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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, AUGUST 5, 1780
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of the Board of War, a warrant issue on George Brooke, treasurer of the commonwealth of Virginia, in favour of Ephraim Blaine, commissary general of purchases, for sixty thousand dollars (part of the monies raised in the said commonwealth for the use of the United States) for the use of his department; and for which he is to be accountable.
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That on the application of the Board of War, the following warrants issue, in favour of Benjamin Flower, commissary general of military stores; and for which he is to be accountable, viz.
One on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the commonwealth of Pensylvania, for thirty thousand dollars to defray the expenses of Captain Irish, who is to be employed as a commissary of military stores in Virginia; and
One on George Brooke, treasurer of the commonwealth of Virginia, for two hundred thousand dollars (part of the monies raised in the said commonwealth for the use of the United States), to enable Captain Irish to carry on the business of a laboratory to be established in Virginia.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 461.]
Treasury Office August 1, 1780
The Board having considered the letter of William Gibbs Esqr. one of the Commissioners of the Continental Loan Office for the State of South Carolina dated the 24th ulto referred to them by Congress beg leave to report,
That no determination or indemnity can at present be given respecting the application of the monies received into the Loan Office aforesaid, and ought to be deferred until the accounts of said Office shall be exhibited for settlement, and it shall appear how and to what purposes the monies loaned as aforesaid have been expended, and that so soon as Congress shall determine where the Loan Offices for the States of South Carolina and Georgia shall be held, it will be proper to furnish the said Loan Office for the State of South Carolina with certificates for the purposes set forth in the letter above mentioned.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of William Gibbs, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of South Carolina, for twenty thousand dollars, for contingent expences of the said loan office; and for which he is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 459.]
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That on the application of Messrs. G[eorge] Walton, E[dward] Telfair and W[illiam] Few, delegates for the State of Georgia, a warrant issue on the treasurer in their favour, for thirty thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 467.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report on the letter of July 26th, from Major General Greene; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the absolute refusal of Major Gen. Greene, at this important crisis, to act under the new arrangement of the quarter-master general's department, has made it necessary that the office of quarter master general be immediately filled.
Resolved, That the Commander is Chief de and he hereby is authorized and empowered to appoint a Quarter Master General.
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed to inform Major General Green that the United States have no further occasion for his services, and that it is expected he will proceed immediately to the settlement of his accounts.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Henry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 453.]
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter of the 30 June last, from Brig. Gen. Moultrie; Whereupon,
Resolved, That whenever Congress shall be properly notified of the breach of parole given by any citizen of the United States, as a prisoner of war to the enemy, and the circumstances relating to the same shall be ascertained, Congress will take such order thereon as the law of nations and the rules of war shall require, and that in the mean time there is no cause to apprehend, from any such instance said to have happened, that prisoners who have duly observed their
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paroles can, upon any just principles, incur the danger of suffering by means of the misconduct of any other.
Resolved, That the paragraph in Brigadier General Moultrie's letter, of the 30 June last, which relates to the distressed situation of the American prisoners in South Carolina, be referred to the committee on General Washington's letter, of the 10th, to report thereon as soon as may be.
Resolved, That Captain George Turner be discharged from the office of commissary of prisoners, and that he deliver to Brigadier General Moultrie the bills of exchange which were given to him by Major General Lincoln, and that Brigadier General Moultrie, deliver the said bills back to Mr. Abraham Livingston, the drawer, taking his receipt, and make return of the amount of the said bills to the Board of Treasury and be accountable for the same.
Resolved, That Brigadier General Moultrie be, and hereby is, authorized to appoint a suitable person to act as commissary of prisoners in Charlestown, and return the name of the person appointed to Congress for their approbation, if they shall judge proper.
On motion of Mr. [John] Armstrong, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Folsom,
Resolved, unanimously, That Congress proceed to the election of a quarter master general:
Congress accordingly proceeded to the election, and the ballots being taken, Mr. Timothy Pickering was elected.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to consider and report the pay and terms on which Timothy Pickering, esq. shall serve as quarter master general:
The members chosen, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Artemas] Ward, and Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee, appointed to take into consideration the state of South Carolina and Georgia; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be informed, it is the sense of Congress, the land and naval forces, as well of his Most Christian Majesty, as of these United States, or such part thereof as he shall think necessary, be employed in the manner, and at the time that shall appear to him most convenient for the expulsion of the enemy from their several posts, in the States of South Carolina and Georgia, and that he concert with the officers commanding the fleet and army of his Most Christian Majesty, the proper measures for this purpose, and carry such measures into execution, so as not to interfere with any plan of operations formed against the enemy, as the more immediate objects of the present campaign.
That the Commander in Chief (if he shall think it necessary) concert with the proper officers and ministers, such plan of operations to be undertaken by any other of his Most Christian Majesty's forces, or by the forces of his Catholic Majesty now combined in the West Indies, or to be drawn from the province of Louisiana, or elsewhere, as may either immediately, or in their effect, facilitate or assist the proposed enterprize.
That Congress will, so soon as they shall be properly informed by the Commander in Chief, make the necessary requisitions from the states for supplies, and afford every other aid and assistance in their power for promoting and effectually prosecuting the undertaking.
That the recruits now raising in the State of Virginia, for filling up their quota of continental troops, be marched as soon as possible to join the southern army, under the command of Major General Gates.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal. The report, in the writing of Joseph Jones, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 399.]
Ordered, That the committee have leave to sit again.
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Ordered, That the Board of Treasury discharge the bill of exchange drawn by O. Pollock, 20 January, 1780, on the Committee of Commerce, in favour of William Pickles, by a European bill of exchange for the amount, viz. six thousand one hundred and forty six Spanish milled dollars.
The committee on the letter, of 10 July, from General Washington, delivered in a report.
The committee appointed to report the terms on which T. Pickering esq. shall serve as quarter master general, brought in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Timothy Pickering, esq. having been appointed quarter master general upon an extraordinary emergency, be continued a member of the Board of War; but that the exercise of all his powers at the said board, and his pay as a member thereof, be suspended during such time as he shall continue quarter master general:
That, while he holds the office of quarter master general, he have the rank of colonel, and the pay and rations of a brigadier general, over and above the pay allowed the quarter master general in the late arrangement of the quarter master's department.
The Board of Admiralty, to whom was referred the petition of David Lockwood, delivered in a report, which was read.
Admiralty Office Augt. 2d. 1780.
The Board of Admiralty to whom the petition of David Lockwood was referred, Report that there is no place in the Department of the Navy, in which he can be employed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 280.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of the Board of War, accompanied with an estimate approved by the said Board, a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Samuel Hodgson, assistant commissary general of military stores, on account
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of Colonel B. Flower, commissary general of military stores, for two hundred thousand dollars, to be applied in the department aforesaid; and for which the said B. Flower is to be accountable.
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury pay the sum of two thousand five hundred and eleven livres, twelve sols and six deniers, being the balance of the honorable J. Adams' account, adjusted by the chambers of accounts out of the bills of exchange drawn at sixty days sight on the honorable B. Franklin, in pursuance of the resolution of Congress, of the 19th day of May last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 455.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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