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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, MARCH 16, 1780
A letter, of 12 January last, from Thomas Waring, Senior, was read, declining the office of a commissioner of the Board of Admiralty, to which he was elected.
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A letter, of 6, from J. Laurance, judge advocate, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury. A letter, of 6 and 8, from General Washington, was read, enclosing a copy of a letter of 6, from General Greene, and of one of 24 February, from Clement Biddle; Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 Waring's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 163; that of Laurance in No. 78, XIV, folio 305; that of Washington, of the 6th and 8th, is in No. 152, VIII, folio 427, and is printed in part in the Writings of Washington (Ford), VIII, 213.]
Congress took into consideration the draught of a letter of [to] Major General Greene, reported by the committee, to whom his letters were referred, and the same being debated by paragraphs, was agreed to.
Ordered, That the letter from the General, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office March 16, 1780
Sir,
The Baron de Steuben to whom Congress by a Resolution of the 7th inst: advanced five hundred and forty six Louis d'ors in Bills of Exchange, applies to this Board to know the rate of Exchange at which they are to be charged: for as he is under the necessity of selling these Bills immediately, to purchase necessaries for the ensuing campaign, he finds on Enquiry, he can not get for the Bills but half the sum in currency, he could, if he was furnished with the specie: this being the case, the disadvantage resulting to him under these circumstances is too great, unless Congress shall be pleased to fix the Rate of Exchange at the present Course. If that should be declined, he then desires that in lieu of the Bills, to be delivered him in advance, he may have their equivalent in current dollars occasionally, as he may want them; and for the present the sum of 50,000 dollars
The Board are of opinion, this last proposal will be the most equitable under the present fluctuating State of Bills of Exchange and therefore beg leave to report
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Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Major General Baron Steuben, for fifty thousand dollars, for which he is to be accountable; and that the Board of Treasury forbear carrying into execution that part of the resolution of Congress, of the 7 instant, which directs the sum of five hundred and forty six louis d'or in bills of exchange to be advanced to Baron Steuben,1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 137.]
That on the application of Jonathan Burral, on account of William Palfrey, paymaster general, warrants for the following sums issue in his favour, to be transmitted to Joseph Clay, deputy paymaster general in the southern department, for the use of the military chest there, and for which the deputy paymaster general is to be accountable, viz.
One on George Webb, treasurer of the State of Virginia, for one million two hundred thousand dollars:
One on his excellency, Richard Caswell, governor of the State of North Carolina, for nine hundred thousand dollars:
And one on his excellency John Rutledge, governor of the State of South Carolina, for nine hundred thousand dollars, being part of the monies raised in the said states respectively, for the use of the United States.
That on the application of Mr. C[yrus] Griffin, one of the delegates for the State of Virginia, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in his favour, for twenty thousand dollars, to be repaid by a draft of the said Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin, on George Webb, Esquire, treasurer of the State of Virginia, in favour of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, on account of Major General Greene, quarter master general, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable.
That on the application of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, for Major General Greene, quarter master general, a warrant issue in his favour on George Webb, treasurer of the State of Virginia, for one hundred thousand
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dollars, being part of the monies raised in the said State, for the use of the United States, to be applied in the department of the said quarter master general, and for which he is to be accountable.
That on the application of Chaloner and White, a warrant issue on the treasurer in their favour for thirteen thousand three hundred and thirty three dollars and 30/90, on account of Jeremiah Wadsworth, late commissary general of purchases, for the use of his department, and for which he is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Thomas Mifflin, late quarter master general, for nine thousand one hundred dollars, to be applied to the discharge of outstanding debts in his department, and for which he is to be accountable.
Resolved, That the loan continued to the first of the present month, by the resolution of the 6th of October last, be further continued to the amount of the blank loan office certificates which are already ordered by Congress to be struck.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 135.]
According to order Congress proceeded to the consideration of the report of the Committee of the Whole, and after some time spent thereon,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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