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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 --SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1779
A memorial of Captain Charles de Frey, and a letter of this day from Richard Peters, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The memorial, dated October 29, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 204; the letter of Peters, in No. 78, XVIII, folio 259.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [William] Sharpe and Mr. [Henry] Marchant.
A memorial of James Wharton was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Marine Committee.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Treasury Office, October 30th, 1779.
The Committee on the Treasury, having according to order considered the account of Richard Phillips, Steward to the President of Congress, for the expences of himself and family in coming from Hartford to Philadelphia, beg leave to report the following Resolution:
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the Treasurer in favour of Richard Rejected Phillips Steward to the President of Congress, for Rejected 1035 dollars, in full for the expertces of himself and Family in coming from Hartford to Philadelphia.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, dated October 30, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No, 136, III, folio 773.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Richard Philips, steward to the President of Congress, for one thousand dollars; for which he is to be accountable.
Resolved, That the managers be directed to make sale of the tickets of the third class of the lottery of the United States without delay, that the drawing thereof commence the first of March next, and be completed as soon as may be, and that the tickets then unsold be the property and at the risque of the said states.
Resolved, That loan office certificates of the following denominations, bearing an interest of six per centum per annum, be struck, under the direction of the Board of Treasury,
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to be issued to such fortunate adventurers in the second class as may be entitled to and apply for the same; and that the said certificates be dated at the time of finishing the drawing of the said class, and made payable at the end of five years from their date, viz. 18 certificates of 5000 dollars each, 90,000 dollars; 100 certificates of 1000 dollars each, 100,000 dollars; 820 certificates of 500 dollars each, 410,000 dollars; amounting to 600,000 dollars.
Resolved, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
A motion was made by Mr. [William] Paca, seconded by Mr. [George] Plater, in the following words:
Whereas it appears to Congress that the opening the land office in the State of Virginia, for the purpose of locating lands unappropriated at the time independence was declared, has produced much uneasiness, dispute and controversy, and greatly weakened these United States by the emigrations of their inhabitants to parts remote from defence against the common enemy; Resolved, therefore, that it be earnestly recommended to the State of Virginia to re-consider their late act of assembly for opening their land office; and that it be recommended to the said State, and all other states similarly circumstanced, to forbear settling or issuing warrants for such unappropriated lands, or granting the same during the continuance of the present war:
To this an objection was made as being out of order; and on the question, is the motion in order, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The resolution was then taken into consideration, and a division being called for; and on the question to agree to the first clause, as far as "land office," inclusive, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [William] Sharpe, to strike out the words "and all other states similarly circumstanced."
And on the question, shall those words stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the latter clause as it stands: resolved in the affirmative.
On motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
Resolved, That the consideration of the preamble be postponed.
On motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
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Resolved, That the following preamble be adopted:
"Whereas the appropriation of vacant lands by the several states, during the continuance of the war, will, in the opinion of Congress, be attended with great mischiefs; therefore."
On the question to agree to the preamble and resolution, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin,
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So it was resolved as follows:
Whereas the appropriation of vacant lands by the several states during the continuance of the war, will, in the opinion of Congress, be attended with great mischiefs; therefore,
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the State of Virginia, to re-consider their late act of assembly for opening their land office; and that it be recommended to the said State, and all other states similarly circumstanced, to forbear
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settling or issuing warrants for unappropriated lands, or granting the same during the continuance of the present war.
The sense of the House being taken, it was agreed and ordered, but no entry made on the journal,
That, when the yeas and nays are called on the commitment or postponing the consideration of any paper under debate, or on recommitment of a report, the paper or report be entered on the journal.
In consequence of this, the report of the committee on the memorial of G. Morgan and petition of W. Trent was entered.1
[Note 1: 1 These three paragraphs are not entered in their regales place in the Journals, but on the inside cover of the volume, and dated October 30, 1779. A copy, also in the writing of Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 15.]
Mr. H[enry] Laurens was nominated by Mr. [Henry] Merchant to be appointed a commissioner to negotiate a treaty of amity and commerce with the United Provinces of the low countries.
The committee appointed to prepare a commission for the person appointed to negotiate a loan in the United Provinces of the low countries brought in a draft, which, being read and amended, was agreed to, as follows: The United States of America in Congress assembled:
To the Hon. H. L., Esqr, a delegate from the state of South Carolina, and formerly President of Congress, Greeting:
We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Ability, Conduct and Fidelity, do by these Presents, constitute and appoint you, the said Henry Laurens, Esqr. during our Pleasure, to be our Agent for and on behalf of the said States, to negotiate a Loan with any Person, or Persons, Bodies Politic and Corporate whatever in the united Provinces of the Netherlands on the Terms and Conditions as he and you may think meet contained in the Instructions herewith delivered to you, promising in good Faith, to ratify and confirm whatsoever shall by you be done in the Premises, or relating thereunto.2
[Note 2: 2 This draft, in the writing of Gouverneur Morris, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 47, folio 316. A longer form is in the same volume, folio 323. The proceedings were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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