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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 --WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1779
A letter, of 3, from J. Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, was read, with sundry papers enclosed:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 63.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of this day, from Captain John Macpherson, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
The committee for arranging the several departments, to whom were referred Governor Clinton's letter, of July 20, General Greene's, of July 28, Captain Mount Florence's, of July 5; and the letter, of 15 July, from the president of Pensylvania, brought in reports, which were read:
The Committee to whom were referred Governor Clinton's letter of July 26th., General Greene's of July 28th. with the papers enclosed, and of Capt. Mount Florence of July 5th. report on the first and second of the inclosures the following resolutions as proper to be approved by Congress:
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On the letter from Captain Mount Florence the Committee report, that the Captain be informed that Congress will pay due attention to any plans and observations which he may think proper to lay before them.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Dickinson, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 351.]
[Report on letter of July 15, from the President of Pennsylvania.]
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Executive Powers of these States immediately to make strict enquiry concerning the number of posts therein, at which Rations of provisions or forage are issued, and that all such posts be abolished, as shall appear to the said powers respectively to be unnecessary. That the person acting at such Posts as shall be continued, or shall hereafter be established, do make regular returns every month to the Chief Magistrate of the State of all issues, and account to him, or such person as he shall appoint for that purpose. That all officers in the Departments, of the Q. M. G., C. G. of purchases and C. G. of Issues in any State, not immediately appointed by Congress, do when called upon by the Executive powers of such State make returns of all the persons employed in their respective Departments within the State, and of the places where they are employed, and appear before the said powers when required. That for the future no Post shall be established in any State for issuing Rations of Provisions or Forage, unless the Q. M. G. shall certify in writing to
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the Chief Magistrate thereof that such a post is indispensably necessary for the public service; whereupon the said Magistrate may if he thinks proper on consideration of all circumstances, establish the same, that if any such person, as is before described in the Departments of the Q. M. G., C. G. of purchases, and C. G. of issues, shall refuse or neglect to appear before the said Executive powers when required, or to comply with their orders founded on this resolution, the said Executive powers may suspend or dismiss such person, giving notice thereof to the head of the Department respectively, in which such suspension or dismission shall be had.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 59.]
On motion of Mr. [Henry] Laurens, seconded by Mr. [Henry] Marchant,
Resolved, That these United States will reimburse to the State of South Carolina, such sums of money as that State may advance for importing such military stores as shall be deemed immediately necessary by the commanding officer of the continental troops in the southern department, for the defence of the said department.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on a farther provision for the officers of the army,
Your Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare and report a further Provision to be made for the Officers of the Army of the United States, beg leave to submit the following Resolutions:2
[Note 2: 2 This report was recommitted, and James Duane has added the following sentence:
"to whom was re-committed their report for a farther provision for the officers of the Array &c."]
Whereas Congress, on the 15th day of May, 1778, did unanimously resolve that all military officers commissioned by Congress who then were, or thereafter might be in the service of the United States, and should continue therein during the War and not hold any office of Profit under these States, or any of them, should after the Conclusion of the War, be entitled to receive annually for the Term of seven Years, if they should live so long, one half of the present Pay of such Officer, with certain Provisoes and Limitations. And whereas the Services, the Sufferings and unshaken Perseverance of the said Officers call forth the grateful Notice of Congress, therefore, as well for
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their future comfortable Subsistence as for the Accommodation of their Families, Resolved,
That all military commissioned Officers who shall continue commissioned by Congress who are, or shall be in the service of the United States, and shall continue therein during the War, shall after the Conclusion thereof, receive annually during their natural Lives one half of their present Pay.
And that the Widows of all such Officers as may die or be killed in the Service shall be entitled to receive one half of the present Pay of their Husbands during their Widowhood.
And, Whereas Congress, on the second Day of June, in the Year 1778, did resolve, that, to the end the Officers might be enabled to live in a Manner becoming their station, a certain Sum of Subsistance Money should be paid to them Monthly; and Whereas the Rise of the Prices of the Necessaries of Life hath rendered the said Subsistence Money inadequate,
Resolved, That untill the further Order of Congress, the said Officers be entitled to receive Monthly for their Subsistence Money, the Sums following, to wit: Every Colonel and Brigade Chaplain, five hundred Dollars, every Lieutenant Colonel, four hundred Dollars; every Major and regimental Surgeon, three hundred Dollars; every Captain, two hundred dollars; end every Lieutenant, Ensign and Surgeon's Mate, one hundred Dollars; And
That, Whenever the Stores of the Commissary General will permit (but not otherwise), the Commander in Chief, or of a seperate Department shall be authorized to order Rum, Sugar, and other foreign Produce to be delivered, under such Restrictions and Regulations as he may think proper, to the Officers at Prices to be computed upon the Prime Cost and reasonable Expences of Transportation. That the said Officers shall give their Receipts for the same, and the Commissaries shall transmit to the respective Paymasters from Time to Time an Account of the Articles so delivered, together with the Prices, that the same may be liquidated in the several Pay Accounts:
And, Whereas it hath been very difficult and in many Cases, impracticable to furnish the non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers withmany some of the Articles of Food originally intended for them,
Resolved, That untill the further Order of Congress, the Sum of ten Dollars be paid to everynon-commissioned Officer and Soldier Monthly for their Subsistence.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 141.]
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Your Committee, to whom it was referred to report a further provision for the army, submit the following Resolution, to wit:
Whereas, by the depreciation of the Continental money and the rapid rise of articles necessary for subsistence, the pay and subsistence money allowed to the Officers and Soldiers hath become inadequate, therefore,
Resolved, That the following subsistence be allowed to every officer and soldier until the further order of Congress
And whereas in some cases it hath happened that public stores of rum have, without the express order of Congress, been delivered out to the Officers at a low rate, whereby the great consumption in one quarter hath produced want in others,
Resolved, That such practises shall not in future be admitted, and that every commanding officer who shall give order therefor shall incur the displeasure of Congress.
And whereas, it will be inconvenient for the Officers to supply themselves with rum, sugar and the like while in camp, therefore resolved that whenever the commissaries stores will admit of it then the Commander in Chief or of a separate department shall be empowered to cause the same to be delivered to the officers at a reasonable price computed upon the prime cost and the necessary expense of transportation and the officers shall give their receipts therefor to the Commissary who shall forthwith file copies thereof with the respective paymasters, that so the same may be liquidated in the several pay accounts.1
[Note 1: 1 This undated report, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 313. It is not the report mentioned in the text, but is on the same subject.]
And a part of the report having been struck out, viz.
"That all military officers commissioned by Congress, who are or shall be in the service of the United States, and shall continue therein during the war, shall, after the conclusion thereof, receive annually during their natural lives half of their pay."
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A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] M'Kean,
To amend the report by inserting in the room of the words struck out, as follows:
"That the half pay provided by the resolution of the 15 May, 1778, be extended to continue for life; and that the holding of a civil office under the United States, or any of them, shall be no bar to prevent any officer from receiving the same."1
[Note 1: 1 This amendment, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 145.]
When the question was about to be put, a division was called for; and, on the question to agree to the first clause of the amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William] Carmichael,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the latter clause be postponed.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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