavus Conyngham stands in this predicament, and is therefore sent to England to receive that punishment from his injured country which his crimes shall be found to deserve:"
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XV, folio 477.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
The Board of Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. J[ohn] Penn, delegate for the State of North Carolina, for four thousand dollars, on his application; for which the said State is to be accountable.
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That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Govett, Esq. one of the commissioners of claims at the Treasury, for three thousand dollars, on account.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated July 28, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 497.]
Congress proceeded to the election of two commissioners of claims, and, the ballots being taken,
Mr. John Dyer Mercier and Mr. Eleazer M'Comb were elected.
On motion by the Committee on Appeals,
Resolved, That two members be elected for the said committee, in the room of Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [William] Paca, who are absent:
The members chosen, Mr. [Henry] Marchant and Mr. [Edmund] Randolph.
On a report from the Board of War,
Resolved, That Lieutenant Adamson Tannehill, of Rawling's regiment, be appointed a captain in that regiment, his commission to be dated April 1st, 1778.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated June 5, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147. III. folio 389.]
Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee on the letters from A. Lee, Esq. and the communications of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, and some time being spent thereon,3
[Note 3: 3 An undated letter of Colomb, endorsed as read on this day, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 377.]
The fifth proposition moved on the 19th June being read--
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [William Henry] Drayton,
Resolved, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Huntington,
Resolved, That, if after a treaty of peace with Great Britain, she shall molest the citizens or inhabitants of any of the United States in taking fish on the banks and
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places described in the resolution passed the 22d day of July, instant, such molestation (being in the opinion of Congress a direct violation and breach of the peace) shall be a common cause of the said states; and the force of the union be exerted to obtain redress for the parties injured.
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 These proceedings were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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