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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 --THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1780
A memorial from the auditors of the army was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial, dated October 3, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 59.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee formerly appointed to settle the salaries of the officers and clerks of the several boards.
The Board of Treasury, to whom was referred the account and memorial of Daniel Broadhead, having reported thereon,
That in the stating of Mr Broadhead's account no allowance is made for depreciation in consideration of which and the peculiar case of Mr Broadhead and the report of the Board of War thereon, the Board submit the following resolution:
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Mr. Daniel Broadhead, for six hundred and forty five dollars of the new bills directed to be emitted under the resolution of Congress, of the 18 March last, being a ballance due to him on his pay, rations and subsistence, including the time he was a prisoner with the enemy.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 603.]
The Board having also reported on the petition of J. Hamilton, which was referred to them; thereupon,
That agreeable to a Resolution of Congress of the 22nd. of November 1777, Henry Slagle Esqr. was appointed by the State of Pennsylvania to receive subscriptions on Loan, that the said John Hamilton did pay to the said Henry Slagle on the 15th. day of June 1778 five thousand six hundred dollars, which agreeable to the Table of Depreciation, under the resolution of the 18th. of March last, was worth when paid, the sum of one thousand nine hundred and eighty seven
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and 48/90 specie dollars; and on the 30th. day of September following he paid the further sum of nine hundred dollars which was then worth agreeable to said Table the sum of one hundred and ninety four dollars 24/90 and 6/8 making in the whole two thousand one hundred and eighty one dollars 72/90 and 6/8 Specie. That on the 18 of Novr 1778 the said John Hamilton, received in Loan Office Certificates six thousand five hundred dollars worth on that day on the table aforesaid one thousand and ninety four dollars and 20/90 which leaves a balance in favor of the said John Hamilton of one thousand and eighty six dollars 82/90 and 6/8 specie equal to forty three thousand four hundred and seventy six dollars and 70/90 which including four thousand seven hundred and eighty one dollars and 20/90 Interest amounts to the sum of forty eight thousand two hundred and fifty eight dollars; the following Resolution is therefore submitted--
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be, and hereby are, authorised to direct Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pennsylvania, to deliver to John Hamilton, loan office certificates to the amount of forty eight thousand two hundred and fifty eight dollars, in full compensation for the difference occasioned by the delay of granting him certificates on the periods when he actually loaned his money.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 603.]
A report of the Board of Treasury on the memorial from Mr. Malmedy was read; Whereupon,
That they have considered the Letter of Coln Malmedy of the 15th. of September last referred to them, and are of opinion, that in consideration of the Losses, sustained by the said Colonel, of his Baggage in the late action in Carolina,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Mr. Malmedy, for the sum of ten thousand dollars, to discharge the third bill of a sett of exchange drawn by Major General Lincoln in favour of the said Colonel Malmedy, dated Charlestown, April 28, 1780, at ten days sight for the said sum.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 605.]
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A report from the Board of Treasury, of 25 September last, was read:
Treasury Office Septr 25 1780
The Board of Treasury beg leave to report
That they have considered the letter from the Board of War dated the 16th inst. read in Congress the 18th and referred to them. That so far as the letter aforesaid has respect to the making up of clothing purchased by Otis and Henly provision is already made by a report from the Board of the 21st inst. for 30,000 dollars in the new bills on the Continental Loan Officer for the State of Massachusetts Bay in favour of Joseph Carleton Pay Master to the Board of War and Ordnance
That with respect to the apprehension of the Board of War respecting further supplies of clothing the Board can assure Congress, that the state of the Treasury will not admit of any advances of money for the purpose of purchasing clothing. That by the Ordinance of Congress of the 23d of March 1779, for regulating the cloathing department it is directed-- "When from a deficiency in the public stores, the Troops of any State shall not have received their allowance of clothing, the State Clothier is without delay to represent their wants particularly enumerated in a return for that purpose to the Executive Authority of the State to which he belongs requesting a speedy and adequate supply." And as under the resolution of Congress of the 18th of March last, six tenths of the money emitted agreeably thereto, remains to be disposed of by the States: The Board submit, whether an estimate of clothing wanted for the use of the Army should not be prepared by the Board of War, and the several States immediately called on to provide Clothing for their respective Troops.
The Board beg leave further to report That on the application of Charles Morse one of the Clerks in the Office of the Secretary to Congress a warrant issue on the Treasurer in his favour for 6,000 dollars on account of his salary1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 774.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three, and that they confer with the Board of War on the subject.
The members chosen, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell and Mr. [Artemas] Ward.
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The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 1st, from General Washington brought in a report; whereupon,
Ordered, That the President write to the executive of the State of Delaware, and urge them to forward with all possible dispatch the supply of Flour expected from that State.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the motion relating to the propositions of the Empress of Russia; and thereupon came to the following resolutions:
Her Imperial Majesty of all the Russias, attentive to the freedom of commerce, and the rights of nations, in her declaration to the belligerent and neutral powers, having proposed regulations, founded upon principles of justice, equity, and moderation, of which their Most Christian and Catholic Majesties, and most of the neutral maritime powers of Europe, have declared their approbation;
Congress, willing to testify their regard to the rights of commerce, and their respect for the sovereign, who hath proposed and the powers that have approved the said regulations:
Resolved, That the Board of Admiralty prepare and report instructions for the commanders of armed vessels commissioned by the United States, conformable to the principles contained in the declaration of the Empress of all the Russias, on the rights of neutral vessels:
That the ministers plenipotentiary from the United States, if invited thereto, be and hereby are respectively empowered to accede to such regulations, conformable to the spirit of the said declaration, as may be agreed upon by the Congress expected to assemble in pursuance of the invitation of her Imperial Majesty.
Ordered, That copies of the above resolutions be transmitted to the respective ministers of the United States, at
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foreign courts, and to the honourable the minister plenipotentiary of France.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 341.]
On motion of Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Whitmill] Hill,
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be and hereby is directed to order a court of enquiry to be held on the conduct [of] Major General Gates, as commander in chief of the southern army.
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be and is hereby directed to appoint an officer to command the southern army, in the room of Major General Gates until such enquiry be made.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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