| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1780
Mr. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, a delegate for the State of Maryland, attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
In General Assembly, Annapolis, 7 April 1780.
The Senate proceeded to ballot for two Delegates to Congress, and the Ballot-Box being prepared, the Ballots were deposited therein, sealed up and delivered to the Committee of this House appointed to meet the Committee from the House of Delegates, who retired to the Conference Room, and after some time, returned and reported that William Paca and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Esquires had a Majority of Votes; Whereupon, it is declared that William Paca and Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Esquires are duly elected Delegates to Congress.
Extract from the Minutes,
Ja. Maccubbin Cl. Sen.
F. Green Cl. H. D.2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Maryland, Credentials of Delegates.]
Page 482 | Page image
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on sundry papers respecting the New Hampshire Grants, and thereupon came to the following resolutions:
Whereas it is represented to Congress, and by authentic evidence laid before them it appears, that the people inhabiting the district of country commonly known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, and claiming to be an independent State, have, in contempt of notwithstanding the resolutions of Congress of the 24th September, and 2d October, proceeded as a seperate government to make grants of lands and sales of estates by them declared forfeited and confiscated; and have also, in divers instances, exercised civil and military authority over the persons and effects of sundry inhabitants within the said district, who profess themselves to be citizens of and to owe allegiance to the State of New York and moreover have not submitted the decision of their claims in the manner prescribed in the said resolutions, or in any other just and equitable manner whatsoever.
Resolved, That the acts and proceedings of the people inhabiting the said district, and claiming to be an independent State as aforesaid, in contravening the good intentions of the said resolutions of the 24th September and the 2d October last, are highly unwarrantable, and utterly subversive of the peace and welfare of the United States:
That the people inhabiting the said district, and claiming to be an independent State as aforesaid, be, and they hereby are, strictly required to forbear and abstain from all acts of authority, legislative, judicial or executive civil or military, over any the inhabitants of the said any town or district who hold themselves to be subjects of, and to owe allegiance to, any of the states claiming the jurisdiction of the said territory, in whole or in part, until the decisions and determinations in the resolutions aforementioned shall be made
Page 483 | Page image
under pain of being considered as enemies to the liberty and safety of the United States.
And whereas the States of New Hampshire and New York have in every respect complied with the said resolutions of the 24 September and 2 October last, and by their agents and have ever since the first day of delegates in Congress have ever since the first day of February last being the day assigned in the said resolutions declared themselves ready to proceed in supporting their respective rights to the jurisdiction of the district aforesaid, in whole or in part, according to their several claims, and in the mode prescribed in the said resolutions: and whereas Congress, by their order of the 21 March last, did postpone the consideration of the said resolutions, nine states, exclusive of those who were parties to the question, not being represented; and by their order of the 17th of May last, have directed that letters be written to the states not represented, requesting them immediately to send forward a representation;
Resolved, That Congress will as soon as nine States exclusive of those who are parties to the controversy shall be represented, proceed to determine, whether the said Territory be comprehended in whole or in part within the bounds of the United States as the Territories of the respective Committees represented in Congress stood at the tie of its first institution.
That if it shall be determined to be so comprehended, the States claiming the jurisdiction thereof in the whole or in part be directed immediately to proceed and appoint Commissioners judicially to decide upon the several matters to be submitted to them agreeably to the said resolutions of 24th September and 2d October last.
And, Whereas, the State of Massachusetts bay hath not transmitted to Congress any law by them enacted or appointment of an agent or agents by them made, in pursuance of the recommendation contained in the said resolutions.
Resolved, That the State of Massachusetts bay be not precluded by any determination of the controversy between the States of New Hampshire and New York, from prosecuting against the prevailing party,
Page 484 | Page image
any claim which the said State may have to the jurisdiction of the said territory in whole or in part in the mode described in the said resolutions.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 6.]
Resolved, That Congress will, as soon as nine states, exclusive of those who are parties to the controversy, shall be represented, proceed to hear and examine into and finally determine the disputes and differences relative to jurisdiction between the three States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, and New York, respectively, or such of them as shall have passed such laws as are mentioned in the said resolutions of the 24 September and 2 October last, on the one part, and the people of the district aforesaid, who claim to be a separate jurisdiction, on the other, in the mode prescribed in and by the said resolutions.
The foregoing resolutions being seperately debated and passed, when the question was taken to agree to the whole, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Samuel] Holten,
{table}
Page 485 | Page image
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That a member be added to the committee, appointed to confer with the Honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France in the room of Mr. Livingston, who is absent.1
[Note 1: 1 In the margin Thomson wrote: "Erasure made by order, on reconsideration, 8 June."]
The member chosen, Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |