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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, APRIL 13, 1780
A report from the Board of Treasury was read:
Treasury Office April 8, 1780
The Board of Treasury Report--
That they had considered the subject matter of the Letter signed Nathaniel Greene Quarter Master General, dated the fifth of April instant, previous to the referrence thereof, in consequence of a letter of the same purport addressed to the Board by Charles Pettit Assistant Quarter Master General, and were of opinion that the utility of the proposition could not be judged of, until the accounts and vouchers were lodged in the Treasury office, because from them only could it appear whether an advantage adequate to the expense would result to the United States--Mr. Pettit was therefore informed
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"that whenever the accounts in the Quarter Master Genls. department with their vouchers are brought into the Treasury office, the Board will determine on the most eligible method for adjusting the same."
The Board are still of opinion that it would be inexpedient to adopt the proposition made by General Greene in his letter aforesaid, and dangerous to give such power, as admitting accounts and making the same vouchers upon a final settlement, while so much public money appears to be unaccounted for in the various departments,--and that the same is repugnant to the acts and ordinances of Congress Relative to the settlement of Expenditures of public money--under which ordinances the public officers must be presumed to have undertaken the execution of their respective duties
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to Major General Greene's letter, of April 5th, together with the said letter be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Philip] Schuyler, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth and Mr. [William] Ellery.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on his Excellency George Clinton, Esquire, governor of the State of New York, for one hundred dollars in specie, part of a sum advanced to him pursuant to a resolution of Congress, of the 15th May, 1778, in favour of the Honorable Philip Schuyler, Esquire, to discharge an account of a like sum paid by him for the public service.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 187.]
That on the application of the Board of War and Ordnance, a warrant issue on Nicholas Gilman, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of New Hampshire, for eighty thousand dollars, in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the said Board, for the use of the cloathing department; and for which the said paymaster is to be accountable.
That on the application of the Board of War and Ordnance, a warrant issue on the managers of the United States lottery, in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the said Board,
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for thirty thousand dollars, for the use of the cloathing department; and for which the said paymaster is to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. J[ohn] Collins, one of the delegates for the State of Rhode Island, on his application for six 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 195.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. A[llen] 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.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the inspectors of the continental press on their application, for one thousand dollars to discharge the contingent expences of their office; and for which they are to be accountable.
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of J. M. Jackson, one of the clerks in the Secretary's office, for five 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 Aaron D. Woodruff, clerk in the Secretary's office, for five thousand dollars, on account of his salary; and for which he is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 193.]
Ordered, That so much of the report of the Board, as relates to an allowance to the deputy paymasters general 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 motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
That no person be considered as duly elected to be a member of the committee to be appointed to confer with
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the Commander in Chief, and to carry into execution the instructions resolved upon in Congress on the 12 instant, unless he shall have seven votes at the least.
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
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So it passed in the negative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
That no person shall be considered as duly elected to serve on any committee empowered to take order or carry any measure into execution unless he shall have the votes of a majority of the states present in Congress.
On which the previous question was moved by Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, seconded by Mr. [William] Ellery, that that question be not now put. On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
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So the previous question was lost.
On the main question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
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Congress proceeded to the election of the committee to proceed to headquarters, and the ballots being taken,
Mr. [Philip] Schuyler, Mr. [John] Mathews, and Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody were elected.1
[Note 1: 1 This entry is transcribed in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed on the 13th of April, 1780, folio 1.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, on account of Major General Greene, quartermaster general, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour for one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, to be applied in the transportation of provisions to the army and forwarding the troops on their march; for which sum the said quarter master general is to be accountable.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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