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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 20, 1779
A letter, of 8, from James Avery was read, enclosing a letter, of September 10, from Colonel J. Allan, at Machias, to the council of Massachusetts bay:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
The Marine Committee laid before Congress two letters received from the navy board in the eastern district, which were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of Avery is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, II, folio 3; that of Allan is on folio 5; the Navy Board letters, dated September 29 and October 6, are in No. 37, folios 145 and 147.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [James] Searle, and Mr. [James] Forbes.
The Marine Committee also laid before Congress a letter of 13, from Jacob Rush, which was read, notifying "that an appeal, in which the United States are a party, from the court of admiralty in the State of Massachusetts bay, relative to the ship Viper, is now depending before the commissioners
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of appeal; that the Marine Committee may, if they think proper, retain counsel on the part of the Continent:"
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee to take order thereon.
A letter, of 17th, from Major General Lord Stirling, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 567.]
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. J[ames] Searle, one of the delegates for the State of Pensylvania, on his application, for three thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. R[oger] Sherman, one of the delegates for the State of Connecticut, on his application, for two thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. H[enry] Wynkoop, one of the delegates for the State of Pensylvania, on his application, for two thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
That the following warrants issue in favour of Major General Greene, quarter master general, on the application of Charles Pettit, Esq. assistant, quarter master general, for seven hundred thousand dollars, for the use of the department; and for which the said quarter master general is to be accountable, viz; One on John Lawrence, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Connecticut, for five hundred thousand dollars: And another on Joseph Clarke, Esq. commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Rhode Island, for two hundred thousand dollars.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of David C. Claypole, printer to Congress, for one thousand dollars,
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for the purpose of binding the journals of Congress; and for which he is to be accountable.
The Board, having according to order, considered the memorial of Captain Baron De Frey of General Count Pulaski's legion, of the 4th instant, beg leave to report:
That the Pay Master General be directed to advance eight months pay and subsistence to Captain Baron de Frey of General Count Puliaski's Legion, and transmit an account thereof to the Pay Master of said Legion.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Kinnan, copper plate printer to the United States, for two thousand dollars; for which he is to be accountable.
Ordered, That so much of the report of the Board of Treasury as relates to Baron de Frey, be referred to the Board of War.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated October 19, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 737. The paragraph on Kinnan formed a separate report, dated October 20, and is on folio 741.]
The committee, to whom was referred so much of the resolutions respecting the establishment of the Board of Treasury, as relates to the annual election of the officers, and who were also to consider proper salaries for the said officers, brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That the same be taken into consideration on Saturday next.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter, of September 6th, from the Board of War, brought in a report, which was read:
The Committee, to whom was referred the letter of the 6th inst. from the Board of War, another letter of the 28th August, from John Page, Lt. Govr. of the State of Virginia and a report of the Board of War of Virginia,
Report, that in their opinion the State of Virginia had no right to detain the Arms imported on account and for the use of the United States, as thereby the safety and welfare of these States may be essentially endangered. Such conduct we conceive to be also pregnant
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with danger, because any State in the union undertaking to be its own Carver must consequently lay a foundation for anarchy and confusion, And shows an unreasonable want of confidence in Congress as must greatly tend to lessen them in the opinion of the other States and of the whole world, and render their determinations of little effect. Your committee conceive the proper mode for the State of Virginia to have adopted on this occasion ought to have been: to apply to Congress for the Arms they wanted for the use of that State, And whether there had or had not been Arms due from the United States to the State of Virginia, yet Congress, from the disposition they have ever manifested to render every assistance to the several States in the Union, would have been willing on the present occasion to gratify the State of Virginia. Provided such request could have been complied with, without manifest injury to the U.S. Therefore Resolved, That the 5000 stand of Arms detained by the Board of War of the State of Virginia by order and direction of the Lt. Govr. and council of the said State be permitted to remain in said State and that the State of Virginia be charged therewith.
Resolved, That the Governor and Council of the State of Virginia be informed that Congress find themselves constrained on this first instance of such a proceeding, to signify their disapprobation of the same, least it should be drawn into a precedent that might hereafter operate to the manifest injury of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 91.]
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
An appeal from the judgment of a count of admiralty for the State of Connecticut, on the libel Elisha Elderkin vs. a sloop, Pierpoint Edwards claimant, was lodged with the secretary.
The committee appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states, for setting apart the second Thursday in December next, as a day of general thanksgiving, brought in a draught, which was agreed to as follows:
Whereas it becomes us humbly 50 approach the throne of Almighty God, with gratitude and praise for the wonders which his goodness has wrought in conducting our fore-fathers to this western world; for his protection to them and to their posterity amid difficulties and dangers;
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for raising us, their children, from deep distress to be numbered among the nations of the earth; and for arming the hands of just and mighty princes in our deliverance; and especially for that he hath been pleased to grant us the enjoyment of health, and so to order the revolving seasons, that the earth hath produced her increase in abundance, blessing the labors of the husbandmen, and spreading plenty through the land; that he hath prospered our arms and those of our ally; been a shield to our troops in the hour of danger, pointed their swords to victory and led them in triumph over the bulwarks of the foe; that he hath gone with those who went out into the wilderness against the savage tribes; that he hath stayed the hand of the spoiler, and turned back his meditated destruction; that he hath prospered our commerce, and given success to those who sought the enemy on the face of the deep; and above all, that he hath diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his eternal glory: therefore,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states, to appoint Thursday, the 9th of December next, to be a day of public and solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of prayer for the continuance of his favor and protection to these United States; to beseech him that he would be graciously pleased to influence our public councils, and bless them with wisdom from on high, with unanimity, firmness, and success; that he would go forth with our hosts and crown our arms with victory; that he would grant to his church the plentiful effusions of divine grace, and pour out his holy spirit on all ministers of the gospel; that he would bless and prosper the means of education, and spread the light of christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; that he would smile upon the labours of his people and cause the earth to bring forth her fruits in abundance; that we may with gratitude and gladness enjoy them; that he would take into his holy protection our illustrious ally, give him victory over his enemies, and render him signally great, as the father of his people and the protector of the rights of mankind; that he would graciously be pleased to turn the hearts of our enemies, and to dispense the blessings of peace to contending nations; that he would in mercy look down upon us, pardon our sins and receive us into his favor, and finally, that he would establish the independence of these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty and safety. as long as the sun and moon shall endure, until time shall be no more.
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Done in Congress, ∥ the 20th day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, and in the 4th year of the independence of the United States of America.
Samuel Huntington, President.
Attest,
Charles Thomson, Secretary. ∥1
[Note 1: 1 This proclamation was entered in the Journals by George Bend. In the writing of Jesse Root, it is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 447.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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