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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, APRIL 27, 1780
A petition from Robert Jewell was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This petition, dated April 24, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, IV, folio 33.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office, April 25, 1780.
Whereas it is represented by the Commissioners of the several Cont.l Loan offices, that the Lenders of money prefer certificates of
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the higher denominations, and whereas it will be of greater public advantage that the smaller denominations should be discontinued and the same amount be prepared in larger sums therefore the Board of Treasury Beg leave to Report--
Resolved, That the sum of four millions eight hundred thousand dollars, ordered to be prepared in loan office certificates of the denomination of six hundred dollars each, by a resolution of Congress of the 11th of June, 1779, for borrowing twenty million of dollars, be not prepared; but that in lieu thereof the same sum be prepared in certificates of the following denominations, viz.
4,800,000[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 223.]
Another report. from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Jonathan Burrall, assistant to William Palfrey, paymaster general, a warrant issue in his favor on Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Massachusetts Bay, for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the use of the department of the said paymaster general; and for which he is to be accountable.
That five warrants for fifty thousand dollars, each, issue on Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Massachusetts Bay, in favor of Michael Hillegas, treasurer of the United States; for which the said treasurer is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 225.]
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Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee respecting loan office certificates; and some time being spent thereon:
Treasury Office April 22d. 1780
The Board of Treasury on the appeal of Major General Benedict Arnold from the report of the Commissioners of the Chamber of Accounts and submission thereon to Congress referred to the said Board report
That they have carefully examined all the matters of grievance complained of by the said Major Genl. Arnold as contained in the report of the said Commissioners and caused witnesses to be examined on interrogatories stated as well on the part of the said Major Genl Arnold as on the part of the said Commissioners in behalf of the United States, and also have heard the said Major Genl. Arnold in support of his appeal: upon full and mature consideration of all which they find
That the sum of Sixty six thousand six hundred and seventy one and twelve ninetieths dollars stated by the said Commissioners as the monies received by the said Major Genl. Arnold while he served on the expedition in Canada is justly placed to his debit--
That the credit the said Commissioners have stated of the sum of One thousand and ninety four pounds four shillings, and of fourteen thousand five hundred and four pounds two shillings and seven pence half penny are payments and advances made by the General to sundry persons, who if he is credited by them must be charged and accountable to the United States
That the credit of the sum of three thousand two hundred and ninety six pounds three shillings and four pence half penny for sundry provisions clothing &c purchased for the use of the Troops is, for any thing that appears to the Board a just credit. Also the credit of four hundred and sixteen pounds sixteen shillings and six pence the amount of the Pay Roll of Savages
Also of Eight hundred pounds for Brigantine Peggy and One hundred and ten pounds sixteen shillings for such part of her cargo as was taken for public use
That Genl Arnold's claims for twenty five horses at ten pounds each amounting to two hundred and fifty pounds Four hundred and eighty five bushels oats, thirty six pounds. Hay, six pounds, part
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of the said cargo which he alleges ought to have been allowed to his credit does not appear to be supported by testimony sufficient to warrant a charge of them as having been taken for the use of the United States and therefore ought to be considered as incidental damages, and referred to such general provisions as may be made in future for losses under that description
That in the aforesaid sum of fourteen thousand, five hundred and four pounds five shillings and seven pence half penny is included a sum of One thousand pounds stated by the General to have been paid to John Halstead Commissary of Provisions on the aforesaid Expedition which sum the said John Halstead denies having received, and refuses to account for unless the General can produce his receipt. The Board being of opinion that the said sum could not be placed to the credit of the General unless vouchers sufficient to make the said John Halstead accountable to the United States were produced and deposited, did require the same to be produced. Whereupon the General alleged that he had lodged such vouchers in the Treasury Office, and upon searching for the same some time afterwards it was not to be found. He therefore suggested that the voucher was lost in the Treasury Office or taken away by Mr. Geddes one of the Commissioners of Accounts who had had access to the Fries which contained the General's papers.
The Board upon examining into the depositions taken respecting the said allegations and suggestions do not find any proof that such voucher ever was lodged in the Treasury all the testimonies relating thereto amounting to no more than very vague and light presumptions, and they find positive proof that the said Ww. Geddes having at the request of the aforesaid John Halstead brought the Files containing the General's papers from the Chamber in which the Treasury Office is held to another Chamber in the same house did immediately examine and search the said Files in presence of the witnesses for a receipt or other voucher to support the said charge of one thousand pounds, but none such could be found. The Board therefore cannot find the least ground for admitting the truth of the suggestion that the voucher was taken away by the said William Geddes, and upon the whole are of opinion that the said sum be not placed to the credit of the General on the present settlement, but that he be not precluded from recovering the same whenever he shall deposit sufficient vouchers for making the said John Halstead accountable to the United States.
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That the claim of Table expences which the General charges under an idea of his having commanded in a separate Department while at Montreal, on the Lakes, and at Providence altho' no special Resolution of Congress can be found to warrant such claim in favor of the General yet as his service was always active, and his command important and as his Rank and Command necessarily involved him in Table Expences, and as other Officers in circumstances not more strongly supporting the Equity of such allowance have received the same under special resolutions of Congress the Board are of opinion that General Arnold's Table Expences should be allowed to the same extent with those of Genl How and other Officers to wit, One hundred and twenty five dollars per month while a Brigadier, and one hundred sixty dollars while a Major General in a separate command, agreeably to the following State--Six months at Montreal--Five months on the Lakes--One month in Providence as Brigadier--Nine months in Philadelphia as Major General
That as to the Claim for Forage rations while the General was in Canada as it appears in proof that the General was not supplied from the public magazines, it is just that he be allowed the same at their real value, which he states to be Nine Pound pr month, and as it amounts to no more than one shilling per day for each horse, which an officer of his Rank is allowed, appears to be reasonable
That as to Rations of all kinds where there were proper Officers to issue them the United States have only to settle such accounts with the said Issuers who are accountable for all the supplies that come to their hands, and are not warranted in issuing any greater quantity to any officer than he is entitled to by the Resolutions of Congress--therefore that such ought not to be considered as proper articles of Debit or Credit with Genl. Arnold as an accountant to the United States.
That for all claims on account of pay, and pay as an allowance for Table Expences, the General be referred for settlement to the Pay Master General, and for all claims on account of Rations of Provisions and Forage, except forage while in Canada, to the Commissary General of Issues, and Quarter Master General at the respective times of their arising
Finally, the Board concur in opinion with the Commissioners of accountsrs that General Arnolds accounts and vouchers be re-examined by the Commissrs of Accounts at Albany, and that the present settlement be subject to such corrections and amendments as they
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shall report under which reservation, and on the principles aforesaid the Board State the General's account as follows
Dr. Major General Arnold in account current with the United StatesCr.
70.004 42[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 229a. It is endorsed: "Brought in April 25,1780; read 27 April, 1780; to be considered on Thursday next. May 16, 1780, referred to Mr. [Edward] Telfair, Mr. J[oseph] Jones and Mr. [Abraham] Clark."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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