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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, MAY 31, 1780
A letter of 27th, from General Washington, and one, of 28, from the committee at head quarters, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folio 579. It is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), VIII, 288. The letter from the Committee at Headquarters is in No. 39, I, folio 36. It was transcribed in the Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed the 13th of April, 1780, folio 25.]
Ordered, That the letter from General Washington be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [John] Armstrong and Mr. [James] Duane.
Ordered, That the committee be instructed to confer on the subject of the letter with a committee of the general assembly and supreme executive council of Pensylvania.
The delegates from New York laid before Congress a letter, of 25, from Governor Clinton to General Schuyler, with sundry papers enclosed, which were read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 264.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial of Major C. Holmer was read:4
[Note 4: 4 This memorial, undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IV, folio 111.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
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Ordered, That, on the application of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [James] Lovell, delegates for the State of Massachusetts Bay, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in their favour, for eighteen hundred 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 319.]
That, on the application of James Wilkinson, cloathier general, approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on Joseph Borden, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of New Jersey, in his favour, for fifty four thousand dollars, for the use of the hide department, and for which the said James Wilkinson is to be accountable:
That a warrant issue on Gerard Bancker, treasurer of the State of New York, in favour of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, on account of Nathaniel Greene, quarter master general, for one hundred and ten thousand dollars (part of the monies raised in the said State for the use of the United States), for the purpose of paying three months' pay to the batteau men who are engaged at Albany, to serve for the campaign; and for which the said Nathaniel Greene is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 315.]
Treasury Office, May 30, 1780.
The Board of Treasury Report,
That the resolution of the 19th Instant relative to drawing Bills of Exchange does not direct or empower the Treasury Board to draw the said bills on Doctor Franklin or Mr Jay by any official Title or description, nor to direct them so as that they may be presented to their successors in office. The Board presuming the Intention of Congress to be that the draughts should be, Eventually, on the respective Ministers for the time being, submit the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be empowered to address the bills of exchange, directed to be drawn by the resolution of the 19th of the present month, to the persons on whom they are directed to be drawn, respectively,
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or to the ministers at the respective Courts of Versailles and Madrid.
The Board further report,
That no resolution of Congress appears to them to have directed advice, relative to those particular Bills, to be given--, and submit the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee of Foreign Affairs be directed to transmit letters of advice to the honourable Benjamin Franklin, and the honourable John Jay, respecting the bills directed to be drawn on them by the resolution of the 19th of the present month.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. The report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 317.]
The Committee of Foreign Affairs, having brought in a report, the same was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
May 23d, 1780.
The Committee of Foreign Affairs beg leave to report,
That they have considered that Part of the Letter, of the 4th March last, from the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles which relates to the three Prizes taken by the Squadron lately commanded by Capt. J. P. Jones, sent into the Port of Bergen in Norway, and there, by an order of the Court of Denmark at the instance of the British Minister, seized and returned:--that they have also considered the Copy of a Memorial which the said Minister Plenipotentiary of these states hath addressed to the Danish Court reclaiming the said Prizes, or their value:--and thereupon submit the following resolutions:
Resolved, That Congress fully approve the conduct of their minister at the Court of Versailles in reclaiming the prizes which were taken by the squadron lately commanded by Captain John Paul Jones, and sent into the port of Bergen, in Norway; and there, by an order of the Court of Denmark, at the instance of the British minister, seized and returned.
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That the said minister be instructed to pursue such further measures for the recovery of the said prizes, or satisfaction for their detention, as he may judge most conformable to the views of Congress, who are determined firmly to contend for assert the rights of a sovereign, independent nation. though it is their wish to do it in such manner as, if possible, to avoid giving umbrage to other Powers.
N. B. The Committee wish to inform Dr Franklin That Congress entertain a favorable opinion of M de Chezault his Approved. most Christian Majesty's Consul at the Port of Bergen for his attention to the Interests of the Citizens of these States manifested on this occasion
The Committee further Report.
Resolved, That the establishment of the salaries of the honourable John Adams, and his secretary Mr. Dana, be transmitted to the minister plenipotentiary of these states at the Court of Versailles, and that he be directed to pay their drafts to the amount of their respective salaries, till Congress shall take further order for that purpose.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Churchill Houston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 307. The resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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