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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, JULY 31, 1780
A letter, of 26, from General Washington, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
A letter, of 22, from General Washington was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter, of 18, from the committee at headquarters.
A letter, of 27, from the committee at headquarters was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter, of 26, from General Greene, Q. M. G.
A letter, of 12, from John Bradford, at Boston, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 Washington's letter of the 22d is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 43; it is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), VIII, 354. The letter from the Committee at Headquarters is in No. 39, I, folio 166, and it is transcribed in Committee Book, 1780, Proceedings of the Committee appointed the 13th April, 1780, folio 40; Bradford's letter is in No. 78, III, folio 497.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Henry] Laurens, Mr. [Thomas] McKean and Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
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A memorial from Samuel Freeman was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, dated July 27, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 220.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The delegates of New York laid before Congress a letter, of 1st, to them from the legislature of that State, which was read.
The delegates of Maryland laid before Congress a letter, of 27th, to them from the governor of that State, enclosing copy of a letter, of 9th, from Major General Baron de Kalb.2
[Note 2: 2 The New York letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 278; the Maryland letter is in No. 70, folio 407.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
The delegates of Maryland also laid before Congress a letter, of 28, from Governor Lee, which was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 415.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A letter, of 27, from Governor Lee, of Maryland, was read.4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 70, folio 403.]
Congress proceeded to the election of a commissioner of the chambers of accounts; and the ballots being taken,
Mr. James McCall was elected, ∥having been previously nominated by Mr. [Francis] Kinloch.∥
The committee on the report of the Board of Treasury, respecting the accounts of Major General Arnold;
And the committee, to whom were referred the letter, of 26, from Major General Greene, and the letter, of 27th, from the committee at headquarters, brought in their respective reports, which were read:
The Committee to whom was referred the report of the Board of Treasury on Major General Arnold's accounts, beg leave to report
That they have examined the accounts of General Arnold and the report of the Board of Treasury and have heard his allegations and proofs touching the articles of the report complained of by him and do find that the charge of twenty five horses amounting to the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds lawful money as mentioned in the
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report depends for support thereof upon the certificates of Jno. Taylor and William Cross, which, so far as relates to that charge are in the words following, "Aug: 16th 1779 I have also good reason to believe that the above mentioned cargo of horses were taken into public service and not returned, Jno. Taylor." "Aug: 5th 1779 I likewise am of opinion and belief that the whole or the major part of the horses of Genl. Arnold as well as the other part of her cargo of his vessel were used for the use of our army &c Wm Cross"--which certificates not founded on the knowledge of the persons granting them but merely on report and opinion and not ascertaining the number of the horses by them supposed to have been employed in the public service or received as public property do not appear to contain sufficient proof to warrant the charge; The Committee however are of opinion the charge ought not "to be considered as incidental damages and referred to such general provisions as may be made in future for losses under that description" as reported by the Board of Treasury. But that whenever General Arnold can make it appear the horses or any of them were taken for the property of the United States the whole or such of them as shall appear to have been so appropriated and paid for by the public at the rate of nine pounds lawful money each. The Committee fully concurs in every other part of the report of the Board of Treasury and submit the following resolution.
Resolved, That Congress agree to the settlement of Major General Arnold's accounts as reported by the Board of Treasury excepting that part thereof which relates to the charge of twenty five horses which is left open to future settlement whenever Genl. Arnold shall produce proof that the whole or any of them were received for and appropriated to the use of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Joseph Jones, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 177.]
Ordered, That to morrow be assigned for the consideration of the report on the letters from General Greene and the committee at headquarters.
Ordered, That two members be added to the committee appointed to enquire into the mode of conducting business at the Board of Treasury, in the room of Mr. [William Churchill] Houston and Mr. [Samuel] Holten, who are absent.
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The members chosen, Mr. [Timothy] Matlack and Mr. [John] Walker.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter of the 26th, from the Honble the Minister of France brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That, agreeably to the request of the Minister of France, the Board of War be authorised to take such measures relating to the subsistence of the recruits which shall be inlisted into the service of his most Christian Majesty, out of the German deserters from the enemy, as the said Board shall deem proper.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 479.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the proceedings of the court martial on the trial of Doctor Shippen, director general; and some farther progress being made therein,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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