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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, JANUARY 7, 1780
A petition of John Streeper was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This petition, dated January 3, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, folio 81.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report of the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the managers of the United States lottery for the sum of thirty thousand dollars, in favour of Charles Pettit, Esquire, assistant quarter master general, on account of Major General Greene, quarter master general, to be applied to the forwarding provisions to the army in New Jersey; and for which he is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Peter Knight, merchant in Philadelphia, for the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, to discharge the first bill of exchange drawn on the said treasurer by Samuel Johnston, treasurer of the northern district in North Carolina, dated the 16th day of March, 1777, for that sum, to be charged to the said State.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 15.]
The committee, to whom was referred the letter of 5th, from E. Blaine, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the commissary general of purchases be empowered to appoint an assistant, whose duty it shall be to remain at headquarters and receive the directions of the Commander in Chief and the commissary general.
That the said assistant be allowed a salary at the rate of 10,000 dollars per annum, two rations a day, and forage for one horse, until the farther order.of Congress.
That the coopers, butchers, packers, drovers and superintendants of cattle, be under the regulations and directions formerly established by resolutions of Congress:
That a letter be written to the governor of Connecticut, representing the apprehensions of Congress on account of the
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small supply of beef, and requesting the immediate aid of the legislature of that State to the commissary general or his assistant, in procuring and forwarding the same; the expence of which Congress will find means to defray, or credit to the State, in part of their quota of supplies.
Ordered, That such parts of the letter, of 5, from E. Blaine, as relate to a supply of money be referred to the Board of Treasury.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 369.]
A representation from the supreme executive council of Pensylvania, respecting the barracks near the city of Philadelphia, and the barrack master's department, was laid before Congress:2
[Note 2: 2 This representation, dated December 24, 1779, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 43, folio 239.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, and that they be directed to discharge immediately the supernumerary officers in the barrack master's department, and take further order thereon.
Resolved, That when expresses are wanted for forwarding dispatches from Congress, or any of their committees, application be made to the Board of War; who are to provide the same:
Ordered, That the Committee of Commerce dispose of the sugar and coffee in their possession in this city, in such manner as they shall deem most for the public interest.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee on the Post Office: Whereupon,
Resolved, That until the further order of Congress, the surveyors of the post office be allowed their reasonable expences in travelling the roads; an account of such expences to be rendered every three months to the post master general, upon oath; and that a late resolution of Congress, giving forty dollars a day, be repealed.
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Ordered, That the remainder of the report be postponed.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee for establishing a court of appeals; when
A motion was made by Mr. [William] Ellery, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
That the judges of the said court hold their sessions at the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pensylvania, at Williamsburg, in the State of Virginia, and at Hartford, in the State of Connecticut, and at such other places not to the eastward of Hartford, nor to the southward of Williamsburg, and at such times as they shall judge will be most for the public benefit.
A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, to strike out all that follows the word, "Pensylvania," in order to insert in lieu thereof, the words "or at the place where Congress, or the committee of the States, in the recess of Congress, shall sit." On the question, shall the words moved to be struck out, stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the motion,
Resolved, in the affirmative.
A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews,
"That one judge of the court of appeals shah be an inhabitant of the State of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia; one, an inhabitant of Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or New York; and one, an inhabitant of the State of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts Bay, or New Hampshire."
When the question was about to be put, the previous question was moved by Mr. [John] Penn, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Folsom,
On which, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative, and the main question was set aside.
A motion was made by Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, seconded by Mr. [James] McLene,
"That all bona fide claimants of property in any capture praying an appeal, shall be allowed the same, unless restrained by a law of the State to which such claimants belong."
On which, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Samuel] Holten,
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So it passed in the negative.
On motion of Mr. [James] Searle, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman,
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury for the present suspend the publication relative to the sale of bills of exchange.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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