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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 --SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1780
The Board of Treasury, to whom was referred a letter, of the 7th, from Colonel Samuel J. Atlee, report,
That while Colonel Atlee was a prisoner with the enemy, he had not an opportunity of receiving his pay and other allowances in the same manner with officers who were not in captivity, and that he was under the unavoidable necessity of supporting himself with specie.
That the monies advanced to him were no way adequate to his maintenance, therefore, that it is reasonable his pay and rations during his captivity should be rated in specie and placed to his credit; and that he should be charged with the advances above mentioned. According to which opinion, the Board farther report,
That a ballance of eighteen hundred and sixty dollars and 4/90ths of a dollar in specie is due from the United States to Colonel Samuel J. Atlee; and that he be allowed interest for the same at the rate of six per cent per annum till paid.
That it appears by a report from the chambers of accounts that Colonel Samuel J. Atlee did advance one hundred and sixty dollars in specie, for the relief of his fellow prisoners in New York, which sum is still due and ought to be repaid in specie, with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum; Wherefore they report,
That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favor of Colonel Samuel J. Atlee, for two thousand and twenty dollars and
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4/90ths of a dollar, in specie, being the amount of monies due to him from the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 197.]
On the question to agree to the foregoing report, the yeas and nays were required by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That the order in favor of Colonel S. Atlee, of the 7th South Carolina,instant, for twenty thousand dollars be revoked; the same being included in the foregoing resolution.
The Honorable Cyrus Griffin, Esq., was nominated by Mr. [Allen] Jones for the office of judge of the Court of Appeals.
Congress proceeded to the election of a commissary general of prisoners, and the ballots being taken, Colonel Joseph Ward was elected.
The committee, to whom was referred the instructions to the delegates of the State of Massachusetts Bay, relative to the staff departments of the army, delivered in a report, which was taken into consideration; and thereupon,
Resolved, That any State which shall furnish the officers of the hospital and medical staff belonging to such State, in the service of the United States, with such articles of cloathing
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as those officers are respectively entitled to, by a resolution of Congress of the 20th of November, 1779, subject to the same rules and regulations as are established for officers of the line, by a resolution of Congress of the 26th. day of November, 1777. That the supplies so furnished shall be charge against the United States, and credited to the States respectively furnishing the same. and make returns thereof to the cloathier general, shall have credit for such supplies, in their account with the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 61.]
The Board of Treasury, to whom was referred the apportionment of the four million of dollars to be granted to Jeremiah Wadsworth, late commissary general of purchases, upon the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, brought in a report; Whereupon,
That the following warrants amounting to four millions of dollars issue in favor of Jeremiah Wadsworth, late Commissary General of Purchases to be applied for the payment of provisions purchased by Henry Champion while acting as his deputy, and for which the said Jeremiah Wadsworth is to accountable.
Ordered, That the following warrants issue, viz.
One on Nicholas Gilman, treasurer of the State of New Hampshire, for five hundred thousand dollars.
One on Henry Gardner, treasurer of the State of Massachusetts Bay, for one million nine hundred thousand dollars.
One on Joseph Clark, treasurer of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, for one hundred thousand dollars.
And one on John Lawrence, treasurer of the State of Connecticut, for one million five hundred thousand dollars, being part of the monies raised in the said states respectively, for the use of the United States.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 209.]
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On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Francis] KinIoch,
Resolved, That upon the application of Mrs. Elizabeth Duchee, the President of Congress be authorised to give her letters of protection to secure herself, her children and servants, her necessary sea furniture and stores, and such packages as she shall be permitted by the president of the State of Pensylvania to carry out of that State, against vessels of war belonging to the United States, and cruisers under their commission.
On motion of Mr. [Philip] Schuyler, seconded by Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston,
Resolved, That Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry be informed that on Monday next Congress will take into consideration the matters stated in his letters of the 19th and 22d of February last, and third instant.
The committee consisting of Mr. [James] Forbes, Mr. [John] Mathews and Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, to whom was referred a report of the Commissioners of Accounts of the 25th October, 1779, on the accounts of the honorable John Adams, late one of the commissioners of the United States at the Court of Versailles, report,
That they do not find any vote or proceeding of Congress, nor are they informed of any general or received custom, on which the charge of moneys for the education of the accomptant's son can be admitted; and though the same is inconsiderable, they are of opinion it ought to be rejected, that a precedent be not established. That they are of opinion that the charge for books ought to be admitted, on the ground of a practice which has obtained in different nations respecting their publick ministers, and which is mentioned by Mr. Adams in the explanations attending his vouchers.
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That they find the several charges in the said accounts conformable to the strictest principles of economy; and that as far as Mr. Adams has been entrusted with publick money, the same has been carefully and frugally expended.
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.1
[Note 1: 1 This report was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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