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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, JANUARY 24, 1780
A letter from the honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, was read, informing, that he has appointed Monsieur D'Anmour consul of France for the State of North Carolina, and inclosing his commission for that purpose.3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton) III, 468.]
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Resolved, That Congress approve the same: that the commission be registered, and notice given to the governor of North Carolina.
A letter, of 18, from General Washington, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folio 339.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War; that the Board confer thereon with Major General Baron Steuben, and report to Congress.
A letter, of 18, from Major General Greene, quarter master general, was read, enclosing sundry papers relative to Mr. Moore:2
[Note 2: 2 The papers are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folios 105--122.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Ezra] L'Hommedieu, Mr. [Nathaniel] Folsom, and Mr. [James] McLene.A memorial of Jacob Wright was read:
Ordered, That it be transmitted to the supreme executive council of Pensylvania, for them to take such order thereon as they shall judge proper.
Two letters from Colonel J. Allan, one dated 10, the other 15 November last, were read:3
[Note 3: 3 Allen's letter of November 10 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 341; that of November 15 on folio 337.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
Congress being informed of great abuses in the quarter master's department, at Martinsburg, in Virginia;
Resolved, That the Board of War be empowered to appoint suitable persons to enquire into the said abuses, and to make the proper retrenchments and reformations.
Congress proceeded to the consideration of the reports of the committee on the letter of 18 November last, from General Washington, when a motion was made by Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, seconded by Mr. [John] Penn, that those parts on
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which Congress have acted, together with two resolutions, one for abolishing all state, county and town bounties to recruits for the army, and the other recommending the repeal of all laws made in pursuance of the resolution of 14 April, 1777, be referred to the Board of War.
A division was called for, and on the question for referring those resolutions which Congress had acted on, viz;1
[Note 1: 1 The entries for the rest of this day are in the writing of George Bond.]
Resolved, That for the ensuing campaign, the several states be required to furnish by draughts, or otherwise, on or before the first day of April next, the deficiency of their respective quotas of 80 Battalions of infantry as apportioned by a resolution of Congress, of the 9th of March, 1779.
That the non commissioned officers and soldiers that are, or may be inlisted in the several military corps of the army, not included in the said 80 Battalions, be considered as part of the said quotas, and credited to the states, to which such officers and soldiers, respectively, do or may belong.
That it be recommended to each State to make like provision for officers and for the soldiers enlisted for the war, in the said corps, who shall continue in service until the establishment of peace, and belong to the said State, as may be made for other officers and soldiers of its battalions, pursuant to a resolution of Congress, of the 17th of August last.
That in addition to the recruits to be furnished, by the first day of April next, each State be required to furnish by draughts, or otherwise, men to supply the place of such of their troops whose time of service will expire in April, June and September next, and that the men so supplied, join the army before the times of service of the said troops shall respectively expire, and continue in service until the first of January, 1781.
That during the continuance of the war, each State be annually informed by Congress, in the month of October, of
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the deficiency of its quota of troops, and called upon tofurnish by draught, or otherwise, men for its complement, or forsuch part thereof as Congress may from time to time judgenecessary.
That the men to be so furnished join the army by the first day of January, in each year, and serve until the first of January in the next succeeding year, unless sooner discharged.
That the Commander in Chief, or commanding officer of the respective departments, be authorised and directed to appoint an officer, or officers in each battalion, to inlist such of the recruits, as may be willing to engage for the war, allowing two hundred dollars to every soldier, who may so inlist, and ten dollars to the officer inlisting them.
That the Commander in Chief be directed on, or before, the first of October, annually, to transmit to Congress, a return of the army, specifying the number of troops from each State, and the recruits necessary to compleat its quota.
That it be earnestly recommended to the several States to abolish all State, County and Town bounties to recruits for the Continental army.
And whereas on the 14th of April 1777 Congress passed the following resolution, "That it be recommended to the Legislatures of each of the United States to enact laws, exempting from actual service any two of the militia who shall within the time limited by such laws furnish one able bodied recruit to serve in any battalion of the continental army for the term of three years or during the present war; such exemption to continue during the term for which the recruit shall inlist; every such recruit to be entitled to the Continental bounty and all other allowances."
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to repeal their laws made in pursuance of the resolution aforesaid.
Ordered, That the letter of 18th Novr last from Genl Washington and the abstract of the army enclosed therein be referred to the Board of War, who are directed forthwith to report so Congress a list of deficiences of troops to be furnished by the first of April next and at
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other periods during the next campaign, by the several States agreeably to the foregoing resolutions.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions, in the writing of Charles Thomson, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 111.]
The yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That the other two resolutions be also referred to the Board of War, together with the General's letters of the 18th of November, and 10 and 11 of December last.
Ordered, That the Board report thereon, as soon as possible.
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for considering the remainder of the report of the committee, on the General's letter of the 18th November.
A report of the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on John Lawrence, Esquire, commissioner of the continental loan office, for the State of
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Connecticut, in favor of Ephraim Blaine, Esquire, commissary general of purchases, or his order, for one million of dollars, for the use of his department, and for which the said commissary general is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on Gerardus Bancker, Esquire, treasurer of the State of New York, in favor of Ephraim Blaine, Esquire, commissary general of purchases, for one hundred and eighty three thousand dollars, being part of the monies raised in the said State, for the use of the United States; for which sum the said commissary general is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favor of Mr. George Plater, one of the delegates for the State of Maryland, on his application, for six thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 51.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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