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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 19, 1780
Three letters from Gen. Washington, all dated the 15, were read, one of them enclosing copies of proposals for appointing a commissary of prisoners to reside with the American and British armies respectively; Whereupon,2
[Note 2: 2 The letter enclosing proposals for appointing a commissary of prisoners is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 275; another letter, announcing Henry Laurens's capture, is on folio 293; another, concerning a court of inquiry for General Gates and other matters, is on folio 297. The last is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), VIII, 496.]
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be authorised to carry into effect the proposals offered on his part, or to make any other agreement for the appointment of such commissaries of prisoners as he shall judge proper.
A letter, of 17, from A. Lee was read, with sundry papers enclosed.
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Lovell, seconded by Mr. [James] McLene, that the said letter with the papers enclosed be referred to a committee. After debate, a motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [John] Sullivan, that the motion for committment be postponed, which on the question passed in the negative. When the question for committment was ready to be put, a division was called for, and on the question for committing the letter exclusive of the postscript, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Duane, the letter being as follows.
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"Philadelphia, October 17th, 1780
"Sir, I must trouble your excellency to inform Congress of my arrival in this city, and that I shall obey their commands in giving them any information in my power, relative to the conduct of their private affairs. Your excellency will permit me to deposit with you the picture of the King of France set with diamonds, which the Minister of that monarch presented to me as a mark of his Majesty's esteem upon my taking leave of the Court of Versailles. But as it was in consequence of my having been a commissioner of Congress at that court, I do not think it becomes me to retain this present without the express approbation of Congress. It is with infinite pain that I feel myself obliged to mention to Congress that the manner of my dismission from the service of the United States implies a censure upon my conduct abroad and is injurious to my character. I have already laid before Congress the fullest evidence of the untruth and malice of the insinuations made against me. And as they all appear at length abandoned by those who made them, and the single assertion maintained of my having been disteemed at the French court, I desire to lay before Congress a copy of a letter from Count Vergennes in direct contradiction to that assertion, with two letters from my collegue, Mr. John Adams, as testimonials of my conduct, to which he was witness. Should any doubt remain in Congress that the insinuations made against me were groundless and malicious, and that I have discharged the public trust reposed in me with zeal and fidelity, I must beg of their justice to give me a full hearing at their bar upon the whole of the proceedings that concern my public conduct. I have the honor to be, &c."1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton) IV, 85, dated, erroneously, October 7.]
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the question,
Resolved, That the postscript be also committed.
That the committee consist of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Thomas] Bee and Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
A motion was then made by Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [John Morin] Scott,
That Mr. Lee be directed to lay before Congress all the information in his power relative to our affairs in Europe. After debate, the previous question was moved by Mr. [James] Lovell, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] McKean; on which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Duane,
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So it passed in the negative.
On the question to agree to the main question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Duane,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
A letter, of 17, from E. Blaine was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 361.]
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Treasury Office October 19th., 1780
The Board having considered their Report of yesterday in favor of Messrs. Chinn and Wells recommitted beg leave to report
That on the application of Edward China and John Wells Extra Commissioners of accounts a warrant issue on Gerard Banker treasurer of the State of New York in their favor for Thirty Passed. thousand dollars (part of the monies raised in said State for the use of the United States) to enable the said Commissioners to proceed on the execution of their Duties of Office, and for which the aforesaid Edward Chinn and John Wells are to be accountable
Whereas it hath been represented that the interest arising on sundry Loan Office certificates issued prior to the 10th day of Septr. 1777 remains to be paid, and doubts have arisen whether the said interest ought to be paid in the old currency or the new: for the removal of which Doubts the Board beg leave to submit the following Resolution
Resolved, That all interest that is or may be due on Loan Office certificates issued prior to the 10th. day of Septr. 1777 be paid by the Commissioners of the several Continental Loan Offices in the bills of credit emitted pursuant to the Act of Congress of the 18th. of March last.
The Board having considered the memorial of Mordecai Sheftall Report--
That his account of pay and subsistance as Deputy Commissary of Issues has been settled by the Pay Master General--
That for the hogshead of rum supplied by him the 15th. November 1778 per Colo. White's certificate amounting that day to fourteen hundred and eighty dollars he be allowed (agreeable to the Table of depreciation prepared in pursuance of the Resolution of the 28th. of June last) two hundred and fifty three dollars and 9/90ths of a dollar Whereupon they beg leave to submit the following resolution
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the Treasurer in favor of Mordecai Sheftall for two hundred and fifty three Dolls and 9/90ths of a dollar in bills of credit emitted pursuant to the resolution of the 18th. of March last for the payment of a hogshead of rum supplied for the use of the Southern Army.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 643.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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