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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 --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1780
On motion of Mr. [William] Ellery, seconded by Mr. [John] Penn,
Resolved, That fifty copies of the trial of Major General Arnold be printed at public expence.
A letter from Major General Lincoln, of January 8th, 1780, addressed to the committee for corresponding with the commanding officer in the southern department, was read.
A petition from sundry officers in the hospital department was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This petition, dated February 14, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 35.]
A letter, of 26th January, from Colonel Bland, was read. A letter, of January 13th, from the President of the Council of Massachusetts Bay, with sundry papers enclosed, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, I, folio 420.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of five.
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston and Mr. [William] Ellery.
A memorial from the clerks of the Treasury, Board of War, and Secretary's office, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial, dated February 14, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 94.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report of the Board of War on the letter from sundry officers in the hospital department, relative to cloathing, was read.
War Office, Feb 14. 1780
Sir,
The Board have considered the letter from sundry Officers in the Hospital department respecting clothing referred to them by Congress, and have in consequence thereof, inquired into the quantity of clothing
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belonging to the State Store of Pennsylvania, which they find trifling in comparison with the wants of the Staff; and a great part of it, consists of remnants unfit for Officers--
The Board will endeavor to comply with the desires of the Gentlemen of the staff in general, and will undertake to furnish any particular department which Congress may think proper to discriminate from the rest--provided they are supplied with the means for that purpose. The sum necessary for clothing the whole staff, will be about Six millions of dollars according to a rough calculation they have made. Besides these there are many officers in the Extra Corps not supplied by any particular State, who stand in equal need of clothing. A provision for them will greatly augment the sum.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 149.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on General Arnold's accounts; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the said committee on their request, be discharged, and that the said accounts be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Ordered, That to morrow, immediately after reading the Journal, the report of the committee for estimating supplies be taken into consideration.
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Allen] Jones, relative to appointing a resident, instead of a secretary to the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles, &c.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of John Matthews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 55.]
Ordered, That Saturday next be assigned for the consideration thereof.
Two letters from the council of Massachusetts Bay, dated July 31st, and September 3d, 1778, with sundry papers enclosed, were laid before Congress:
Ordered, They be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [John] Penn, in the words following,
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"Resolved, That a copy of the letters from the State of Georgia, as far as they relate to General McIntosh, be transmitted to that officer, and that he be informed Congress deem it inexpedient to employ him at present in the southern army, and therefore his services in that department be dispensed with, until the further order of Congress."
Upon which, it was moved by Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews, to strike out the words, "until the further order of Congress", and in lieu thereof, to insert "and that he be directed to repair to head quarters."
On the question, shall the words moved to be struck out, stand,
The yeas and nays were required by Mr. [John] Mathews,
{table}
So it passed in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the motion,
The yeas and nays were required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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{table}
So it was,
Resolved, That a copy of the letters from the State of Georgia, as far as they relate to General Mcintosh, be transmitted to that officer, and that he be informed Congress deem it inexpedient to employ him at present in the southern army, and therefore, that his services in that department be dispensed with, until the further order of Congress.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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