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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, OCTOBER 6, 1779
Mr. G[ouverneur] Morris, a delegate for New York, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
According to order Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole on the subject of Finance, and after some time, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer reported, that the committee have come to sundry resolutions which he was ordered to report, and farther to desire leave to sit again:
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The report being received, was read.
A letter, of this day, from Major General Arnold, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 185.]
On motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Ordered, That the President inform General Arnold that his application ought to be made to the executive authority of the State of Pensylvania, in whose disposition to protect every honest citizen Congress have full confidence, and highly disapprove the insinuations of every individual to the contrary.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of the whole; and thereupon,
Resolved, That, in addition to the sums required by the resolutions of Congress of the 22 November, 1777, and 2 January and 21 May, 1779, the several states be called on to raise, in such manner as they may judge expedient, sufficient sums to enable them to pay into the continental treasury or to the order of Congress, on the first day of February next, and on the first day of each succeeding month, until the first of October next, inclusive, their respective proportions of fifteen million dollars:
That all sums which may be so paid by any of the states during the continuance of the war, shall be passed to their respective credits, on the terms prescribed by the first article of a resolution of Congress of the 22 November, 1777:
And that the several states be respectively charged with the annual interest of six per centum on all deficiencies in the payment of the several quotas which have been or may be required of them:
On passing this clause, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Henry] Laurens,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the encouragement offered by the resolution of Congress of the 29 June last, for promoting loans, be extended to all sums which may be paid into the continental loan offices on or before the 1st day of March next, to the amount of the blank loan office certificates which are already ordered to be struck by Congress:
That any person subscribing 10,000 dollars or upwards, shall be allowed to pay one half thereof within fourteen days after the subscription, and the residue at the end of two months after the first payment, the whole to bear interest from the time of the first payment, if the other is punctually made.
Resolved, That a committee of one member from each State be appointed to consider and report the sums to be paid into the continental treasury by the respective states,
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to make up the 15 millions required in the foregoing resolutions: the members chosen, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, Mr. [Nicholas] Van Dyke, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Henry] Laurens, Mr. [Henry] Marchant, Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett, Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [James] Mercer, Mr. [Samuel] Atlee, Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer and Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris.
Resolved, That to morrow immediately after reading the dispatches, Congress be resolved into a committee of the whole to consider further the subject of finance.
Ordered, That the report of the committee of the 23d July be referred to the said committee.
Another letter, of this day, from General Arnold, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 187.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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