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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 --THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1780
A letter from Mr. Jay, dated St. Pierre, Martinico, December 22d; also one from Captain Seth Harding, of the Confederacy, of December 30th, 1779, were read.2
[Note 2: 2 Harding's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XI, folio 487; Jay's letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton) III, 435.]
The committee, to whom was referred the motion respecting the payment of the principal and interest of loan office certificates, delivered in a report.
Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress proceeded to the farther consideration of the report of the committee for estimating supplies, and in debating the following paragraph, viz;
"Merchantable flour per hundred weight gross viz. 112 lb four and an half dollars," a motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [William] Ellery, to strike out the words, "four and an half dollars," and in lieu thereof, insert "four dollars and one fifth."
On the question, shall the words moved to be struck out, stand,
The yeas and nays were required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
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So it passed in the affirmative.
"Beef best grass fed, which shall be delivered between the first of July and first of December, five and an half dollars net hundred wt."
It was moved by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, to strike out "five and an half dollars," and in lieu thereof, to insert "6¼."
On the question, shall the words moved to be struck out, stand,
The yeas and nays were required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
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So it passed in the affirmative.
Treasury Office Feby 17, 1780
Many persons having demands on the Officers in the Staff Departments of the Army who intend on the receipt of the monies due to invest them in the Funds:
The Board of Treasury are of opinion that it will answer a beneficial purpose to authorize the Commissioners of the several Continental Loan Offices to issue Certificates for ascertained debts in the names of the persons to whom the debts are payable upon application of the Principals of the Departments of the Quarter Master and Commissary General, the balances being authentically certified to them; and that the Certificates bear date as of the time the several debts became due, provided none be dated earlier than the first of January 1780.
The Board request the sense of Congress on this matter.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 97. It was disapproved in Congress on this day, as the endorsement shows.]
At a Board of War Feb: 14. 1780
Present Col Pickering Mr. Peters, Col Grayson
The Board having considered the letter of Lt. Col White referred to them by Congress beg leave to report, That by resolution of the 4th. of Feby. last it was directed, "That the Commander in Chief be directed to proceed in such manner as he shall judge expedient to complete the arrangement of the army and to settle the relative rank of Officers under the degree of Brigadier, agreeably to the principles established by an act of Congress of the 24th day of November
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1778, and that the Board of War furnish him with copies of the proceedings of the late Committee of arrangement."
By this resolution it appears that the Commander in Chief was vested with full powers to settle and determine all matters not before adjusted with respect to the arrangement of the army, comprehending under this description as well the artillery and horse as the infantry. With respect to the latter it was expressly established as a rule "that no more Colonels be appointed in the infantry, but where any such commission is, or shall become vacant, the Battalion shall be commanded by a Lieut: Col.o who shall be allowed the same pay as is now granted to a Col.o of infantry, and shall rise in promotion from that to the rank of Brigadier and such Battalion shall have only two field officers viz. a Lieut. Col.o and a Major, but it shall have an additional Captain." This rule was in full force as to the infantry at the time of passing the resolve of the 24th. Nov.r, referred to in the General's authority to complete the arrangement of the army, and from the complexion of that resolve throughout, it appears that the cavalry and artillery were meant to be comprehended in every general principle of rank settled for the army. The Commander in Chief has in consequence of the power vested in him proceeded under this opinion in which we perfectly coincide, as both the uniformity of discipline and peace of the army demand that there should be distinctions in this respect. Lt: Colo. White in person produced to us the Commander in Chief's certificate of his rank as Lieut: Colo. Commandant, and we directed the commission to be filled up as a matter of course. Having thus explained ourselves on the subject we beg leave to recommend that it be resolved That in the opinion of Congress the same general principles of rank were intended to pervade the whole army and that the promotions of the artillery and horse be determined by the rules executed with regard to the infantry that on the death, removal resignation of Colonels of the artillery and horse the regiments be commanded by Lieutenant Colonels Commandant and that no promotions to the rank of Colonel either in the artillery or cavalry be made on vacancies happening after the 27th. of May, 1778. 1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 157. It is endorsed: "February 17, 1780, passed."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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