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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, JUNE 17, 1780
A letter, of this day, from P[hilip] Schuyler was read, enclosing the draft of a system agreed upon by the committee at head quarters for conducting the quartermaster general's department:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 153, III, folio 527.]
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Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for the consideration of the said system.
A memorial of Captain William Pickles was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, dated June 15, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 114.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 24 April, from Joseph Calvert was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
A letter of this day from J. Cox was read.2
[Note 2: 2 Calvert's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 50, 357; Cox's is in No. 78, V, folio 483.]
The committee, to whom was referred the memorial of D. Henly, on behalf of Otis & Henly, delivered in a report, which was read.3
[Note 3: 3 A marginal note in the journal says: "See 26 May."]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee appointed to prepare a plan for the defence of the southern states; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the executive power of the State of Virginia, be earnestly requested to order a reinforcement of five thousand militia, including any that may be now in service, to join the southern army with all possible despatch.
That the executive power of the State of North Carolina, be earnestly requested to order a reinforcement of four thousand militia, including such as are now in service, to join the said army.
That the Commanding officer for the time being in the said Department be empowered and directed from time to time to require from the Executive powers of the several States within the limits of his command such reinforcements of militia as shall be Postponed. requisite to keep the army under his command of the force of ten thousand effective rank and file, and that it be recommended to the said Executive powers to comply with such requisitions as expeditiously as possible. That all such Militia as shall be called into Service under the said requisition or
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which have been or shall be employed against the Enemy after their invasion of the State of Georgia be a Continental Expence
That is to be recommended to the States of Virginia and North Carolina to keep in readiness an additional Force of five thousand Militia in order to join the southern army upon the shortest notice, the said force to be in the following proportions to wit:
Virginia three thousand
North Carolina two thousand
and that the said Force
That it be recommended to the State of Virginia to keep in readiness an additional force of three thousand militia: and to the State of North Carolina, to keep in readiness an additional force of two thousand militia, in order to join the southern army upon the shortest notice.
That no supplies of men, and no provisions except bacon, and so much grain as the executive of the State of Virginia conceive can be spared from the southern army, they bearing in mind that the wants of the grand army are at this time extremely pressing--be removed to the northward of the State of Virginia, until the further order of Congress.
That the monies raised for the use of the United States, in the State of Maryland, and the states to the southward thereof, be appropriated to the supply of the military chest and exigencies of the war in the southern department, until the further order of Congress.
That it be Earnestly recommended to the States int the southern to take Effectual Measures for enabling the Commanding officer therein to carry on the war with the greatest vigor, and to provide that he may have all possible assistance from Resources of the Country, such assistance be considered at the expense of the United States
That the Board of War be directed to take effectual measures for supplying the said department with all necessary military stores.
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All which is submitted1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 230. It is indorsed by Thomson: "Delivered June 14, 1780; part debated and past; rest postponed." The resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
On motion of Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Bee, Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas it is essential to the due direction of the public affairs, that the superintending power should be intimately acquainted with the measures that have been pursued, in consequence of their resolves, by those on whom, from the nature of the government, the execution of them devolves: and whereas it is equally necessary to examine the source from which the public embarrassments spring:
Resolved, That the United States, from New Hampshire to South Carolina, inclusive, except such of them as have made returns of their transactions, be requested, at this critical conjuncture, to inform Congress with the utmost expedition, what measures they have taken in consequence of the several resolutions, a list of which is hereunto annexed.
Ordered, That the secretary annex to the above resolution a list of the resolutions which have been passed by Congress since the first day of January, 1779, requiring from the United States a supply of men, money and provisions, in order to be transmitted herewith to each of the abovementioned states.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. O[liver] Ellsworth, delegate from the State of Connecticut, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for six thousand dollars, for which the said State is to be accountable.
That on the application of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master general, on account of Major General Greene, Q. M. G.
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accompanied with estimates approved by the Board of War, the following warrants issue in his favour, amounting to one million and thirty thousand dollars, for the use of the department of the said quarter master general; and for which he is to be accountable, viz.
One on the treasurer for sixty thousand dollars, for the purpose of sending to camp a number of waggons.
Another on the treasurer, for one hundred thousand dollars, for the purpose of paying team hire, tradesmen, watermen, &c.
Another on the treasurer for twenty thousand dollars, for the purpose of collecting and sending horses to camp.
One on the president and supreme executive council of the commonwealth of Pensylvania, for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars (part of the monies raised in the said commonwealth for the use of the United States) to enable John Davis, deputy quarter master general, to comply with certain contracts.
And one on John Lawrence, treasurer of the State of Connecticut, for six hundred thousand dollars (part of the monies raised in the said State for the use of the United States) for the purpose of transporting three thousand barrells of salted
provisions from the said State to the State of New York.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 349.]
A petition of Brimmer and Tracy was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This petition, dated May 31, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, folio 394.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday next.
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