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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, NOVEMBER 6, 1779
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. Laurens, for fifty two thousand two hundred
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and eighty four dollars, in full of his household expences for thirteen months, being the time of his acting as President of Congress.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of his Excellency W. Livingston, Esq. governor of New Jersey, for eighty one dollars and 45/90, in full for a like sum advanced by him for the United States.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Messrs. James and Drinker, for seven hundred and sixty seven dollars and 22½/90, in discharge of a bill for that sum drawn the 19th of June, 1777, by Richard Caswell, governor of the State of North Carolina, on the continental treasurer, in favour of Richard Ellis, Esq. for horses, carriages and other necessaries which he furnished General Derford (du Portail); who is to be charged with the said sum.
That another warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Messrs. James and Drinker for the amount of three sets of exchange drawn by John Ashe Esq. treasurer of the State of North Carolina, on the continental treasurer; one set, dated May 9th, 1777, in favour of Isaac Rolston; another of the same date, and a third set of the 10th May, 1777, in favour of Hardy Murfree, for two hundred and fifty dollars each, making in the whole seven hundred and fifty dollars; for which the said State of North Carolina is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Thomas Williams, for two hundred and fifty dollars, in discharge of a bill drawn the 10 May, 1777, on the continental treasurer, in favour of Manlove Tarrant by John Ashe, Esq. treasurer of the State of North Carolina; for which sum the said State is to be accountable.
The Board further beg leave to report:
That each of the Commissioners of the Board of War not Members Postponed of Congress be allowed 14.000 dollars pr annum. And each of the Commissioners of the Navy Board, 12,000 dollars pr annum.
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The Secretary to the Board of War, 10.000 dollars, each of the clerks Agreed to Nov. 11 in the Offices of the Board of War and Secretary of Congress, 7000 per annum.
That the Salaries aforesaid be annually or oftener as Congress shall Agreed to Nov 11th judge it expedient revised and altered according to the appreciation of the Continental Currency.
That a Committee be appointed to report a proper allowance for the Officers of the Treasury, Board of War, Marine, and Commercial Committees, and Secretary of Congress from the last adjustment of their accounts respectively.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated November 4, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 789.]
Resolved, That so much of the report as relates to a warrant in favour of the pay master of the Board of War and Ordnance, and a warrant in favour of the State of Rhode island be re-committed.2
[Note 2: 2 Such paragraphs are not in the manuscript report.]
Resolved, That the remainder of the report be postponed.
Another report from the Board of Treasury, was read:
Treasury Office, November 5, 1779, P.M.
The Committee on the Treasury beg leave to report sundry recommendations to the several States for facilitating the payment of their respective quotas of Taxes
Whereas information is sent to the several states that the money which Congress are at liberty to emit will be probably expended in the beginning of December next, that subsequent supplies must be furnished by the States, and that warrants will be issued on their respective Treasurers for their quotas to be paid on the first of January next, and whereas the subsistence of the army will principally depend on the punctual payment of such warrants, or on a proper negotiation thereof:
Resolved That it be earnestly recommended to the several States to direct that a sufficient number of orders, with proper checks and a margin for indenting, be forthwith struck and lodged with their respective Treasurers, agreeable to the following form:
"No.-- day of--177--
"Sir
"For value received pay to--or his order the sum of--"Dollars at the end of four months, with interest at the rate of 6 per
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"cent per annum, from the date hereof, to discharge in part a warrant "drawn on you the--Day of--177--by order of Congress in "favor of--
"To--Treasurer of the State of--
"Accepted by--Treasurer aforesaid"
to be signed and negotiated by the persons respectively who are to receive the payment of the warrants as hereafter directed.
That it be also recommended to each State to instruct their Treasurer, when unable to discharge any warrant drawn on him by Congress for Continental Taxes, to deliver at the request of the person presenting it, as many of the said orders as may enable him to draw on the said Treasurer for the amount of the warrant, or for such part thereof as he is unable to discharge.
That previous to the delivery of such orders, the respective Treasurers sign the acceptance of and indent them, preserve the checks, insert the sums, and fill up the other blanks, agreeable to the instructions of the Board of Treasury
That no order be drawn for a less sum than--dollars
That it be also recommended to the said States, to instruct their respective Collectors of Taxes, when they have public money, to pay it for such orders, and to receive them for Continental Taxes allowing the interest arising thereon.
That it be further recommended to the said States, to direct their respective Treasurers, when any of the said orders are due, to discharge them with the strictest punctuality
That the amount of the orders which may be paid on warrants as aforesaid be indorsed thereon, and passed to the credit of the States from the dates of the said orders respectively, and that they be finally adjusted as other sums paid into the Continental Treasury, or to the order of Congress, agreeable to their several Resolutions of the 6th and 7th of October last relative to Finance.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 793. It is endorsed: "Consideration assigned to Monday next. Debated November 11. Referred to Morris, Root and Forbes. Referred to Committee of the Whole."]
Ordered, That the same be taken into consideration on Monday next.
The Board of War, to whom was referred a letter of General Washington, with the application in favour of Captain Lieutenant Van Dyke, brought in a report; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That Captain Lieutenant Van Dyke, of the artillery, have leave of absence for eight months; that agreeably to his intentions he may take a voyage to sea, this being judged necessary for the recovery of his health, as appears by certificates produced to Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 569.]
The committee, to whom were referred the letter of credence and speech of the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, brought in a draught of an answer, which was read.
On the question to agree to the motion, the determination of which was yesterday postponed, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris:
{table}
So it was resolved that the blank be filled up with the word "five."
The resolution being amended to read,
That Mr. Laurens be authorized to employ a proper secretary upon the most reasonable terms not exceeding the sum of five hundred pounds sterling per annum, the same to be allowed to his credit.
A motion was made by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [James] Forbes, to strike out the
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words "Mr. Laurens be authorized to employ," and after the word "secretary" to insert "to Mr. Laurens be appointed by Congress."
On the question shall the words moved to be struck out stand,1
[Note 1: 1 An unfinished entry.]
On motion of Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Resolved, That the words "the same be allowed to his credit," be struck out.
On the question to agree to the resolution as amended, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris--
{table}
So it was
Resolved, That Mr. Laurens be authorized to employ a proper secretary upon the most reasonable terms, not exceeding the sum of five hundred pounds sterling per annum.2
[Note 2: 2 These proceedings were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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