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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 --MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1779
A letter, of the 4th, from J. Beatty, commissary general of prisoners, was read, enclosing a copy of a letter to him from General Silliman and others, prisoners on Long island:1
[Note 1: 1 Beatty's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, III, folio 393; that of the prisoners is on folio 397.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [John] Fell, Mr. [George] Plater, and Mr. [Woodbury] Langdon.
A letter, of this day, from W. Palfrey, pay master general, was read;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 529.]
Resolved, That W. Palfrey, Esq. pay master general, have leave of absence to visit his family.
The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. W[illiam] Sharpe, one of the delegates for the State of North Carolina, on his application, for three thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, dated November 13, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 807.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Thomas Bradford, Esq. deputy commissary of prisoners, on the application of John Beatty, Esq. commissary general of prisoners, for fifteen thousand dollars, for the use of his department; and for which the said commissary general of prisoners is to be accountable.4
[Note 4: 4 See note under October 9, p. 1157, ante.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Palfrey, Esq. pay master general, for one million one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the use of his department; for which he is to be accountable.
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That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. Thomas Edison, clerk in the office of the secretary of Congress, for fifteen hundred dollars, on account of his salary.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. Chandler Fowke and Mr. Joseph Scudder, clerks at the War Office, for fifteen hundred dollars each, on account of their salary.
That on the application of James Wilkinson, Esq. clothier general, countersigned by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the said James Wilkinson, Esq. for one hundred and eighty thousand dollars, for the use of the hide department; for which he is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Ephraim Blaine, Esq. deputy commissary general of purchases, on his application, for two million dollars, to be charged to the account of Jeremiah Wadsworth, Esq. commissary general of purchases, for the use of his department, and that he be furnished with a copy of this order.
A report from the commissioners of the chambers of accounts on the memorial of Lewis Weiss being read:
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
The order of the day being called for,
A motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
That the order of the day for nominating members to the Board of Admiralty be postponed until the sense of Congress can be taken on the following motion:
"Whereas it may be highly injurious to the interest of these United States, to permit candidates for public offices to vote in or otherways influence their own elections:
"Resolved, That Congress will not appoint any member thereof during the time of his sitting, or within six months after he shall have been in Congress, to any office under the said states for which he or any other for his benefit may receive any salary, fees or other emolument."
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A division being called for on the question,
"That the order of the day for nominating members to the Board of Admiralty be postponed," the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the second part of the motion "until" &c., the previous question was moved by Mr. [James] Forbes, and seconded by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris; and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. Forbes,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative, and that part of the main question set aside.
The following gentlemen were then put in nomination for commissioners of the Board of Admiralty:
Mr. Thomas Waring, by Mr. [John] Mathews;
Mr. John Collins, by Mr. [Gouverneur] Morris;
Mr. F[rancis] Lewis, by Mr. [John] Fell;
Mr. J. Wharton, by Mr. [James] Searle;
Mr. W[illiam] Whipple, by Mr. [Roger] Sherman;
Mr. Joseph Blewar, by Mr. [Frederick] Muhlenberg;
Mr. John Deshon, by Mr. [Samuel] Huntington;
Mr. James Warren, by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry;
Mr. Resolve Smith, by Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder.
The committee to whom was referred the memorial of Captain Charles de Frey, brought in a report; Whereupon,
That as they conceive the Resolve of Congress of the 27 October to have been founded in mistake, supposing Captain Frey's Commission to extend only to a Command in Canada, but as it now clearly appears that his Commission is in the line of the Continental Army, therefore recommend the following Resolution to Congress:
Resolved, That captain Charles de Frey have leave of absence for eight months, and that the sum of the thousand dollars be advanced him to defray his expences; he to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 41.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the plan for the establishment of courts of appeals
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for determining captures on water, and some time being spent thereon,
Ordered, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed.
The committee, to whom were referred the representation from the legislative council and general assembly of New Jersey and the proceedings of a convention of committees from the eastern states to New York, inclusive, at their meeting in Hartford in the State of Connecticut, on the 20th of October last, brought in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That the same be taken into consideration on Thursday next.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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