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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, AUGUST 5, 1779
Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, a delegate of New Jersey, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A memorial, of this day, from the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial is printed in theDiplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, folio 286.]
On a motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [William] Carmichael,
Ordered, That a copy of the said memorial be transmitted to his excellency the president and supreme executive council Pennsylvania;and that they be informed that Congress do not desire any
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [William] Sharpe, to add to the foregoing order,
And that the resolutions therein referred to be published in the newspapers:
On which, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it passed in the negative.
A letter from Captain [P.] Colomb, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, V, folio 393.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 13 July, from S. Talbot, was read, containing an account of his successful cruize:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee, and that they be instructed to give orders for purchasing the brig therein mentioned, if they judge it proper.
A letter, of 4th, from the Board of War, was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, III, folio 557.]
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,
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letters from Mr. Lee, and communications of the minister of France. And on motion of Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
Resolved, That so much of the said report as relates to the obtaining a subsidy from Spain be postponed.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean, seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
That, if contrary to the humane wishes of the United States, Great Britain should obstinately persist in the prosecution of the present unjust war, the minister plenipotentiary of these United States be instructed and empowered to consult on, prepare and conclude, with the ministers of his most christian and of his catholick
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majesty, a treaty or treaties, offensive and defensive; in which offensive treaty, nevertheless, he shall insert, on the part of these states, a proper article or articles for obtaining Canada, Nova Scotia, and the islands of Bermuda; and an equal share in, and full acknowledgment of, the equal common right of these states to the fisheries.
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, after the word "Bermuda," to insert "the Floridas."
On the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Mathews--
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
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A motion was made by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, to insert after "Floridas," the words "the free navigation of the river Mississippi."
On the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith--
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 These proceedings were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journals, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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