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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 --FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1779
The Marine Committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 2d, from Matthew Irwin and others, report, as their opinion, that it will be for the public benefit to dispose of the sails and rigging of the frigate Washington.
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
On motion of Mr. [Henry] Laurens, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder,
Resolved, That the Marine Committee be empowered to sell the standing rigging and sails of the frigate Washington, on such terms as they shall approve of.
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A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon, Congress came to the following resolutions:
It appearing from the representation of the Board of War, that for the more comfortable accommodation of the troops of the United States, it is expedient that each State should provide cloathing for its own quota of those troops, in addition to that which has been imported or already procured by the agents appointed by the said Board:
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the governments of the several states, immediately to provide large quantities of cloathing for their respective quotas of troops:
That particular attention be paid to the articles of hats, hose, shirts, blankets, and shoes, which are indispensably necessary and immediately wanted, and without which the troops must severely suffer:
That the cloathing so purchased or procured by the states respectively be delivered to the sub or State clothiers, agreeably to the ordinance of the 23d of March last:
That the sub or State cloathiers make regular monthly returns to the cloathier general of all cloathing received from their respective states:
That the executive powers of the several states be requested to correspond with the Board of War, from time to time, informing them of their proceedings and prospects in the cloathing business; that every assistance may be given, where necessary, by the said Board, when the continental stock will admit thereof, and continental purchasers be stopped when a sufficiency of cloathing is provided:
That it be also recommended to the governments of the respective states, to take measures for preventing any competition of prices among the purchasers, whether on account of the continent or particular states:
That the said governments be informed that the principal supplies of cloathing for the troops of their respective
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quotas are expected from them; and to this end they are earnestly requested now diligently to exert themselves, and in future to make timely provision, either by purchase, manufacture, or importation:
That the Board of War be directed to inform the executive powers of the several states, from time to time, of any considerable additions to the stock of cloathing provided by the United States, by importation or otherwise, that whensoever all or any considerable part of the cloathing for the troops is or shall be provided by the United States, the governments of the several states may cease further provision.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, II, folio 455.]
The Committee on the Treasury, according to order, laid on the table an account of the money received on loan, and of the whole amount of money issued and to be issued by virtue of resolves passed before this day.
The Committee of Commerce, having informed Congress that in pursuance of the order of Congress, they have expended in the purchase of powder which is arrived, about 3000 pounds sterling of the bills delivered to them, agreeable to the order of the 10 June, and that about 12,000 pounds sterling remain in the hands of their agent at St. Eustatia:
On motion of Mr. [Henry] Marchant, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Scudder,
Resolved, That the Committee of Commerce be directed to confer with the Board of War, in what manner it will be most for the public service to lay out the remainder of the money entrusted to them.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution was entered only in the manuscript Secret Domestic Journal.]
Congress proceeded to the consideration of foreign affairs, and some time being spent thereon,
After debate, on motion of Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, seconded by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith,
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Resolved, That the further consideration of the propositions moved yesterday be postponed.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, seconded by Mr. [Meriwether] Smith, as follows:
Whereas by the treaties subsisting between his most Christian Majesty and the United States of America, a power is reserved to his Catholick Majesty "to accede to "the said treaties, and to participate in their stipulations, "at such time as he shall judge proper; it being well "understood, nevertheless, that, if any of the stipulations "of the said treaties are not agreeable to the king of "Spain, his Catholick Majesty may propose other conditions analagous to the principal aim of the alliance, "conformable to the rules of equality, reciprocity "and friendship:" And whereas, should his Catholick Majesty accede to the said treaties without any alteration, he must be under the necessity of renouncing forever all claims to the possession of the Floridas, of the utmost consequence to his kingdom, and more particularly to his American dominions: In order, therefore, that nothing may be wanting on the part of these states to further a treaty of alliance and of amity and commerce with his Catholick Majesty, consistent with the engagements of the said states, and agreeable to his most Christian Majesty their ally,
Resolved, That if his Catholick Majesty shall accede to the said treaties, and in concurrence with France and the United States of America, continue the present war with Great Britain, for the purposes expressed in the treaties aforesaid, he shall not thereby be precluded from securing to himself the Floridas: On the contrary, if he shall [think proper to attack them, these United States will aid and assist his Catholick Majesty in such enterprise with such provisions and naval stores as shall be required
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by his Catholick Majesty, and can be furnished by these states; and if his Catholick Majesty shall] obtain the Floridas from Great Britain [by cession, or by war, with or without the assistance of the allies,] these United States will guaranty the same to his Catholick Majesty: Provided always, that his Catholick Majesty shall grant to the United States the free navigation of the river Mississippi, into the sea, and establish on the said river, at or somewhere southward of the thirty-first degree north latitude, a free port or ports, under such regulations and restrictions as shall be agreed on between the ministers plenipotentiary of his Catholick Majesty and the United States: and provided, also, that his Catholick Majesty shall pay to the United States, as a subsidy, a present sum not less thanand a further annual sum oduring the continuance of the present war, and for the term ofyears.
The motion being read, Congress took into consideration the resolution therein contained; and after debate,1
[Note 1: 1 This motion was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. The words in brackets appear to have been first underlined and then struck out, but were retained in the printed journals. See proceedings of September 17, post.]
Adjourned to 10 oClock to Morrow.
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