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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 29, 1779

Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1779

The delegates of New Jersey laid before Congress the credentials of their appointment for the year ensuing, which were read, as follows:

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New Jersey, Novr. 17th, 1779.

The Council and Assembly met at Mountholly and in Joint Meeting proceeded to the Election of three Delegates to represent this State in Congress, and the Votes being taken, the honourable John Fell, William Churchill Houston and Thomas Henderson, Esquires, were duly elected.

Resolved, therefore, That the said John Fell, William Churchill Houston and Thomas Henderson, Esquires, or any two of them, be impowred to represent and Vote in behalf of this State in the Congress of the United States of North America, from the first day of December next, until the first day of December in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, unless a new appointment shall sooner take place. It is nevertheless expected that all the Delegates do constantly attend in Congress unless prevented by sickness or other accident.

The above is a true Copy from the Minutes of the Joint Meeting.

Bowes Reed, Secy.¹

[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New Jersey, Credentials of Delegates.]

A letter, of 31 October, from Major General Lincoln, was read,² enclosing a letter of the 25th of the same month, from Lieutenant Colonel Bedaulx, giving information of the death of Brigadier Count Pulaski, and a petition from the same,

[Note 2: 2 Lincoln's letter and enclosure are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 158, folio 285.]

Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.

Resolved, That a monument be erected to the memory of Brigadier Count Pulaski, and that a committee of three be appointed to bring in a resolution for that purpose:

The members chosen, Mr. Griffin [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston and Mr. [Cornelius] Harnett.

The Committee on the Treasury brought in a report; Whereupon,

Resolved, That ten million one hundred and forty dollars, being in full of the two hundred millions of dollars, be emitted on the faith of the United States, and under the

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direction of the Board of Treasury, in bills of credit of the following denominations, viz.

• 26,316 bills of 65 dollars, ... 1,709,640
• 26,317 do. 60 ... 1,579,020
• 26,316 do. 55 ... 1,447,380
• 26,316 do.50 ... 1,315,800
• 26,316 do.45 ... 1,184,220
• 26,316 bills of 40 dollars, ... 1,052,640
• 26,316 do. 35 ... 921,960
• 26,316 do. 30 ... 789,480
• ... 10,000,140

That the said bills, excepting the numbers, be of the sametenor and date as the emissions directed on the 17th of November instant, and be numbered from the last number in every denomination progressively.

Resolved, That the treasurer be directed to retain in his hands four millions of dollars of the sum this day ordered to be emitted, for discharging such warrants as may be hereafter issued for supplying the several military chests.

Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Geddes, Esq. one of the commissioners of the chambers of accounts, for three thousand dollars to defray the expences of himself and the special commissioners appointed with him to repair to Maryland in order to examine and liquidate certain public accounts, for which sum the said William Geddes is to be accountable.¹

[Note 1: 1 This report, dated November 29, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 845. The paragraph on the sum to be retained by the treasurer is not in the original report.]

That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of David C. Claypoole, printer to Congress, for five hundred dollars, for the purpose of binding the journals of Congress; for which he is to be accountable.

That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Robert [Troup, Esq. secretary to the Board of Treasury, for fifteen hundred dollars, to defray the contingent expences of the Treasury; for which he is to be accountable.²

[Note 2: 2 This report, dated November 27, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 843.]

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Congress took into consideration the report of the committee, ∥late on the commissary and quarter master's departments, to whom was referred a letter of∥ on the 10th of October last from J. Wadsworth, Esq. commissary general of purchases; Whereupon,

Resolved, That Jeremiah Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, have leave to resign his office on the first day of January next, agreeable to his request, and that he settle his accounts with the public as soon after he is out of office as may be, agreeably to the directions of the Board of Treasury.¹

[Note 1: 1 See under October 22, p. 1200, ante.]

The following gentlemen were put in nomination for the office of commissary general of purchases:

Charles Stewart, Esq. by Mr. [James] Searle; Ephraim Blaine, Esq. by Mr. [James] Forbes.

Resolved, That Thursday next be assigned for electing a commissary general of purchases.

Congress took under consideration the report of the committee appointed to report the manner in which the resolution of the 23 inst. relative to the drawing bills of exchange on Mr. Jay and Mr. Laurens, shall be carried into execution; Whereupon,

Resolved, That the bills be prepared under the direction of the Board of Treasury, and with such checks as they may devise to prevent counterfeits, and be signed by the treasurer of loans:

That so many of the bills as the Treasury Board shall, from time to time, think proper to issue, be put into the hands of the continental loan officer in the State of Pensylvania, or of any other State; and that the Board of Treasury direct the lowest rate of exchange at which the same may be sold:

That the Board of Treasury may, at their discretion, suspend the sale of such bills, reporting to Congress their reasons for so doing, that they may receive directions thereon:

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That the Committee of Foreign Affairs be, and they are hereby directed to write to Mr. Jay and Mr. Laurens, informing them of the drafts that will be made upon them, and explaining fully the reasons that urge Congress to draw, directing them to keep up a mutual correspondence and afford each other every assistance in procuring money to pay the bills:

That 1/8 per cent. on monies received in payment for the said bills, shall be allowed to the persons entrusted with the sale thereof:

That no bill be drawn for a less sum than the amount of fifty pounds sterling.

On the question to agree to the foregoing resolutions, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,

{table}

So it was resolved in the affirmative.

The Commercial committee, finding by experience, that it will be impossible for any committee of Congress to conduct the Commercial affairs of the Continent with that attention and accuracy which is requisite, whilst they are obliged to attend their duty in Congress, beg leave to report as their opinion,

• 1st. That a Board of Trade be established to consist of three Commissioners not Members of Congress, and two members of Congress; any three of whom to form a Board for the despatch of business, subject in all cases to the controul of Congress.

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• 2d. That there shall not be not more than one Member of the said Board at any time belonging to the same State.
• 3d. That there shall be a Secretary to the said Board, to be appointed by Congress.
• 4th. That the Board have power to appoint a clerk to assist them, and to hire warehouses as they may find necessary for the due execution of their business.
• 5th. That the said Board he supplied with funds for carrying on their business as occasion shall require, by application to Congress for that purpose.
• 6th. That the said Board be empowered to purchase and export at all such times and seasons as they may judge best, the produce of these states, or other articles suitable for remittances to Europe, and other parts of the world, for the purpose of discharging debts already contracted, fulfilling engagements already made, or to be made, and for such other purposes as Congress may from time to time order.
• 7th. That they be empowered and directed by Congress from time to time, to order and import from proper places, such arms, ammunition, cloathing and other articles as may be deemed necessary for the public service, and to appoint suitable parts of their remittances to pay for the same, leaving the entire execution of all and every part or parts of said orders or instructions to the judgement of the Board.
• 8th. That they be empowered to purchase or charter suitable shipping in any part of the world, wherewith to make the imports and exports, and if need there be, to insure at the public risque, a reasonable valuation on such as they may charter.
• 9th. That they be empowered to employ such factors in the different states, as they shall think proper, allowing them not more than the usual mercantile commissions.
• 10th. That they be empowered to employ factors in any other parts where the Congress have not appointed, or do not appoint Commercial Agents, allowing them not more than the customary mercantile commissions of the place, for the business they transact.
• 11th. That they be empowered to call to account and displace all such agent, s and factors, who in their judgement do not conduct the public business entrusted to them, with advantage.
• 12th. That they be empowered to enter into such contracts, agreements, or bargains with states, corporations, companies or individuals, as they may find necessary for the faithful and prudent execution of any part or parts of the business entrusted to them.

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• 13th. That all contracts, agreements, or bargains, made or entered into by the said Board of Trade, consistent with the powers and authorities vested in them at the time of making or entering into the same respectively, be binding and obligatory on the United States of America.
• 14th. That the said Board keep regular and fair accounts of all their transactions in books to be provided for that purpose, which books shall be produced to Congress, or any Committee of Congress, whenever required, for their inspection, and the said Board shall settle their accounts, annually and deliver up the books of the year, to the Treasury Board for examination, carrying forward the balances into a new set of books to be provided for the year ensuing.
• 15th. That the said Board report all their importations upon arrival to Congress, and dispose thereof agreeable to the general or particular orders, made for that purpose.
• 16th. That each Commissioner of the said Board (not being a Member of Congress) shall receive a salary of ... dollars per annum, and that the Secretary shall receive a salary of ... dollars per annum, the said salaries to be annually, or oftener, if Congress shall judge it expedient, revised, and altered, agreeable to the appreciation of the Continental currency.¹

  [Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Francis Lewis, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 311. It is endorsed: "Delivered November 29, 1779. August 24, 1781, not to be acted upon." No mention of the report is in the Jounals.]

The Committee to whom was referred a Petition of Azariah Horton, in behalf of the officers of the Mustering Department, and a letter from Genl. Washington relative to the same subject, have considered sd. Petition and letter and submit the following resolutions, viz:

Whereas it is unnecessary to continue the officers of Musters in Service, and the business of that Department may be performed to advantage by the Inspectors of the Army,

Resolved, that the Mustering Department be discontinued, and the officers thereof discharged.

And whereas the Commissary General of Musters has approved himself a good and faithful officer, and those who have been employed under him have given satisfaction in their offices,

Resolved, that the said Commissary General of musters and those officers who have continued in that Department under him for eighteen months last past shall be entitled to receive a sum equal to their pay respectively for the term of twelve months from this day.

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Resolved that in future the business of mustering of troops be performed by the Inspectors of the Army in such manner, and under such regulations as the Commander in Chief shall direct, who is hereby authorized to make the arrangements, and report such arrangements to Congress.¹

[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of George Partridge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19. III. folio 187. It is endorsed as delivered November 29, 1779. See under January 12, 1780.]

[Adjourned to 10 o'clock to-morrow.]

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