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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 --PREFATORY NOTE
In the year 1780 the difficulties which beset the Continental Congress were almost overwhelming. On January 10, the Board of War reported that, in spite of the necessities of the troops, no clothing could be bought, because there was no money to pay for it; on March 10, the Board of Treasury said that the commissary general of issues had announced that there was not bread enough on hand to feed the army for ten days longer; on April 4, a committee reported: "There is no money in the Treasury and scarce any provisions in the public magazines." The currency had depreciated to such a point that forty dollars of continental money had not the purchasing power of one specie dollar. An alarming note from the Minister of France was read, on January 28, setting forth the impending danger of armed mediation between America and Great Britain, and that the mediator would be certain to insist upon the retention by Great Britain of such territory as she then held as the basis of peace. Nevertheless, on June 21, Congress was obliged to inform the states that they had failed to furnish any of the 25,000 men who, it had promised the King of France, would be in the field to coöperate with the forces which he was sending over. On August 3, came a representation from the general officers, in their own and the soldiers' behalf, that they were not paid, and that no attention was given to their demands. On May 12, Charleston fell; on August 16, news was received of Gates's defeat at Camden; on September 30, despatches arrived announcing Arnold's treason.
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Nevertheless, the Congress struggled on, meeting the disasters which surrounded it as best it could. On March 18, it agreed to recommend to the states to call in the old continental bills of credit, to be destroyed and replaced by a new currency, issued on the funds of the individual states pledged by the faith of the United States; the following month it despatched a committee to headquarters, to concert with the Commander in Chief measures for improving the condition of the army. The new bank was recognized June 22, and made an auxiliary to continental financial arrangements; on July 15, the quartermaster's department was reorganized; September 25, the inspecting and mustering department; September 30, the general hospital. The dereliction of the states in furnishing their quotas was brought to their attention by a forcible appeal, on April 24; the contending parties in the Vermont controversy were afforded a new opportunity to present their claims, by the resolution of June 9; the ratification of the Articles of Confederation was brought nearer, by the resolution of September 6, urging Virginia and Maryland to conclude an agreement on the subject of the western lands, that question being the obstacle to Maryland's acceptance of the confederation.
Efforts to obtain for the United States recognition in the family of nations were continued. On June 20, John Adams was commissioned to negotiate a loan in Holland; on December 29, to make a treaty of amity and commerce with that country. In making overtures for an alliance with Spain, John Jay was instructed, October 4 and 17, to insist upon the right of free navigation of the Mississippi River by Americans, and out of this important action grew the acquisition of Louisiana twenty years later. On December 19, Dana was commissioned to open friendly relations with Russia. John Adams was instructed, October 18, that the only condition upon which a truce with Great Britain could
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be accepted was the recognition of the absolute independence of the United States. On October 8 occurred the victory at King's Mountain. Disordered as our affairs were, and even desperate in some directions, they were not hopeless. It became more apparent, the longer the struggle lasted, that the outcome would be independence, and the tone of Congress during the year shows that no other prospect was entertained by that body.
The most voluminous record of the Continental Congress is that for the year 1779. There is a slight diminution in the extent of the papers pertaining to 1780, and after that year there is a steady decline. The volumes following the present issue will not, therefore, be as bulky as the issues of the past few years have been.
The plan of editing which my predecessor, Mr. Worthington Chauncey Ford, elaborated has been followed carefully, because it would be intolerable to have a change made after half the volumes have been issued, and because it is manifestly the best system which could be devised for the purpose of presenting the journals clearly. Committee and Board reports are inserted; the location of letters, petitions, memorials and other minor papers is given, but, as it would swell the publication beyond all reason if they were printed, their text is omitted.
Mr. Ford kindly left for my use the notes which he had gathered, and he has cheerfully assisted me with his advice as the work has progressed.
Miss Emily B. Mitchell, an assistant in the Division, has coöperated, in compiling the volumes, with intelligence and skill.
Gaillard Hunt,
Chief of Division of Manuscripts, Editor
Herbert Putnam
Librarian of Congress, April 26, 1910
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