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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 20, 1780
Mr. James Madison, Junior, a delegate for Virginia attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
In the House of Delegates,
the 14th. December, 1779.
Resolved that James Henry, Joseph Jones, James Madison, Jr. and John Walker Esquires, be appointed Delegates to represent this Commonwealth in Congress untill the first Monday in November next, in the room of the Gentlemen who have resigned; they having been so elected by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly.
Teste.
John Beckley C. h. d.
A Copy
John Beckley C.h. d.
December 14th. 1779.
Agreed to by the Senate
Will: Drew: C. S.3
[Note 3: 3 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Virginia, Credentials of Delegates.]
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A letter, of 11, one of the 14, and one of 22 February, from Major General Lincoln, were read:1
[Note 1: 1 The letter of February 11 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 158, Il, folio 317; that of February 14 is on folio 321; that of February 22 is on folio 325.]
Ordered, That so much of the said letters as relates to bills drawn on the President of Congress, with a list of the bills be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Committee of Foreign Affairs laid before Congress a letter, of 14th, and one of 24th February, from H. Laurens, which were read; the latter enclosing an invoice and bill of lading of sundry goods by him shipped on account of the United States, on board the brig Adriana.
Ordered, That so much of the said letter, as relates to the shipping the said goods, together with the invoice and bill of lading, be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That the committee appointed to correspond with the commanding officer in the southern department be directed to form a proper plan for getting the most speedy and frequent intelligence from the army in the southern department, and to take order thereon.
The committee, to whom was referred a motion relating to the laws making continental bills of credit a tender, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states, to revise their laws, enacted pursuant to a former resolution of Congress, making the continental bills of credit a tender in discharge of debts and contracts, and to amend the same in such manner as they shall judge most conducive to justice, in the present state of the paper currency: and
That it be further recommended, that the said laws be enacted in such manner that no persons may take unjust advantage to defeat the good purposes of this resolution, by availing themselves of the notice thereof, before the passing of the several acts.
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The committee appointed the 14th instant to confer with the Board of War relative to a contract offered to the Board of War, report,
That they have attended that duty, and are of opinion, that the proposed contract will be beneficial to the United States; and that it is expedient for the Board to take the measures necessary to carry the same into execution. That when the contract is fulfilled, bills on Spain, not exceeding the amount of thirty thousand pounds sterling, must be furnished the Board to enable them on their part to comply with the terms of the contract: Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of War be authorized to conpleat the proposed contract; and when fulfilled, that bills of exchange be drawn on Spain to the amount of thirty thousand pounds sterling, or so much thereof as may be necessary for the above purpose, payable to the paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance for discharging the said contract.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolve was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal. The report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 101.]
A letter, of 18, from Don. J. de Miraillies, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A letter, of 18, from J. Cox, A. Q. M. G., enclosing a letter, of 10 January, from Major General Gates, was read:
Sundry letters from Colonel J. Allen, were read, viz. one, of 28 September, one of 20 October, one of 10, and one of 15 November, last.2
[Note 2: 2 Mirailles' letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 17; Cox's letter is in No. 78, V, folio 451; Allan's letter of September 28 is in No. 78, I, folio 317, and copies of the ether three are on folios 325, 329 and 333; the original of the letter of November 10 is on folio 341, and that of November 15 on folio 337; see ante, January 24.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War to report.
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War Office, March 20, 1780
Sir,
At the request of the Baron Steuben, the board have the honor to transmit to Congress his sentiments on the subject of the proposed reduction of the number of Regiments in the army.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 63.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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