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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, MAY 22, 1780
Mr. [John] Walker, a delegate from Virginia attended and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of 17, from General Washington, and a letter, of 1st. March, from Lieutenant Colonel Fleury, soliciting a prolongation of his furlough, were read; Whereupon,2
[Note 2: 2 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folio 561; that of Fleury is on folio 565.]
Resolved, That the furlough heretofore granted to Lieuten-Colonel Fleury, be farther extended for the space of nine months.
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A letter, of 20, [16.] from the committee sent to headquarters, with sundry papers enclosed, was read:
Ordered, That the same be taken into consideration tomorrow.
A letter, of 16, from Governor Livingston, of New Jersey, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 541. The letter of the Committee at headquarters is in No. 39, I, folio 24; it was dated the 16th, a draft of the same letter is on folio 20, and it was transcribed in Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed the 13th of April, 1780, folio 22.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [James] Duane.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
The Board having considered the memorials of the Executors of Peter Chevalier (deceased) referred to them by Congress together with the Certificates of the Commercial Committee of Congress on the subject of the Memorials aforesaid beg leave to represent--
That it appears from one of the memorials aforesaid dated January 27, 1780 and a Certificate of the Committee aforesaid dated March 27, 1779 that the Executors aforesaid drew Bills of Exchange on Duff and Welch Merchants in Cadiz in favour of the Commercial Committee aforesaid for one thousand nine hundred and sixty pounds Sterling, for which they were to be paid forty seven thousand and forty dollars of Continental Currency at such time when it should appear to the Committee aforesaid, that the aforesaid bills were duly honored and paid.
That it appears from the memorial aforesaid and a Certificate of the Committee aforesaid that the said Bills were duly honored and paid of which the Committee aforesaid received advice from their Agent at St. Eustatia in a letter dated November 30, 1779, previous to which advice the Executors aforesaid applied for payment but were refused. That it appears, that after the advice aforesaid was received, an order was offered for the payment of the aforesaid sum of forty seven thousand and forty dollars Continental Currency, but that from the extraordinary depreciation of the currency since that transaction, the widow and children must be very great sufferers, unless some allowance
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is made on that account, the truth of all which they have no reason to doubt. That it also appears from the memorial of the Executors aforesaid dated February 28, 1780, that they are willing to receive bills of exchange to reimburse them for the bills aforesaid, in which case they will relinquish all compensation for the use of their money a considerable time.
From all which considerations the Board are of opinion that the prayer of the said memorialists is reasonable, and therefore submit the following Resolution, viz.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the commonwealth of Pensylvania, for the sum of eight thousand seven hundred and eleven dollars, specie, in bills of exchange drawn on the honorable John Jay, Esquire, minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Madrid, in favour of the Commercial Committee of Congress, to enable them to discharge their contract with the executors of Peter Chevalier, deceased, for bills of exchange drawn by the said executors on Duff and Welsh, merchants at Cadiz.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 305.]
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane; seconded by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth,
Ordered, That the letter, of 13 May, from General Washington, and the letter, of 16, from the Marquis de la Fayette, with the resolution passed in consequence thereof be published.
A letter, of 19, from Governor Lee, of Maryland, was read, with two resolutions of the general assembly of that State enclosed:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
Another letter, of 18, from Governor Lee was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 15, from the general assembly of Maryland, signed Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, president of the senate,
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and Josias Beall, speaker of the house [of] Delegates, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Governor Lee's letter of the 19th is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 363; his letter of the 18th is on folio 359; the general assembly's letter is on folio 355.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The committee, to whom was referred President Reed's letter, of 6th, brought in a report, which was taken into consideration, and thereupon,
Resolved, That in the opinion of Congress it is highly inexpedient for any of the states to permit the exportation of provisions to foreign parts, until the exigencies of the public service are more fully ascertained and provided for than at present.
That it be earnestly recommended to the Delaware State, again immediately to lay an embargo on the exportation of provisions from that State, and to continue the same until it shall be consistent with the public safety that the like embargoes should be discontinued in all the United States.
Ordered, That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the president of the Delaware State, and also to the president of the supreme executive council of Pensylvania, in answer to his letter of the 6th.
The supplies for the public exigencies shall be fully provided for agreeably to the resolution of Congress of the 25th of Feby. last.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 83. From this point the carries are by George Bond, of the Secretary's Office.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. Allen Jones, a Delegate from the State of North Carolina, a warrant issue on the Treasurer in his favor for twenty thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.
That on the application of William Govett, one of the Commissioners of the Chamber of Accounts, a warrant issue
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on the Treasurer in his favor, for fifteen thousand dollars, on account of his salary.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 305.]
Sundry resolutions were moved by Mr. [John Morin] Scott, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane, relative to the New Hampshire grants.
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be an order of the day for to morrow.
Resolved, That the President communicate to his most Christian Majesty, through his Minister, the honorable the Chevalier de la Luzerne, the grateful sense that Congress entertain of his unremitted attention to the interests of these United States, evidenced by his many great and generous efforts in their behalf; and that his Minister be informed of the proceedings of Congress in consequence of his communications.2
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph was entered only in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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