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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 --FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1780
Mr. [Ezra] L'Hommedieu, one of the delegates from the State of New York, laid before Congress the resolutions of the senate and assembly of that State, relative to the appointment of delegates, which were read, as follows:
State of New York
In Senate October 15th. 1779
Resolved that this Senate do concur with the honble the House of Assembly in their Resolution on the Subject of "appointing a Delegate from this State in General Congress for the present year in the stead of the honble John Jay Esqr appointed Minister from the United States to the Court of Madrid."
Resolved that this Senate do concur with the honble the house of Assembly "that a special Occasion does now exist on which the Chancellor and Judges of the Supreme Court may be elected Delegates to the General Congress: and that of the Chancellor and Judges of the Supreme Court one should on this Occasion be elected a Delegate to continue in Office until the first Day of April next."
Resolved (if the honble the House of Assembly concur herein) that if any Question be put in Congress when only one of the Delegates of this State shall be present, the Vote of such Delegate on the Question shall be the Vote of this State: Provided always that the Attendance of three of the said Delegates as required by the former Resolutions of the Senate and Assembly, be considered in full force.
Ordered that Mr. Van Schaick carry a Copy of the aforegoing Resolutions to the honble the House of Assembly.
October 18th.
A Message from the honble the House of Assembly (by Mr. Pell and Mr. Purdy) was received; informing "that they concur with this Senate in the Resolution of the 15th instant authorizing any one of the Delegates of this State, present in Congress, when a Question shall be put, to give the Vote of this State."
Resolved that the honble Philip Schuyler Esquire be and hereby is declared duly nominated and appointed a Delegate from this State in the Congress of the United States of America, in the stead of the honble John Jay Esquire, for the present year.
Resolved that the honble Robert R. Livingston Esquire, Chancellor of this State, be and hereby is declared duly nominated and
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appointed a Delegate, on the present special Occasion, from this State in the Congress of the United States of America; to continue in his said Office of Delegate until the first Day of April next.
By Order of the Senate.
Pierre Van Cortlandt Presdt
Attest:
Robt Brenson Clerk.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New York, Credentials of Delegates.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee for estimating supplies, and the same having been debated by paragraphs and amended, the following resolutions were agreed to, viz.
Resolved, That the several states be called on forthwith to procure their respective quotas of supplies for the ensuing campaign, as follows, to wit:
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Resolved, That pork be received from any State in lieu of beef, in quantities proportioned to the prices assigned to each.
Resolved, That whiskey continental rum, peach, apple or other brandy or other spirit suitable for the army, be received from every state required to furnish rum in lieu of West India rum, in quantities proportion to the prices assigned to each.
Resolved, That the articles aforesaid, be collected and deposited, or delivered, at the risque of the respective states, in such places within each State respectively, as the Commander in Chief shall judge most convenient, except tobacco, which is to be stored under the direction of the Board of Admiralty Commercial Committee.
Provided, That all such of the said articles as shall be destroyed or taken by the enemy, after being deposited as aforesaid, or which shall be damaged by long keeping, shah be paid for by the United States.
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Resolved, That the respective states be credited for allsuch commodities, being of good and sufficient quality, as shall be received for the use of the United States, by persons appointed to inspect the same, at the prices following, to wit:
Merchantable flour, per hundred weight gross, viz. 112 lb. 4½ dollars;
Beef, best grass fed, which shall be delivered between the first of July and the first of December, 5½ dollars per net hundred weight;
Beef, best stall fed, which shall be delivered in the month of December and January, 6½ dollars per net hundred weight; and for all that shall be delivered after the month first of January, and before the first of July, 7 8 dollars per net hundred weight;
Green Fresh pork, well fatted with corn or rice, 7 dollars per net hundred weight;
Salted barreled pork per barrel, well farted as aforesaid, containing 220 pounds net, 22 dollars;
Salted barreled beef per barrel, containing 240 pounds net, 17½ dollars;
Clean well dried Indian corn per bushel, three fourths of a dollar;
Oats, well cleaned, half a dollar per bushel;
Rye, well cleaned, per bushel, one dollar;
White beans and pease per bushel, one dollar and an half;
Wheat, weighing 60 pounds one dollar and an half;
Spelts, two thirds of half a dollar per bushel;
Buckwheat per bushel, two thirds three-fifths of a dollar;
Rough rice, three-fourths of a dollar per bushel;
Merchantable rice, three dollars per hundred weight;
Best upland first crop hay per ton, fifteen dollars. Best second crop per ten, eleven dollars; other hay, of inferior quality, in proportion.
Best Indian corn blades per ton, fifteen dollars;
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Good inspected tobacco per hundred net five six dollars;
Best Coper Indigo per pound and other Indigo in proportion.
West India rum, good proof, one and one third dollar and two-thirds per gallon;
Best alum or rock salt per bushel, three dollars; and other salt in proportion;
[Continental rum, good proof, one dollar; and other spirits, good proof, suitable for the army, at prices in the usual proportions to the price of rye.]
Resolved, That all the accounts between these states, relating to their quotas of the supplies aforesaid, shall be kept and finally settled in Spanish milled dollars, and the balances finally paid in the same specie.
Resolved, That if it shall appear, on an adjustment of the quotas of the several states, that any State has supplied more than its due proportion in value, every such State shall be paid the value of the surplus, at the rates aforesaid, in specie, with interest at six per centum per annum, from the time such surplus shall have been deposited as above directed; and every State which shall have failed to supply its due proportion, shall be charged with the deficiency, at the rates aforesaid, and the like interest thereon, from the time that the same ought to have been deposited.
Resolved. That when any state shall furnish the supplies aforesaid in greater quantities than are herein specified, or shall furnish any other supplies for the use of the United States, the same shall be credited at the prices aforesaid, or, when the prices are not herein specified, at prices in proportion to the price herein specified, at prices in proportion to the price herein allowed for the several articles of supply called for.
Resolved, That the several states cause monthly returns to be made to the Board of War of all such commodities as
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shall be procured for the use of the United States; specifyingthe quantities issued in each preceding month.
Resolved, That when any State shall have taken the necessary measures for furnishing its quota of the said supplies, and shall have given information thereof to Congress, such State be authorized to carry into effect the resolution of the 17th of December last, for discontinuing purchases of such supplies, by the commissaries or quarter masters within the same.
Resolved, That such state as shall furnish the supplies required by the resolutions aforesaid the several states be excused from paying into the treasury two thirds of the monies which they were called on to raise monthly, for the use of the United States, by the resolution of the sixth of October, 1779.
[Resolved, That it be recommended to the states to furnish such parts of their quotas of meat, in beef cattle, as the commissaries shall from time to time have occasion for, to supply the army with fresh beef through the different seasons of the year.
That only such quantities of beef and pork be salted, to be delivered in barrels, as shall be requested by the commissary general:
That the hides and tallow of the beef cattle, delivered on foot, shall be received and credited at the same price as the beef.
That the provisions furnished by authority of any State, for the use of the army, since the first day of December last, may be credited as part of the quota of supplies assigned to such State; at the prices fixed in the foregoing resolutions, if such State desire it.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, excepting the portions in brackets, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folios 111--120.]
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On the question to agree to the whole of the foregoing resolutions, as amended,
The yeas and nays were required by Mr. [William] Ellery,
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Resolved in the affirmative.
A letter, of the 17, from the Board of War, relative to an advance of money to Colonel B. Flower, commissary general of military stores, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial from the auditors of the army, and one from commissioners of the chambers of accounts, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The memorial of the auditors of the army, dated February 21, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 51; that of the Commissioners of the Chamber of Accounts, dated February 16, 1780, in No. 41, II, folio 98.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of four.
On motion of Mr. McKean, seconded by Mr. Holten,
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Resolved, That a committee of four be appointed to take into consideration the present salaries of the officers and clerks in the respective boards established by Congress, and to report such additional allowances to each, as shall be adequate to their necessary expences for the current year.
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [Thomas] McKean and Mr. [John] Mathews.
Ordered, That the memorial from the auditors of the auditors of the army, the commissioners of the chambers of accounts, and the clerks of the Treasury, Board of War, and Secretary's office of Congress, be referred to the above committee.
On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin,
Resolved, That two members be added to the committee for apportioning to the states their quotas of the bills of credit emitted by Congress, in the room of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, who are absent.
The members chosen, Mr. [Ezra] L'Hommedieu and Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of Treasury, to whom was referred the memorial from the several clerks in the different offices under Congress; Whereupon,
Ordered, That warrants issue on the treasurer, in favor of William Ramsey, John Clarkson and Pat. Ferrall, clerks in the Treasury Office, for three thousand dollars each, for which they are respectively to be accountable.
That warrants issue on the treasurer, in favor of Joseph Scudder, Chandler D. Fowke, G. Aertsen, Junior, and J. Stevenson, clerks in the War office, for three thousand dollars, each, for which they are respectively to be accountable.
That warrants issue on the treasurer, in favor of T. Edison, Charles Morse, John M. Jackson and Aaron D.
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Woodruff, clerks in the Secretary's office of Congress, for three thousand dollars each, for which they are respectively to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 103.]
A letter, of the 13th, from Colonel Armand was read, enclosing one from sundry officers of his corps.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 408.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War, and that they take order on the subject of cloathing.
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] McKean, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews,
Resolved, That the following be a preamble to the resolve of the 23d, relative to incorporating the remains of the legion of the late Count Pulaski with the corps of Colonel Armand, viz. "Colonel Armand, Marquis de la Rouerie, having applied for promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the service of the United States: and Congress (tho conscious of his merit and that he has upon all occasions exhibited undoubted and distinguished proofs of his zeal, activity, vigilance, intelligence and bravery: and in the last campaign particularly rendered very valuable services), not thinking it expedient, under the present circumstances of the army, to comply with his request, as it would too much interfere with the arrangements lately established, and be injurious to the rights of other colonels who have been longer in service than Colonel Armand, and being desirous as well to promote the public interest, as to testify their good opinion of Colonel Armand by affording him an opportunity of continuing in the service of the United States."
A letter, of the 17th, from Jacob Morris was read, enclosing one from D. Sproat, commissary general of naval prisoners at New York:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
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A petition from sundry express riders, and one from Jeduthan Baldwin, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 22d, from T. Mitchell, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury, to take order.
A report from the Board of Admiralty, respecting Captain Talbot, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred back to the Board to take order.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Medical Committee on the letter from the governor of South Carolina; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Doctor David Oliphant, director general of the hospitals in the State of South Carolina, be and he is hereby directed to make monthly returns to the Medical Committee, agreeable to the resolutions of Congress of the 7th of April, 1777; and that he cause a duplicate thereof to be delivered monthly to the commanding officer, for the time being, in the southern army; and that the director of the general hospitals to the army of the United States be furnished with a copy of this resolution.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Holten, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 381.]
The report of the committee on the letter of January 13, from the president of the council of Massachusetts Bay, was read:
Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for the consideration of the said report.
Congress took into consideration the motion made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, viz.
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to confer with Major General Baron Steuben, respecting the expences of himself and family and report thereon.
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On the question to agree to the foregoing resolution, the yeas and nays were required by Mr. [William] Ellery,
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So it passed in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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