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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 --FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1779
Mr. Woodbury Langdon, a delegate from the State of New Hampshire, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
Ordered, That so much of General Washington's letter, of 24 August, as relates to the exchange of prisoners and cloathing for the army, be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 19 August, from General Washington, and one, of the 2d instant, from Colonel Charles Simms, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VII, folio 595; that of Simms, in No. 78, XX, folio 459.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Henry] Marchant, and Mr. [John] Armstrong.
A letter, of 2d, from the honble Sr. Gérard, was read, soliciting leave for Mr. Witherspoon, a surgeon in the service of the United States to go to France:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee.
Resolved, That two members be added to the said committee.
The members chosen, Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, and Mr. [Frederick A.] Muhlenberg.
The honble Sr Gérard, minister plenipotentiary of France, having communicated to Congress a copy of the speech with which he means to take leave of Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three to prepare an answer:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Dickinson, Mr. [William] Paca, and Mr. [Henry] Laurens.
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On motion of Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder, seconded by Mr. [William] Paca, Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas the honble S'. Gérard, the first minister plenipotentiary to these United States, hath before, as well as since their treaty with France, uniformly, ably and zealously promoted the objects of the alliance and the welfare of both nations:
Resolved, That the committee do request Mr. Gérard to sit for his picture before he leaves this city, and that the same be placed in the council chamber of the United States.
Congress proceeded to consider the second clause of the resolution moved the 1st instant, and the same being set aside; in lieu thereof,
On motion of Mr. [Henry] Laurens, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Congress came to the following resolution:
And whereas the sum emitted by Congress and now in circulation, amounts to 159,948,880 dollars, and the sum of 40,051,120 dollars remains to complete the two hundred million dollars above mentioned:
Resolved, That Congress will emit such part only of the said sum of forty millions fifty one thousand one hundred and twenty dollars, as shall be absolutely necessary for public exigencies before adequate supplies can be otherwise obtained, relying for such supplies on the exertions of the several states.
Resolved, That the consideration of the preamble first moved be postponed.
On motion of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [John] Dickinson,
Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to devise and report without delay further ways and means of supplying the treasury, and prepare an address to the several states
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on the subject of the several resolutions of Congress relative to finance:
The members chosen, Mr. [Henry] Laurens, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, Mr. [John] Dickinson and Mr. [Meriwether] Smith.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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