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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 --MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1780
Mr. J[ohn] Morin Scott, a delegate from the State of New York, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of 24 February, from the governor of New York, and one, of 29 January, from Major General Lincoln, were read.
A letter, of 25 February, from J. Beatty, commissary general of prisoners, was read, requesting leave to resign:2
[Note 2: 2 The letter from the governor of New York is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 234; that of Lincoln is in No. 158, folio 313; that of Beatty in No. 78, III, folio 437.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial of Ebenezer S. Platt was read.3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial, dated March 6, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 100.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. J[ames] Lovell, one of the delegates for the State of Massachusetts Bay, on his application, for nine thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.
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That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. J[ames] Forbes, one of the delegates for the State of Maryland, on his application, for eight thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 115.]
The Board of Treasury, to whom was referred the letter of William Smith, of Baltimore, dated the 10th February, respecting the payment of interest due on loan office certificates, issued in the State of Georgia, report as their opinion,
That the said interest cannot be regularly discharged, except by the person who is possessed of the books of the office, and by whom alone they can be checked; and that as the government of the said State is now again in operation, and it cannot be doubted that the business of the loan office is revived and regularly carried on, the certificates ought to be presented there.
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 113.]
The committee, to whom was re-committed their report on the letters from the Board of War and Mr. Holker; and
The committee, to whom was referred the report from the Board of War, respecting Baron Steuben, delivered in their respective reports.
The committee to whom was referred the Letters from the Board of War of the 31st of January last, and the two Letters from Mr. Holker relative to the supplies necessary for the use of the Fleet of his most Christian Majesty, beg leave to report the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That the Board of War give the necessary directions for replacing out of the publick stores, as soon as a sufficient quantity can be spared, the flour borrowed of Mr. Holker, agent for the Marine of France in the year 1779, for the use of the United States.
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Maryland be requested to deliver to Mr. Holker or his agent on or before the first day of May next, out of the quantity of flour called for by the Resolution of the
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25th of February last, such a quantity as, with what hath been already purchased and now in the Possession of Mr. Holker's agent in Maryland, will compleat the quantity of 15,000 BarrelIs, for the Marine of France.
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania be requested to deliver to Mr. Holker or his agent, on or before the first day of May next, as a part of the supplies called for by the said Resolutions of the 25th of February last, 6,000 Barrels of flour, 600 Barrels of Pork and 200 barrels of Beef for the use of the Marine of France.
Resolved,That the Legislature of the State of New York be requested to deliver to Mr. Holker or his agent, on or before the first day of May next, out of the supplies called for from that state 1000 barrels of flour for the above purpose.
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Connecticut be requested to deliver to Mr. Holker or his agent on or before the first day of May next as part of the supplies called for from that State, 1000 Barrels of Pork and 1,555 barrels of flour for the above purpose.
Resolved, That the above supplies when delivered be charged to Mr. Holker in account with the United States, in Specie at the Prices fixed in the said Resolutions of the day of February last.
Resolved, That in Case the States of Maryland New York and Connecticut will furnish the above supplies for the Royal Marine of France over and above their Quota called for by the Resolution ofthat Congress will pay for the same in Specie or other money Equivalent in Value at the prices fixed in the said Resolutions of theof February last.
Resolved, That in case the said States will furnish the supplies requested of them as aforesaid over and above their Quotas called for by the Resolution of theDay of February, they shall be paid for the same in Specie or other money equivalent at the Prices fixed in the said Resolutions of theDay of February last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 147.]
The Committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of War of the twenty eight Feby. last, relative to the expenditures of Majr. Gen.l Steuben, having considered the same, humbly report the following state of facts
1ts. That Majr. Genl Steuben appears to have been an officer of high rank in the Prussian service where his military talents were
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improved by twenty years' experience and several active campaigns under his Prussian Majesty.
2d. That he was warmly recommended to the Comrs. of the United States at Paris by the Comte de Vergennes and the Comte D'St. Germain; that he embarked for America without any lucrative views as far as your Committee are enabled to judge from the whole tenor of his conduct, more particularly from his having made no contract of any kind with the Comrs. at Paris.
3d. That since his appointment to the inspectorship he has greatly improved the discipline of the Army of the United States and introduced many regulations and maneuvres equaly useful and new.
4th. That his conduct has received the highest approbation of Genl. Washington, a considerable share of whose confidence he appears to enjoy.
5th. That he has received no compensation from Congress for the expenses of his voyage or his other expenditures since his arrival except an advance of 500 dollars and his appointments as a Majr. General, both of which have fallen considerably short of his necessary expenditures.
6th. That his continuance in the army of the United States will probably be attended with important advantages in perfecting the discipline which he has already introduced.
Upon this state of facts the Committee beg leave to report the following resolution:
Whereas, Majr. Genl. Steuben hath rendered essential services to the cause of America by the introduction of several improvements in military discipline and by his assiduous attention to the duties of his department,
And, Whereas, Congress are desirous of expressing their sense of those services and of the disinterested manner in which they were tendered, as well as to replace the sums of money that he has expended while in their employ, and to make up the deficiencies of his pay,
Resolved, That one thousand pounds sterling in bills of exchange to be drawn on Mr. Jay agreeable to the resolution passed theday oflast be paid to Majr. Genl. Steuben for the purposes aforesd.
Robt. R. Livingston Chairman1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 509. It is endorsed by Charles Thomson: "Delivered in March 6, 1780. Postponed."]
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On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
Resolved, That the governors of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, be requested to use their utmost exertions in filling up their continental battalions, and that the men, as they can be from time to time collected, to the number of fifty, be forwarded to join the southern army; that, in the mean time, the said states be requested to raise a body of militia, to join and serve in the southern army until the first day of January next, unless sooner relieved by their respective quotas of continental troops, or otherwise discharged.
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed to order the quotas of provisions, &c., of the States of Virginia and Postponed. North Carolina (excepting long and short forage and tobacco) agreeable to the act of Congress of the 25 of Feby last, to be forwarded to the southern army in such manner as shall appear to him most expedient.
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be directed to report the proper means for supplying the military chest of the southern army.
Resolved, That Genl Du Portail be directed to repair to the State of South Carolina with all possible expedition, and join Postponed. the southern army, and act either with the main army or in the immediate defence of Charlestown, as shall appear to him to be most conducive to the public service.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 65.]
Sundry resolutions relative to the southern army being moved by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
The Committee of Foreign Affairs laid before Congress a letter, of 31 January, from H. Laurens;
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
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Treasury Office March 6 1780
The Board of Treasury beg leave to report
That three months past orders were given to John Mitchell Dy Quar Masr General to look out and provide apartments for the several offices of the Treasury, agreeable to the Ordinance of Congress of the 30th of July 1779. That MrMitchell has frequently reported to this Board that he could not provide such apartments. That on the 23d of Feby past, Mr Mitchell informed this Board that he had the offer of Mr. Pemberton's House, which on enquiry was found well calculated for apartments for the offices of the Treasury, seven different apartments at this time being absolutely necessary,
That this Board directed Mr. Mitchell to take the said House and make the best terms of rent he could, the following day Mr. Mitchell gave information to this Board, that Mr. Pemberton's terms of rent were three hundred pounds in gold, paid into his hands that day by twelve OClock, or Mr. Pemberton would rent it to a person who was waiting for the answer of this Board. That being so pressed in time, and being well assured of the difficulty in providing other apartments, with the expectation of reducing the rent, by letting the Cellars, Stables, Coach house and other out Buildings, this Board determined to take the house aforesaid, not having it in their power in point of time to report first to Congress. That they have actually paid the rent aforesaid in Bills of Exchange on Spain--estimating the Exchange between Gold and Paper money at fifty for one.
The Board wish to have the opinion of Congress on this measure--as they think the House may be readily rented on the terms aforesaid, should Congress disapprove.
At the same time the Board beg leave further to report,
That Mr. Gibson (the owner of the house now occupied by the Treasury Board) is waiting for the possession of this, his own house to bring his family to. And this Board have not apartments, nor can be furnished with them, as they believe but in the house of Mr. Pemberton aforesaid.
The Board of Treasury report, that, on information, they find large supplies for the army have lately been collected in the State of New Jersey, in consequence of application of the Commander in Chief, either by the magistrates or by persons appointed for that end by the legislature; the accounts arising on which can be more conveniently paid and
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settled under the direction of the State than in any other mode; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislature of New Jersey, to take measures for the payment of the accounts arising for supplies lately furnished to the army, in consequence of the application of the Commander in Chief, in the mode which they may judge most conducive to the relief of those who have furnished them; including the same in their accounts against the United States, to be subject to examination in like manner as other charges.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 117. It is endorsed by Thomson: "March 8, 1780, the contract mentioned disapproved."]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorials of the auditors of the army, &c.
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
A letter, of this day, from P. Schuyler was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folio 515.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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