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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 --FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1780
Mr. [John] Henry, a delegate from Maryland, attended and took his seat in Congress.
A letter, of 20, from General Washington was read.
A letter, of 15, from Governor Jefferson, of Virginia, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Post Office.
A letter, of 2, from Doctor D. Oliphant, at Charlestown, South Carolina;
And a letter, of 21 May, from Brigadier Lachlan Mcintosh at the same place, were read:
Ordered, That the former be referred to the Medical Committee.
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. J[oseph] Jones,
Ordered, That an extract of the letter, of 20, from General Washington, be sent by express to each of the states, from New Hampshire to Maryland, inclusive, and that the executive powers be most earnestly requested to forward on the supplies of men and provisions with the utmost expedition, and transmit to Congress and the committee at head quarters, with all possible despatch, an account of the proceedings of their respective states, on which the Commander in Chief can rely, and by which he may be enabled to regulate his future operations.
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to cloathing, be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 22d, from Major General Lincoln, was read, "informing Congress of his arrival in Philadelphia, and that, stimulated by the double motive of regard to the honor of Congress and his own reputation, he embraces the earliest opportunity of requesting that, agreeably to the resolution
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of 28 November, 1777, an enquiry may be immediately made into the causes of the loss of Charlestown, which has been announced to Congress, and into his conduct as principal officer at that post when it was given up;" Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 Washington's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, VIII, folio 615. It is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), VIII, 315. Jefferson's letter is in No. 71, I, folio 363; McIntosh's letter is in No. 162, folio 297; Lincoln's letter is in No. 158, folio 443.]
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed, as soon as circumstances shall admit, to cause an enquiry to be made into the loss of Charlestown, in South Carolina, and into the conduct of the said Major General Lincoln, late commanding officer in the southern department, and cause the proceedings of the court of enquiry to be laid before Congress.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Ezekiel Forman, commissioner of the Board of Treasury, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for thirty thousand dollars, on account of his salary.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 323.]
That on the application of Mr. [Philip] Schuyler, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the committee at headquarters, for ten thousand dollars, for which the said committee is to be accountable.
That on the application of Mr. [James] Duane, a delegate for the State of New York, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for fifteen 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., accompanied with an estimate from the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for one hundred thousand dollars, for the purpose of collecting and forwarding
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horses to camp; and for which the said Nathaniel Greene is to be accountable.
That on the application of James Stevenson, clerk in the War Office, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for three 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 861.]
That on the application of Ephraim Blaine, commissary general of purchases, accompanied with an estimate approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in his favour, for one hundred thousand dollars, to be applied in the department of the said commissary general; and for which he is to be accountable.
That on the application of the Board of War, a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, for fifty seven thousand five hundred dollars, to enable the said Board to reimburse the like sum advanced by Mr. [Francis] Kinloch, for the purpose of expediting the Maryland troops on their march to the southward; and for which the said Joseph Carleton is to be accountable.
That on the application of Richard Bache, postmaster general, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for twenty thousand dollars, on account of his salary.
That on the application of Peter Baynton, comptroller for the general Post Office, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for ten thousand dollars on account of his salary.
That on the application of James Bryson, surveyor of the general post office for the middle district, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for ten thousand dollars, on account of his salary.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 363.]
The committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 27 May, from President Weare, of New Hampshire, brought in a report; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That the honorable M. Weare, President of New Hampshire, be informed, that the pressing exigencies of the United States will not admit of the least deduction from the public revenue at present; that Congress cannot now liquidate the accounts of New Hampshire or any other State with the United States; but that due attention will be paid to the claims of New Hampshire whenever the circumstances of public affairs of a more serious nature will enable them to take them into consideration.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 5.]
The committee, to whom was referred the letter from Governor Rutledge, brought in a report; whereupon Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas it has been reported, in order to seduce the citizens of South Carolina and Georgia from their allegiance to these United States, that a treaty of peace between America and Great Britain was about to take place, in which those two States would be ceded to Great Britain:
Resolved, unanimously, That the said report is insidious and utterly void of foundation.
That this Confederacy is most sacredly pledged to support the liberty and independence of every one of its members; and, in a firm reliance on the divine blessing, will unremittingly persevere in their exertions for the establishment of the same, and also for the recovery and preservation of any and every part of these United States that has been or may hereafter be invaded or possessed by the common enemy.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Thomas Bee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 394. An extract from Rutledge's letter is on folio 396.]
Resolved, That a member be added to the Committee on the Post Office, in the room of Mr. [Cyrus] Griffin, who is absent:
The member chosen, Mr. [John] Walker.
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Resolved, That a member be added to the Board of Treasury, in the room of Mr. [Thomas] Burke, who is absent:
The member chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman.
Resolved, That a member be added to the Board of War, in the room of Mr. [John] Mathews, who is of the committee at headquarters:
The member chosen, Mr. [Artemas] Ward.
Congress proceeded to the election of two commissioners of the Board of Admiralty, and the ballots being taken,
Mr. William Ellery and Mr. Thomas Woodford were elected.
A motion was made by the delegates for Massachusetts Bay, to empower the President, with the advice of the council, to draw warrants on the deputy paymaster general in that State, for the payment of wages due to artificers, &c. in the continental service.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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