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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 --MONDAY, MAY 1, 1780
Mr. [James] Duane, a delegate for the State of New York, being returned, laid before Congress the original credentials of the appointment of delegates for that State, which are as follows:
The people of the State of New York by the grace of God free and Independent, To all to whom these presents shall come send Greeting: Whereas our Senate and Assembly did at their late meeting held at Kingston in our County of Ulster according to the form prescribed by the Constitution of this our State nominate and appoint our trusty and well beloved James Duane, William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Ezra ∥ and Philip Schuyler, Esquires, Delegates to represent this our State in the General Congress of the United States of North America; Now therefore Know ye that We do by these presents and in pursuance of the said nomination and appointment Commissionate the said James Duane, William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Ezra L'Hommedieu, and Philip Schuyler, Esquires, Delegates to represent this our State in the said Congress and Vest
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them severally and respectively with all and singular the powers and authorities to the said Office or place of Delegate belonging, by Virtue of our said Constitution and the nomination and appointment aforesaid. To have and to hold to them the said James Duane, William Floyd, John Morin Scott, Ezra L'Hommedieu and Philip Schuyler, Esquires, severally and respectively the said Office or place of Delegate for so long time as they severally and respectively may and ought of Right to continue to hold and exercise the same by Virtue of our said Constitution and the said nomination and appointment and no longer. In Testimony Whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made patent, and our Great Seal of this our State to be hereunto affixed. Witness our trusty and well beloved George Clinton, Esquire, Governor of our said State, General and Commander in Chief of all the Militia and Admiral of the navy of the same, at Poughkeepsie in our County of Dutchess this eighth Day of November in the fourth year of our Independence and in the Year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine.
Signed Geo: Clinton.
with the great Seal appendant.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New York, Credentials of Delegates.]
Two letters, of 28 April, from General Washington;
One, of 9th April, from Major General Lincoln;
One, of 27 April, from Governor Livingston, of New Jersey;
One, of 20 April, from Governor Rodney, of Delaware;
And one, of April 11, from President Weare, of New Hampshire; and an act of the legislature of the said State of New Hampshire, relative to prisoners, were read.2
[Note 2: 2 Washington's letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folios 531 and 535: Lincoln's letter is in No. 158, folio 369; Livingston's is in No. 68, folio 533; Rodney's is in No. 70, folio 723; Weare's is in No. 64, folio 102.]
A letter, of 24 December; two of 25; one of 26; and one of 27, of the same month, from J. Jay, at Martinique:3
[Note 3: 3 These letters are printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, 436, 446, 448, and 450.]
Ordered, That a copy of the letter, of 25, with the narrative enclosed respecting Mrs. Smith, be sent to Governor Clinton.
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A letter, of 27 December, from W. Carmichael,1 and
[Note 1: 1 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, 449.]
A letter, of 23 March, from Mr. Bouillée, governor of Martinique, were read.
A memorial from J. Wilson, on behalf of the Board of Admiralty, respecting an appeal from a judgment of the Court of Admiralty of the State of Massachusetts Bay, on a libel, Captain Nicholson, of the Deane, and Captain Tucker, of the Boston frigate, vs. the Sandwich Packet, which has not been lodged with the Secretary in due time, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated May 1, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 440.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three.
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. [James] Henry.
A petition of William Nell and Cornelius Durant was read:3
[Note 3: 3 The petition of William Neill, dated March 6, 1780, enclosed a copy of the petition of himself and Durant made to the Speaker and Members of the House of Delegates of Maryland, dated March 19, 1779. The latter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, V, folio 421, the former in No. 42, V, folio 425.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, and Mr. [George] Plater.
A report of the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Ephraim Blaine, commissary general of purchases, approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue in his favour on the treasurer of the commonwealth of Virginia, for one million five hundred thousand dollars, part of the monies raised in the said commonwealth, for the use of the United States, for the use of the Convention troops, prisoners of war, and the Maryland troops on their march to South Carolina, to be applied in the department of
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the said commissary general of purchases; and for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 277.]
Another report of the Board of Treasury was read.
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. J[oseph] Jones,
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury and the Board of War forthwith take effectual measures for forwarding the troops of the continental army, now under marching orders, for the relief of Charlestown.
Resolved, That the sugars lately arrived in Philadelphia, consigned to Mr. Blaine, commissary general of purchases, on account of the United States, be sold for ready money, under the directions of the Committee of Commerce, and the monies arising from such sales be paid into the continental treasury.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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