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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 --TUESDAY, APRIL, 25, 1780
A report from the Board of War was read, inclosing a letter of the 22d. inst. from Lieutenant Ludiman; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the resignation of Lieutenant Ludiman, of Colonel Armand's corps, be accepted.
That the sum of five thousand dollars be granted to Lieutenant Ludiman, to enable him to return to Europe.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 337.]
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays were required by Mr. [John] Fell,
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So it passed in the affirmative.
On motion of Mr. [James] Searle, seconded by Mr. [Frederick A.] Muhlenberg,
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be directed to furnish the Commercial Committee with bills of exchange, drawn on the Honorable John Jay, Esquire, for five thousand eight hundred Spanish milled dollars to enable them to discharge a bill drawn on the said committee, for the like sum by Oliver Pollock, of New Orleans; and also bills drawn as above for a sum equal to sixty two pounds ten shillings, sterling, to enable the Committee of Commerce to pay the freight of public goods imported in the schooner Scorpion from Bilboa.
According to order, Congress proceeded to the farther consideration of the report of the committee, respecting loan office certificates, and in debating the following paragraph, viz. "That in making such provision no depreciation on the bills loaned shall be admitted at an earlier period than; nor any greater depreciation on any of the bills that have been loaned than that of 40 dollars of the said bills for one Spanish milled dollar."1
[Note 1: 1 See ante March 25, 1780.]
A motion was made by Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, seconded by Mr. [Frederick A.] Muhlenberg, to fill up the blank with "the 1st of March."
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On which the yeas and nays were required by Mr.[Nathaniel] Folsom,
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So it passed in the negative.
A motion was then made by Mr. Searle, seconded by Mr. Houston, to fill up the blank with "the 10th September, 1777." During the debate,
The President informed the House that he had received a letter from the Board of War which required immediate attention; Whereupon, the letter was read and referred to the Board of Treasury.
War Office April 25 1780
Sir
The Board have the honor of laying the enclosed letters before Congress. The information contained in them agrees with our accounts from all quarters. We are under the most serious apprehensions that it will be impossible for the troops ordered to the southward to proceed on their march. We do not find that any provision is made for the purpose, nor can it be done without cash. We have written to the Governors of Maryland and Virginia in the most pressing terms to assist in the transportation of the troops, but have not the most flattering prospects from the effects of our
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applications. We have given every direction and taken every measure depending on us, and thought it our duty to inform Congress of the state of the business.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 339.]
Mr. [George] Plater, a delegate from Maryland, then laid before Congress a resolve of the assembly of that State, granting licence to Mr. John Hunt to proceed to Great Britain and return with Mrs. Ridley and family, by the way of New York, or otherways; and requesting "the Honorable Congress to grant their passport to protect Mr. Hunt and Mrs. Ridley and family, and effects, from capture by any vessel of war, privateer, or letter of marque belonging to the United States, or any of them, or to any subject of the United States," &c.
Whereupon,
On motion of Mr. [George] Plater, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
Resolved, That the request of the assembly of Maryland be complied with; and that the President be authorised to grant letters of protection accordingly.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution and preamble were also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Thursday next.
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