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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 --THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1779
Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, a delegate for Connecticut, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A letter from the president and council of Pensylvania to the delegates of that State, was laid before Congress and read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, II, folio 157.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [James] Forbes and Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston.
A letter, of 5th, from J. Deshon of the eastern navy board to the Marine Committee, with a note thereon by the Board of Admiralty, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order, communicating the same to the Commander in Chief.
A letter, of 16, from J. Benezet, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
A petition of P[aul] Fooks, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter from the Board of War was read, enclosing one from Lieutenant Colonel [Peter] Adams, requesting leave to take a voyage to the West Indies, for the recovery of his health;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 The petition of Books is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, folio 49; the Board of War letter is in No. 147, II, folio 655.]
Resolved, That a furlough for six months be granted to Lieutenant Colonel Peter Adams, to enable him to take a voyage to the West Indies, for the recovery of his health.
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The Board have in some instances given furloughs to officers who were to remain within the United States; but think it necessary to report to Congress a case where an officer proposes to go beyond seas.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Chaloner and White, agents for Colonel J. Wadsworth, commissary general of purchases, the following warrants issue on the following states, for two millions of dollars in part of the monies raised by them for the use of the United States, in favour of the said J. Wadsworth, and for the use of his department; for which he is to be accountable, viz;
One on George Webb, Esq. treasurer of the State of Virginia, for one million six hundred thousand dollars;
And another on his excellency the governor of the State of North Carolina, for four hundred thousand dollars.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of John Levinus Clarkson, Jun. clerk to the Board of Treasury, for three thousand dollars, on account of his salary.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, dated December 15, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, III, folio 903.]
The committee on the letter, of 18 November, from General Washington, brought in a farther report.
The Committee on the letter from General Washington, of the 18th. November last, and sundry other matters relative to recruiting the army beg leave further to report, that,
Whereas in the requisitions of Congress from time to time, for supplies of men to carry on the War, it has been necessary to call on the several States for certain quotas, which however are not to be considered as their just proportions of the said supplies:
And whereas the several States in raising and providing for the Officers and soldiers of their respective battalions, and for the temporary reinforcement of the militia required by Congress, have incurred, and must continue to incur a great expense, which ought to be apportioned and defrayed according to some just rule, to be hereafter adopted by Congress:
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Resolved, That at the expiration of the War, an account shall be taken of the number of men furnished by the several States, for common defence, in the course of the War; in which account the numbers furnished by each State shall be rated according to the length of the times of the respective enlistments; and a rule shall be then adopted for ascertaining how many men each State ought to have raised of the number contained in the said account, and for reimbursing to any State which shall have furnished more than its just proportion, the necessary expense of raising and providing for the same, and also of providing for the Officers required by the establishment of the Army for the men so furnished more than its proportion; which expense shall be charged to those States that shall not have furnished their just proportions, according to their respective deficiencies.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 265.* It is endorsed "3d. Report &c."]
The Committee, to whom was referred the report of the committee sent to camp, brought in a report.
The committee on the report of the committee sent to camp, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration and agreed to: Whereupon
The Committee to whom were referred a letter of 24th November from Don Juan de Miralles, one of 27th November from the Minister of France, and a Report of a Committee sent to Head Quarters, to confer with the Commander in Chief on the state of the southern department, brought in a report: Whereupon,
Report the following draught of a letter to be written to the Minister of France:
Sir:
I am directed to inform you that Congress in order to testify their attention to the Interests of his Catholic Majesty, appointed a Committee to confer with General Washington on the subject of your letter accompanying the representations of Don Juan de Miralles; and tho' from the result of their conference, they have reason to believe that our grand army cannot be weakened while the enemy retain their present force at New York without considerable danger, yet they have upon mature deliberation determined rather to incur that danger than not comply as far as is consistent with our circumstances, with the views of his Catholic Majesty, to whom
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they feel themselves bound by that Union of Interest which a common enemy creates, by the favorable disposition manifested by his Catholic Majesty to these States, and by those pleasing ties, which connect the interest of the illustrious house of Bourbon with the happiness of mankind. Under these impressions they have ordered the North Carolina brigade and the Virginia line, consisting together of about 2300 men, to march to the southward. Having before directed General Scott, with about 800 men, to join General Lincoln; these, together with the Troops already under his command a considerable detachment from the Grand army to join the troops in Carolina, which together with the forces already there, or on the way will amount to about 4000 men, exclusive of the Militia of the Southern States, whom Congress have called for upon this occasion. Congress have also ordered three of their frigates to Charleston, to be put under the direction of the Commanding officer in that Department. This force they conceive will make so powerful a diversion in favor of his Catholic Majesty's arms, as to afford probable hopes of their being crowned with success. You will perceive, Sir, that any other cooperation with the troops of Spain is impossible while Savannah opposes a barrier to a junction of our force. This from its present strength it will not be easy for us to remove, till a more decided Superiority in this quarter enables us to transfer a greater proportion of our army thither. To effect this desirable purpose, and that our force in that part of america may be at Liberty to act against the Common Enemy in such manner as will be most for the Interest of His Catholic Majesty, Congress have directed me to propose to you, and through you, to the gentleman by whom the intentions of his Catholic Majesty are communicated that a body of about 5000 men, together with six Ships of the Line, should with all expedition rendezvous either at Charleston in South Carolina, or in the River Savannah in the State of a Georgia. There to be joined by the whole land and naval force of these States in that quarter, in order that such an attack may be made against the enemyés force there as to promise success. In which event the united forces may then be employed for the reduction of St. Augustine. Unless in the mean time the Governor of the Havana shall think proper to furnish such aid, as when joined to the forces of the United States in that quarter will be sufficient to effect the purposes before mentioned. But as Congress are desirous of extending their views still further, and conceiving the conquest of East Florida to be an Object of great importance, as well to his Catholic Majesty, as to these
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States, they have therefore directed me to inform you, and through you, Don Juan de Miralles, by whom the intentions of his Catholic Majesty are communicated, that they have given full power to their general commanding in the Southern Department, to correspond and concert with the Governor of the Havana, or any other person or persons authorized by his Catholic Majesty for that purpose, such plan as can be agreed upon between them for carrying our views into execution.
I am, Sir, directed further to inform you that the Congress cannot promise any considerable quantity of provisions until the army of the United States is supplied. Yet as soon as this can be done, every means will be used to furnish provisions for his Catholic Majesty's Islands and fleet; but in the mean time they conceive that a large supply of rice may be afforded by the State of South Carolina, which Congress will readily aid the agents of Spain in procuring.
Your Committee therefore beg leave to recommend the following resolution to be passed by Congress:
Resolved, That General Lincoln, or the Commanding Officer for the time being in the Southern Department, be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered, to correspond and concert with the Governour of Havanna, or any other person or persons properly authorized by his Catholick Majesty, such plan as shall in his opinion be best calculated to insure the reduction of the enemy's force in the State of Georgia; and that the State of South Carolina be requested to afford every assistance in their power for carrying the same into effect.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 283. The last resolution was printed in the Secret Journals, Domestic, Vol. I, p. 129.]
In passing this resolution, a division was called for;
The question on the first part, as far as "Georgia" inclusive, passed in the affirmative.
On the second part, "and for the "conquest of East Florida," &c. to the end, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Forbes;
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So it was resolved m the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution and vote were entered only in the manuscript Secret Domestic Journal.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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