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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 --WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 17801
[Note 1: 1 From here the entries are in Thomas Edison's writing.]
The delegates from the State of Connecticut laid before Congress the credentials of their appointment, which were read as follows:
At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of the State of Connecticut in America holden at Hartford by Adjournment [SEAL] and special Order of tits Excellency the Governor; on the 6th. Day of JanuaryAnno Dom: 1780.
Resolved by this Assembly That the Honb.le Samuel Huntington, Oliver Elsworth, Eliphalet Dyer, Oliver Wolcott, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Huntington and Jesse Root Esquires be and they are hereby appointed DELEGATES to represent this State in the Congress of the United States of America until the first Monday of Novembr next; two of said Delegates to represent this State in Congress, and not more than four to attend at one Time on the Charge of this State, any RESOLVE of this Assembly to the contrary notwithstanding. And the said Delegates, or any two or more of them are hereby Invested with full power and Authority to Deliberate Councel and Resolve upon all matters that shall come before Congress, agreeable to the Articles of Confederation assented to and ratifyed by this State, or in the manner hitherto used untill said Articles of Confederation are compleated and
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have full efficacy from the assent and ratification of the other States. And the Delegates aforesaid or such of them as shall attend in Congress are directed from Time to Time to transmit authentick Copies of their Acts and Resolves to this Assembly.
A true Copy of Record
Examin.d
By George Wyllys Secrety1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut, Credentials of Delegates.]
A memorial from Mr. Thomas McKean was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of this day, from John Nicholson was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury, to take order.
A memorial from John Chevalier and Adrian Renaudet, executors of the estate of Peter Chevalier, deceased, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 McKean's memorial, dated March 1, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 167; Nicholson's letter is in No. 78, XVII, folio 107; Chevalier and Renaudet's memorial, dated February 28, 1780, in No. 41, II, folio 102.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Two letters, of February 4th and 14, from Philip Turner, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Medical Committee. A letter, of February 28th, from General Arnold was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 197.]
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office, Feby 29 1780
Sir
The Board reported on the case of the Chevalier de Vaudoré & Congress were pleased to negative that report. We have reexamined into the case and character of Monsieur Vaudoré and find that he is a very worthy man and has behaved himself with gallantry and activity on several occasions, particularly at the capture of Major Bearmore he was with Col: Armand, and entered the house wherein the Major was lodged the first after Colo. Armand. He has served entirely at his own expense by which he is reduced to absolute poverty & as he is a Lieut. in a French regiment, policy seems to
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demand that he should be treated as an officer, and that being really deserving, he should not go home disgusted.--We have therefore taken the liberty, at his pressing solicitation, to report to Congress in another form, and beg leave to request that it be
Resolved, That although Congress have been informed of the good conduct and character of the Chevalier de Vaudoré, who has served with reputation the last campaign, in the corps commanded by Colonel Armand, the circumstances of the army will not admit of his being promoted:
That he receive the pay and subsistence of a lieutenant of dragoons, during the time of his service in America, and the sum of 2000 dollars to enable him to return to France.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 203.]
Resolved, That Mr. [William] Floyd at his request be excused from any farther attendance on the Treasury, and that a member be appointed in his room:
The member chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews,
Resolved, That no member of Congress shall be considered as duly elected to the Board of Admiralty, Board of Treasury, or Board of War, unless he shall have seven votes at least.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Board of Admiralty, to whom was referred a letter from Captain Silas Talbot, and some time being spent thereon:
Resolved, That the farther consideration thereof be postponed.
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [William] Ellery,
Resolved, That any interest the United States may have in the capture of the brigantine Betsey, by the sloop Argo, Silas Talbot, commander, be relinquished to the said Captain Talbot, and the officers, seamen, and marines under his command at the time of the capture.
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Resolved that Congress will on Wednesday the fifteenth of March Instant proceed to elect a Commissioner or Commissioners for the Board of Treasury unless in the mean time all those already elected shall have signified their acceptance.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 63a. The endorsement shows that it was postponed.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.2
[Note 2: 2 Charles Thomson resumes the entries from this point.]
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