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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, JUNE 5, 1780
Mr. Whitmill Hill, a delegate from North Carolina, attended and took his seat in Congress.
Mr. Ezekiel Cornell, a delegate for Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
By His Excellency William Greene Esquire Governor Captain General and Commander in Chief of and over the State of [SEAL] Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
To Ezekiel Cornell Esquire Greeting.
Whereas by the General Assembly of the said State at the Session held at Providence on the First Wednesday in May instant You the said Ezekiel Cornell was elected a Delegate to represent the said State for One Year in the General Congress of Delegates from the Thirteen United States of America now sitting at Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania, or wherever the same may sit: I do therefore in the Name of the Governor and Company of the said State hereby authorize, empower and commissionate you the said Ezekiel Cornell in Conjunction with the other Delegates that are or may be elected Delegates of the said State, or seperately, and alone, in Case of the Sickness, or necessary Absence, of the other Delegates of said State, to represent the said State in the said General Congress; and in Behalf thereof to join with the Delegates from the other States or major Part of them in all such Measures as shall be thought best for defending and promoting the Welfare of the said United States agreeable to the Instructions given or that may be given you by the General Assembly.
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This Commission so far as it empowers you to act seperately and alone is to continue good in that Respect until the Ratification of the Articles of Confederation by each and every of the Thirteen United States. Upon which Event any Two of the said Delegates if no more than Three are present, or otherwise the major Part of those present, are empowered to execute this Commission; which is also to be understood to continue in Force until you shall be superseded, and another Delegate shall appear to take your Place.
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the said State this
Eighth Day of May A.D. 1780 and in the Fourth Year of
Independence.
W. Greene
By his Excellency's Command.
Henry Ward Secry1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Rhode Island, Credentials of Delegates.]
Mr. [Jared] Ingersol, a delegate for Pensylvania, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of 25 May, from Governor Nash, of North Carolina, enclosing copy of a letter, of 16th of the same month, from Governor Rutledge, of South Carolina;
A letter, of 31 May, from General Washington; and
A letter, of 3d, from President Rodney, of Delaware, were read.
A letter, of 12 April, from Joseph Marsh; one of 2d instant, from Lieutenant Colonel Knobelauch; and one, of the 2d, from Baron d'Uglaa, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 Nash's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 81; Washington's letter is in No. 152. VIII, folio 587; Rodney's is in No. 70, folio 731; Marsh's is in No. 40, I, folio 325; Knobelauch's is in No. 78, XIII, folio 559; d'Uglaa's is in No. 78, XXIII, folio 1.]
On motion of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, seconded by Mr. [Allen] Jones,
Resolved, That the Board of War be directed to send to the State of North Carolina five thousand stand of arms, with powder, lead, flints and other suitable stores for ten thousand troops.
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Resolved, That two members be added to the committee, to whom was referred the report of the Board of Treasury, of 8 April, in the room of Mr. [Philip] Schuyler and Mr. [William] Ellery, who are absent:1
[Note 1: 1 Thomson's marginal note: "See April 13."]
The members chosen, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston and Mr. [Samuel] Holten.
An address from the legislature of the commonwealth of Virginia, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This address, dated May 24, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, I, folio 351.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Henry, Mr. [John] Armstrong and Mr. [Samuel] Holten.
The committee, appointed to confer with the honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, brought in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee appointed to receive the communications of his Excellency the Minister of France relating to supplies for the forces of his Most Christian Majesty and on other matters beg leave to report, that in a conference had the 3rd of the present month, the Minister was pleased to make the following communications, viz.
That Mons. de Corny Commissary of the troops of his Most Christian Majesty, had orders to purchase a number of horses and to purchase or hire a number of teams in the States where they could be most conveniently procured for the use of the forces of his Most Christian Majesty that should arrive to cooperate with the forces of these United States.
That Mons de Corny had also orders to endeavor to procure in the several States where it should be found most convenient provisions for the forces above mentioned in such manner as should least interfere with the purchases of the States or agents of Congress, and as should be best adapted to support and establish the credit of the paper currency. That Mons. de Corny would apply to the Supreme Executive powers of the several States in which the purchases were to be made for their advice and aid in the matter. To obtain which the Minister wished for the approbation of Congress and that if they
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should think fit letters might be written by the President to the Supreme Executive Powers of the several States requesting their advice and aid to Mens. de Corny in procuring those supplies.
That Mons de Corny had received £17,000 of the bills lately emitted by the State of Pennsylvania to employ for the purposes above mentioned and would in his negotiations avail himself of all opportunities for contributing to the utmost of his power for establishing the Currency of the public bills of credit.
That it would be necessary to give the said forces of his Most Christian Majesty the option of receiving their pay in specie, from their unacquaintedness with paper money in general and ignorance of the language in which the bills of these United States are struck, which circumstance the Minister thought proper to suggest that Congress might take any measures they should Judge necessary to prevent uneasiness arising therefrom to the troops of these United States who might receive their pay in a different manner.
That to prevent loss happening to any of the Citizens of these United States from receiving from the troops of his Most Christian Majesty any small coins they may be possessed of that shall be below the standard alloy the same will be exchanged for other coins by persons that shall receive orders therefor.
The Minister desired to be informed of the mode of Intelligence Congress would rely on to give them immediate notice of the arrival of the forces from France and for keeping up a constant communication after their arrival, and again repeated his wishes that nothing might be left unprovided for that could promise despatch to their operations and render them most extensively serviceable to these United States.
The Minister also wished to recommend to the consideration of Congress Mons. Louis Ethis de Corny provincial Commissary of the troops in the service of his Most Christian Majesty for the honor of a Brevet Commission of Lieut. Colonel, which title his office had given him in the French Service. Mons. de Corny desired not Command or pay but was ambitious to deserve a mark of honor from these United States, from which benefits might result to him hereafter.
June 5. 1780,
Upon the foregoing information your Committee beg leave to submit to the immediate Consideration of Congress the following Resolutions.
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Resolved, That a brevet commission of lieutenant colonel in the army of these United States, of cavalry1 be granted to Monsr Louis Ethis de Corny [provincial commissary of the troops in the service of his Most Christian Majesty].
[Note 1: 1 Thomson's marginal note: "June 7, 'of cavalry' inserted by order of Congress."]
That Monsr de Corny be furnished with letters from the President to the supreme executive powers of the several states of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusrtts Bay and New Hampshire, or to such of them as Monsr de Corny shall apply for, requesting their advice and aid to him in procuring provisions and other necessaries for the forces of his most Christian Majesty expected to arrive in these United States, in such manner as will best avoid a competition of purchases for the use above mentioned and those for the use of the troops of these United States.
That his excellency the honorable the Minister of France be informed that it is the opinion of Congress that the public service will be best promoted by having the same currency made use of, as far as may be, to procure supplies for the forces of his Most Christian Majesty as for those of these United States.
That the governors of the States of Virginia and Maryland be requested immediately to engage trusty persons in those states respectively, at proper distances from each other, on the main road from Cape Henry, in Virginia, to Philadelphia, to hold themselves in readiness, should the French fleet be discovered off that cape or the adjacent coast, to forward intelligence thereof, and any despatches that may be received from them, to Congress, in the most expeditious manner.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 199. A transcript is in Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed 13th April 1780, folio 6. It is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton) III, 765.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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