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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, MARCH 10, 1780
A resolution of the general assembly of Pensylvania, dated 9th instant, was laid before Congress and read, in the following words:
"Resolved, That Messrs. Bryan, Blewer, Wynkoop, Hayes, Cunningham, Dunwoody, I. Harris, Jones, Rhoads, Bird, Montgomery and Proctor, be a committee, to confer with Congress, or a committee of Congress on the subject of the report of the Committee of this House on Ways and Means, as soon as possibly can be convenient."
Whereupon,
Ordered, That a committee of five be appointed, to confer with the committee of the general assembly aforesaid, on the subject mentioned in their resolution of the 9th:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [James] Forbes, and Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston.
A letter, of this day, from Timothy Pickering and T. Mifflin was read; whereupon, Congress came to the following resolutions:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 192, folio 13.]
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Whereas General Schuyler has declined the appointment made in consequence of the resolution of 20th January last:
Resolved, That the remaining commissioners be empowered to proceed in the business committed to them.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the said commissioners, and with them devise the best ways and means of carrying their commission into effect: the members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Allen] Jones, and Mr. [Philip] Schuyler.
Ordered, That the report on the quarter master's department be referred to the said committee.
Ordered, That General Mifflin's letter of 9th, with the letter enclosed, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A memorial from G. W. Beekman was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, dated March 9, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 274.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 8, from the Honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France was read, accompanied with an extract of a letter to him from the Count de Vergennes;2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Wharton) III, 540.]
Ordered, That the letter be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office. March 8 1780
The Board of Treasury having considered the Letter to them from the Board of War of the 7th.inst. setting forth "That by the returns of the Commissary Ceneral of Issues it appears that there is not now on hand Bread for ten days." Also informing this Board of an intended contract with Genl. Dickinson for Corn and Flower on condition of being supplied with two hundred and fifty or three hundred thousand dollars which sd. letter this Board beg leave to report to Congress.
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The Board in obedience to the order of Congress of the 6th inst: directing them to report the proper means for supplying the Military Chest in the southern department further report
That the third part of the monies arising from Taxes in the States of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina Re-committed. Carolina or such part thereof as may be necessary, be appropriated to the supply of the Military Chest in the Southern Department and paid by warrants in favor of the Dy Pay Masr. General in that department.
Ordered, That on the application of Jonathan Burrall, assistant to William Palfrey, paymaster general, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in his favour, for one hundred thousand dollars, on account of the said William Palfrey, for the use of his department; and for which he is to be accountable.
That on the application of the chairman of the Committee of the Post Office, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the postmaster general, for forty thousand dollars, for which sum he is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Howell, one of the auditors of accounts in the main army, for three thousand dollars, on account of his salary; and for which he is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. [Allen] Jones, one of the delegates for the State of North Carolina, on his application, for ten 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 127.]
Ordered, That so much of the report, as relates to the mode of supplying the military chest in the southern department, be re-committed.
For the better regulating the payment of arrears due, or to become due, to the soldiery, for cloathing, pursuant to the resolution of Congress, of 16 August last,
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Resolved, That the several regimental paymasters, at the end of each year, make out returns of the cloathing drawn by each soldier in the regiment to which he belongs, in the course thereof, and of the articles still due and to be paid for, at the value fixed by the clothier general.
That each of the said returns, certified by the sub or state clothier of the troops of the State to which the regiment may belong, and accompanied by a certified copy of the last muster roll, be delivered to the auditors of the army, or detachment of the army, in which the said regiment may be, who shall compare the returns with the muster roll, file them in their office, and report a warrant, in the usual form, for the sum necessary to discharge the arrears to the soldiers; and when any part of the regiment happens to be detached at that time, the sum necessary to pay them shall, when they return, be granted on a certificate of the inspector who musters the regiment, and settled in the same manner as the arrears due to those present.
That each regimental pay master, within two weeks after the receipt of the money, pay off the several companies, in Presence of the commanding officer of each and where so happens that he is the commanding officer of a Regiment, and take receipts from the soldiers respectively, to be witnessed by the Officer attending at the Transaction and produced as his vouchers to the auditors, at the next settlement of his regimental pay roll.
That the said auditors examine and settle the said account, and that the balance, if any, which may remain in the hands of the said paymaster, by reason of casualties in the regiment, after the taking of the muster roll aforesaid, be refunded, as directed by the resolutions of Congress of the 6 day of February, 1778.
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That arrears of cloathing due to prisoners, or the legal representatives of such as from time to time may have died in the service, be paid for in the manner directed in similar cases of arrears of pay by the said last recited resolutions.
The Board of Treasury, to whom was referred a letter of 26 January, from the Board of War, respecting the right of persons out of office to draw pay, rations and subsistance, while settling their accounts, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That no allowance of pay, rations or subsistance, can ought to be regularly made to any person after he ceases to be in office, and while settling his accounts unless the claim be supported by some Resolution of Congress which the party claiming ought to show.
That if any issuer deliver out public stores to such persons, without being authorized by a resolution of Congress, the same ought to be charged to his account.
That where particular cases have occured or shall occur in which such allowance might justly be made, the Circumstances thereof should be represented that Right may be done.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, beginning with the words "For the better regulating the payment of arrear," etc., is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 61. It is dated January 31, 1780.]
A motion being made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke,
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three.
The members chosen, Mr. [James] McLene, Mr. [Thomas] Burke and Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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