| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1780
A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read, respecting the appointment of Mr. S. Hodgdon, deputy commissary general of military stores: 2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 59.]
Page 143 | Page image
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, to report.
A letter, of the 8, from W. Paca, was read, signifying his acceptance of the office of judge of the Court of Appeals.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, III, folio 23.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, one of the delegates for the State of North Carolina, on his application, for ten thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. N[athaniel] Folsom, one of the delegates for the State of New Hampshire, on his application, for five thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.
That on the application of the Medical Committee, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Jonathan Potts, purveyor general in the middle district, for sixty thousand dollars, to defray the necessary expences of the department; and for which sum he is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 79.]
The committee for estimating supplies brought in a report, which was read:
The Committee appointed to consider of proper salaries for the purchasing Commissaries and for regulating the department of Comr. and Qr. Master Genl, humbly submit the following resolutions which require more immediate dispatch, and pray leave to sit again.
Whereas, the difficulty of procuring supplies for the Army without the interposition of the Legislatures of the several States renders it absolutely necessary at present to call upon such of them as are in its vicinity for their aid, without which it will be impossible to keep the Troops in the field or to reduce the prices of the articles furnished to the publick to that equality which common justice to those who have hitherto procured them at the lowest rate requires.
Page 144 | Page image
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to confer with the Legislatures.
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Virginia be requested to furnish to the army of the United States on or before the first day of April next twenty five thousand barrels of flour and, twenty thousand barrels of Indian Corn, and transport them to such places within the said State as the Comy Genl shall direct.
Resolved, That a similar requisition be made from the State of Maryland, for five thousand barrels of flour in addition to the fifteen thousand barrels before required of them, and five thousand barrels Indian Corn.
Resolved, That a like quantity fifty thousand barrels of flour or wheat in proportion be requested from the state of Pennsylvania.
Resolved, That ten thousand barrels of flour or wheat in proportion heretofore requested from the State of Delaware, by the committee of Congress be furnished as soon as may be.
Resolved, That eight thousand barrels of flour be requested from the state of New Jersey part of which to be furnished as soon as possible to answer the immediate demands of the army.
Resolved, that eight thousand barrels of flour be requested from the State of Connecticut.
And whereas Congress have recommended to the several States in the union the regulation of all articles the growth of the country at twenty for one upon the price given in the year Postponed 1774, which regulation they confide will be faithfully executed, and whereas they are willing to afford the highest encouragement to such States as comply with the above Resolves, Therefore--
Resolved, That every State furnishing the articles above required shall have credit therefor on their quota of taxes at the rate of twenty per cent above the regulated prices and in like manner for all expences of transportation thereon
Resolved that if by any unforseen means the said regulation should not be carried into effect, the States furnishing the articles above required at the lowest prices shall have credit on their Postponed quota of taxes, for the average prices at which the same shall have been furnished by other States and the States demanding the highest price shall be charged with such excess beyond the average price.
Page 145 | Page image
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to confer with His Excellency the President and Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania about convening the Legislature of this State as soon as possible in order to their carrying into execution the above resolves.
Resolved, That letters be written to the several States mentioned in the above resolutions requesting them immediately to proceed thereon.
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to proceed to Mount Holly where the Legislature of the State of New Jersey Postponed. are now convened, to confer with them about the most speedy and effectual means of carrying the above resolutions so far as it affects that State into execution.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 125. It is endorsed by Thomson: "Part passed." In this connection the following motion, in the writing of Thomas Burke and without date, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 129.
That a generous ["reasonable" is also written in another hand] price be allowed and credited to the respective states for all such supplies as they shall hereafter furnish for the army, before the first day of February next, to be hereafter averaged and adjusted in such a manner as that equal justice be done to each of the United States.
The following, in the writing of Roger Sherman, is on folio 133:
Whereas, it is necessary that the several States called upon to furnish supplies for the army should be so credited therefor as that impartial equal justice may take place.
And whereas, some flour and other articles of provision are immediately wanted
Resolved, That all articles of provisions that shall be furnished for the use of the army before the first day of February next by any of the States, shall be credited towards their respective quotas of the monies ordered to be raised for the United States, at ten per cent. above the prices recommended by Congress to be limited by laws of the several States to take effect from that time. And all supplies that shall be furnished after said first day of February shall be credited to said Sates at the said limited prices.
And the accounts shall be finally compared and adjusted so as to do equity to all the States, with respect to the supplies they shall have furnished for the United States.
In the same hand on folio 135 is the following:
Resolved, That all the States shall be called upon for their quotas of such supplies for carrying on the war as they can best furnish, for which proportionate prices will be allowed.
And the accounts shall be finally compared and adjusted so as to do justice equity to all the states with respect to the supplies they shall have furnished for the United States.]
Page 146 | Page image
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for the consideration thereof.
The Board of War brought in a farther report on the subject of recruiting the army;
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
Congress resumed the consideration of the motion made on Saturday by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, and the amendment moved thereto by Mr. [Thomas] Burke. And on the question, shall the words moved to be struck out stand? the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Forbes,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
An amendment was moved by Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, seconded by Mr. Holton, [William] Ellery, to add the words,
Page 147 | Page image
"Which number shall be estimated by the particular circumstances of the State at the time such troops are levied."
And on the question to agree to that amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
When the question was about to be put on the main question, the previous question was moved by Mr. [Thomas] McKean, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Burke; on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
{table}
Page 148 | Page image
So it passed in the negative,
On the question, to agree to the main question; the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
{table}
Page 149 | Page image
So it was
Resolved, That the reasonable expence any State hath incurred, or may incur, by raising and having in the continental army more than what shall hereafter appear to have been their just proportion 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.
The order of the day was called for, to take a vote upon the report of the Board of War, which was debated by paragraphs. And on the question to agree to the whole, as amended, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
{table}
Page 150 | Page image
So it was
Resolved,1 That for the ensuing campaign the states be respectively required to furnish, by draughts or otherwise, on or before the first day of April next, their respective deficiencies of the number of 35,211 men, exclusive of commissioned officers, which Congress deem necessary for the service of the present year:
[Note 1: 1 The entries for the balance of this day are in the hand of George Bond.]
That the quotas of the several states be as follows:
That all the men whose times of service do not expire before the last date 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
Page 151 | Page image
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 the governments of the states, to bring the men to be raised into the field, with certainty and expedition.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |