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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, APRIL 12, 1780
A letter from Baron Steuben was read.
A memorial from Amos Ormsbury was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Steuben's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 186. Ormsbury's memorial, dated March 25, 1780, is in No. 41, VII, folio 271.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order.
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read; Whereupon,
The Board of admiralty beg leave to represent to Congress, that the Continental Ship Saratoga has been lately launched at this place and may be speedily fitted for sea, if the Board had money for that purpose. As the Saratoga in all probability will be a very fast sailing vessel, and considerable advantages may arise to the public from her being speedily fitted out, the Board would therefore recommend
Resolved, That the balance of money in the hands of the Board of Admiralty, arising from the sale of wines sold under their direction, be applied in fitting with despatch the ship Saratoga2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 223.]
The delegates for the State of Massachusetts Bay laid before Congress certain instructions received from their constituents:3
[Note 3: 3 These instructions, dated March 29, 1780, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No.65, I, folio 428.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee appointed to report a proper compensation to the staff of the army in consequence of the depreciation of the currency.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
The Board having taken into consideration the memorial from Lieutenant Honeyman of the Invalids beg leave to report,
Resolved, That Lieutenant Honeyman, of the corps of invalids, have leave of absence for six months; that, agreeably
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to his intentions, he may make a voyage to sea, for the recovery of his health.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 305.]
The consideration of the draught of instructions to the committee to be appointed to go to camp was resumed, and the same being amended to read, as follows:
Gentlemen, You are to confer with the Commander in Chief on the subjects contained in the resolution for your appointment, and such others as are committed to your charge by the following instructions:
1. You are to consult him about the propriety of reducing the number of regiments: You may, with his advice, reduce, incorporate or unite to state lines the several additional corps.
2. You, together with the Commander in Chief, are to limit the number of horses to be kept by the officers of the line and regimental staff, and to make such regulations, with respect to the soldiers employed as servants, as will, as far as is consistent with the convenience of the officers they serve, enable the United States to avail themselves of their services as soldiers.
3. Together with the Commander in Chief, you are to suggest such measures and to form such plans, for the general advantage of the officers and soldiers, with respect to cloathing and necessary supplies, as will tend to remove all just ground of complaint, which Congress sincerely lament that there should be any room for, and to adapt them to the abilities and circumstances of these United States, and immediately to lay them before Congress.
4. You are to consult with the Commander in Chief and the commissary and quarter master general about the defects of the present system, the abuses to which it is liable, and the best methods of reforming the same: In doing this, you will pay a particular attention to the report referred to
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you in your appointment, and adopt, amend, or alter the same, in such manner as shall, upon full consideration, appear to you most advisable; and you are hereby fully empowered to carry into execution any plan for conducting the quarter master and commissary departments, which, upon advice with the Commander in Chief, and the heads thereof, you shall approve; always reflecting that supplies are to be drawn forth by the respective states, agreeably to the resolutions of the 25th day of February last.
5. You are to enquire minutely into the management of the hospitals and medical departments, and after consulting the Commander in Chief and director general, you are empowered to discharge unnecessary officers, to retrench expences, to abolish purveyorships, unless where they shall appear absolutely necessary; to contrive modes for checking their accounts, and to limit the number of horses which the officers of that department shall be permitted to keep; providing that they be as few as possible, bearing in mind that the resources of the country are much drained, and that it is more expedient that individuals should feel temporary inconveniences, than to involve our affairs in general ruin.
6. You are to enquire into the management of the hide department, and to reform or abolish the same, substituting contracts in the lieu thereof, if, upon advising with the Commander in Chief, it shall appear most salutary.
7. You are to pay particular attention to the department of ordnance and military stores, and after consulting with the Commander in Chief, and the heads of the departments, to lay down such rules for the management thereof as to you shall seem necessary.
8. After the establishment of general regulations, you shall visit the different posts, as far as you shall judge necessary, in order to see the same carried into execution; in
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doing of which you are vested with joint and separate powers.
You are at liberty to call to your assistance any officer in the service of the United States, whose expences shall be borne by the states.
You are to abolish unnecessary posts, to erect others, to discharge useless officers, to stop rations improperly issued, and are hereby further authorized to exercise every power which may be requisite to effect a reformation of abuses and the general arrangement of those departments which are in any wise connected with the matters committed to your charge.
You are, from time to time, to inform Congress of the measures you have taken in consequence of these powers and instructions, and to transmit them lists of the names and occupations of the persons you shall discharge, and of those new officers, if any, which you shall find necessary to appoint.1
[Note 1: 1 These instructions are transcribed in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed the 13th of April, 1780, folio 1. The draft, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 225.]
On the question to agree to the whole, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Board of Treasury representing that the daily business of the office engrosses the whole of their time and attention, so that they cannot forward the execution of the order of Congress, of the 18 March last, with the necessary dispatch,
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be discharged from that duty, so far as relates to the preparing of the bills to be struck in pursuance of the resolutions of the said 18 March, and that a committee of two be appointed to expedite it:
The members chosen, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth and Mr. [Francis] Kinloch.
The Honorable Thomas McKean, Esquire; was nominated by Mr. [William Churchill] Houston for the office of judge of the Court of Appeals.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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