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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 --TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1780
A letter, of 16, from the honorable the Minister Plenipotentiary of France, was read, informing Congress that he is about to leave Philadelphia, and to be absent for some weeks; but that Mr. Marbois will remain here in quality of his majesty's chargè des affaires, and hoping that, from his known attention to matters relative to the embassy, Congress will grant him their confidence; Whereupon,4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 59]
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Resolved, That the President inform the Minister of France, that, in his absence, they will readily continue their intercourse with the embassy of his Most Christian Majesty, through Mr. Marbois, as his Majesty's chargè des affaires, in whose abilities and attention to the interests of the Court of France and these United States they have just confidence.
On motion of Mr. [John] Henry, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Adams,
Resolved, That all the Journals of Congress and other public papers transmitted by the secretary of Congress to the supreme executive or general assembly of any of the United States shall go free of postage, and that they be accordingly franked by the secretary.
A letter, of 14, from Governor Jefferson was read, enclosing one, of 9, from Major General Gates:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 13, from Brigadier General A. Wayne was read.
A letter, of this day, from Doctor W. Shippen, director general, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee.
A letter, of 15, from Monsieur Malmedy was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Jefferson's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, I, folio 417; Wayne's letter is in No. 161, folio 225; Malmedy's letter is in No. 78, XVI, folio 81.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter, of 10, from General Washington, brought in a report; Whereupon,
At a Board of War Sept 19, 1780
Present Mr Peters Colo Grayson
The Board having considered the letter of General Washington of the 10th inst, referred to them by Congress, relative to the salted beef and pork lately arrived in sundry prizes in the State of Massachusetts Bay, beg leave to report for the consideration of Congress
That the Commissary General be furnished with the sum of to enable him to procure for the use of the army, a quantity of salted beef and pork captured from the Enemy, and arrived at Boston
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Should it not be in the power of Congress to furnish the money required, The Board beg leave to report,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the State of Massachusetts Bay, to take effectual measures for procuring, for the use of the army, a quantity of salted beef and pork, arrived in that State in sundry prizes captured from the enemy; [and that the State be informed that Congress will draw upon the loan officer in the said State for payment of the same, out of the new bills reserved for the use of the United States.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 563. The portion in brackets was added in Congress.]
The Board of Admiralty to whom was referred the letter, of 28 August, from J. Bradford, delivered in a report, which was read.
Congress having referred to the Board of Admiralty a letter dated the 28th. August last from John Bradford, Continental agent, at Boston, the Board beg leave to make the following Report.
That Mr. Bradford be directed to deliver all the Canvas in his possession as also all other goods belonging to the United States to the Commissioners of the Navy Board of the Eastern Department.
That the Navy Board of the Eastern Department be in future empowered to receive all continental prizes brought into any port within their District, and they be accountable to the Board of Admiralty for the same.
That the Navy Board of the Eastern Department be directed to reserve as much of the Canvas as they may deem sufficient for the immediate use of the Navy, or suitable for soldiers tents, and to sell the remainder with all convenient speed.
The following are extracted from letters received by the last post from the Navy Board at Boston
"That they are indebted considerable sums to tradesmen for fitting out the Trumbull and Deane Frigates and that large sums of money are immediately wanted for paying off the crew of the Alliance, who say they have received neither wages nor prize money in France. Continuing the 74 and Bourbon, together with laying up salt provisions, the Season for which is now approaching; that unless they
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are furnished with an immediate supply of money they can go no further" &c.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 317. It is indorsed: "Read September 19."]
The committee to whom were referred the letter, of May 12, from Mr. Glascock; and the memorial of Mr. [George] Walton, delivered in a report, which was read.
The committee to whom were referred the letter of 20 August, and subsequent letters from General Washington, brought in a farther report, which was read:
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be assigned for to morrow.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Messrs. [George] Walton and [John] Few, delegates for the State of Georgia, a warrant issue on the treasurer in their favour, for twenty thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 589.]
Resolved, That when Congress adjourn it be adjourned to 6 o'Clock this afternoon.
Resolved, That the order of the day, to proceed to hear and examine into and finally determine the disputes and differences relative to jurisdiction between the three states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, and New York, respectively, or such of them as have passed such laws as are mentioned in the resolutions of the 24 September and 2 October last, on the one part, and the people of the district commonly known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, who claim to be a seperate jurisdiction, on the other, be postponed till six o'clock.
On motion of the delegates of New York,
Ordered, That the secretary notify Messrs. Ira Allen, Stephen R. Bradley, Luke Knoulton, and Colonel Olcott, to
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attend this afternoon, on the hearing of the question respecting the jurisdiction of the tract of country commonly called the New Hampshire Grants.
Adjourned to six o'Clock.
SIX O'CLOCK P. M., SEPT. 19, 1780
Congress met, according to adjournment, and proceeded to hear, &c. the persons notified attending, when the following papers were read:
The act of the State of New York, passed October 21st, 1779, and the act of the State of New Hampshire, of November, 1779, both passed pursuant to the resolutions of 24 September and 2 October:1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of the act of New York is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, I, folio 269; a copy of the New Hampshire act is on folio 563.]
A commission to Ira Allen and Stephen R. Bradley, esqrs. dated 16 August, 1780, signed Thomas Chittenden, under a seal in the instrument, called seal of the State of Vermont:2
[Note 2: 2 This commission is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, I, folio 357.]
An appointment of Luke Knoulton, as agent on behalf of the inhabitants of Cumberland county, at a convention of the committees of the said county, held at Brattleborough, the 30 day of August, 1780, and signed John Sergeant, chairman, pro tempore.
An appointment of Peter Olcott and Bezaleel Woodward, esqrs. agents from the towns in the northern parts of the New Hampshire Grants, on both sides of Connecticut river, being part of a district known by the name of the State of Vermont, pursuant to a vote of a convention of members from the said towns, 17 November, 1779, signed Joseph Marsh, chairman of the said convention, and dated New Hampshire Grants, January 1, 1780.3
[Note 3: 3 Knoulton's appointment is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, I, folio 371; that of Olcott and Woodward on folio 309.]
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The delegates of New York, as agents for the State, delivered in sundry papers, which were read, with an intent to prove that the tract of country known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants, on the west side of Connecticut river, is within the limits of the State of New York; that the State of New Hampshire have acknowledged this, and that the people on the said tract have been represented in the legislature of New York since the year 1764.
[Adjourned to 10 o'clock to morrow.]
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