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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 --SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1780
A letter, of 24 January, from Mr. P. Schuyler, was read, enclosing a letter of December 7, from Colonel Guy Johnson at Niagara to Mr. Schuyler, and his answer.3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folio 489.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the Board of War; and the following paragraphs being severally debated, That for the ensuing campaign, the states be respectively required to furnish by drafts, or otherwise, on or before the first day of April next, their respective deficiencies of the number of 35,211 men, which Congress deem necessary for the service of the present year.
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That the quotas of the several states be as follows:
That all the men whose times of service do not expire before the last day of September next be counted towards the quotas of the states, to which they respectively belong, whether they compose the battalions in the line of the several states, those of the additional corps, including the guards, the artillery and horse, or the regimented artificers in the departments of the quarter master general and commissary general of military stores, who being credited to the States respectively, should be provided for, deemed and treated in the same manner with the men in the several state lines. And it is recommended to the several states to make like provision for the officers and men of the artillery, horse, additional corps, including the guards and regimented artificers, as may be made in pursuance of any resolution of Congress for the officers and men of their respective battalions, with such exceptions respecting the regimented artificers as have been made by Congress in their acts concerning them.
That the Commander in Chief be directed forthwith to transmit to the several states accurate returns of the troops now in service belonging, or credited to their respective quotas, to the intent that immediate measures be taken by
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the governments of the states to bring the men to be raised into the field with certainty and expedition.
When the question was about to be taken on the whole, a motion was made by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten, that the consideration thereof be postponed; and on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Forbes,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten, that it be resolved,
That the reasonable expence any State hath or may incur, by raising and having in the continental army, more than what shall hereafter appear to have been their just proportions of the troops actually serving in the said army from time to time, shall be allowed to such states and equitably adjusted in a final settlement of their accounts with the United States.
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A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten, to amend the motion, by striking out the words, "and having in the continental army." And also the words, "of the troops actually serving in the said army, from time to time;" and in lieu of the first words, inserting "men for the common defence under the authority of Congress, upon requisition of the Commander in Chief, or any officer commanding a division of the army at detached posts, or departments, or such as shall be by Congress adjudged to have been necessary, or prudently employed to the annoyance of the common enemy, or for the defence of the United States."
A motion was made by Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, seconded by Mr. [James] Forbes, that the motion and amendment be committed, and on the question for commitment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Forbes,
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So it passed in the negative.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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