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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, OCTOBER 23, 1780
A letter, of 15, from Governor Jefferson was read, enclosing a letter, of 12, from Major General Gates, and sundry other papers containing an account of the defeat of major Colonel Ferguson:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Committee of Intelligence.
A letter, of this day, from Captain McClean was read, requesting leave to resign.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 20, from Lieutenant Colonel Diriks was read.1
[Note 1: 1 Jefferson's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 71, I, folio 461; that of Diriks is in No. 78, VII, folio 305.]
The Board of Admiralty laid before Congress a copy of the proceedings and sentence of the court martial on the trial of Seth Harding, captain of the Confederacy:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Admiralty, to take such order thereon as they judge proper.
Ordered, That two members be added to the committee to correspond with the commanding officer of the southern department:
That the said committee keep a journal of their proceedings and correspondence, which shall be subject to the orders of Congress, and at the expiration of their appointment, lodged in the secretary's office:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Madison and Mr. [William] Sharpe.
The delegates for North Carolina laid before Congress a letter, of 12, from the Board of War of that State, which was read; Whereupon,2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 105.]
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Ordered, That the Board of War forward all the arms which can be prepared immediately to the headquarters of the army in the southern department, subject to the order of the commanding officer in the said department.
Ordered, That the Board of War lay before Congress a state of the arms at the several magazines and other places; and that the Board of Admiralty also report to Congress the number of arms imported on continental account since the institution of that Board, and to what ports they have been brought.
A memorial of William Jackson was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial, undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IV, folio 404.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Mr. [Artemas] Ward laid before Congress a letter, of 11, from Colonel Baldwin which was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 21.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial of Doctor Solomon Halling was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial, dated October 18, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IV, folio 141.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Medical Committee.
Ordered, That a member be added to the said committee.
The member chosen, Mr. [Isaac] Motte.
A memorial from Captain James Nicholson was read:4
[Note 4: 4 This memorial, dated October 21st, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 525.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A letter, of 16, from General Washington was read, with sundry papers enclosed:5
[Note 5: 5 A draft of this letter is in Washington Papers, A. V., pt. II, 277; three of the six enclosures are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folios 303--307.]
Ordered, That the letter, with such of the papers enclosed as relates to the citizens of South Carolina, said to be confined on board a ship of war, be referred to the committee on the letter, of 28 August, from Major General R. Howe.
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Ordered, That a member be added to the said committee, in the room of Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, who is absent. The member chosen, Mr. [John] Sullivan.
Congress proceeded to the election of [a] major general, and the ballots being taken, Brigadier Samuel Holden Parsons was elected.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [James] Duane, a delegate for the State of New York, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for fifteen 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 653.]
That on the application of Mr. [Richard] Howly, a delegate for the State of Georgia, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for fifteen thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph is in a report in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 609.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of H. Pendleton, Esquire. After debate,
The Committee to whom was referred the consideration of the petition of Henry Pendleton Esq.r beg leave to report the following Resolve, Viz,
Resolved, that it is not expedient to grant the prayer of the petition of Henry Pendleton Esq.r3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Artemas Ward, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 71.]
Ordered, That it be postponed.
On application of the delegates of South Carolina,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in their favour, for twenty thousand dollars for the special and particular use of the said State, which is to be accountable.
On the application of Mr. [John Morin] Scott, a delegate for the State of New York,
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Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for fifteen thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter from E. Blaine, commissary general of purchases, delivered in a report, which was read:
Ordered, That the consideration thereof, and also of the report of the Committee of Estimates and Ways and Means be an order for to morrow.
A report from the Board of Treasury, relative to the 300,000 dollars sent to the State of Georgia, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 From this point the entries are by George Bond.]
Treasury Office Octr 17th 1780.
In compliance with a Resolution of Congress of the 13th. instant, directing the Board of Treasury to enquire to whom the 300,000 dollars, granted on the 12th. of February last, for the use of the State of Georgia have been paid, and how the same have been applied:
The Board beg leave to report--
That the Hon'ble Richard Howley has laid before the Board a Letter dated Camden, from Joseph Gray and John White, Escorts employed by the Board of War--Copy of which follows.
Camden May 3rd. 1780
Sir,
On Sunday the 30th. ult, we arrived in this place from Philadelphia charged with 300,000 dollars from Congress for your Excellency which you will please to send on an agent for to Camden, where we shall wait for his arrival, and oblige--
Your Excellency's very humble servants
Joseph Gray, Escort to the Board of War.
John White, Escort Board of War.
Joseph Gray and John White the Escorts aforesaid have also appeared and laid before the Board sundry papers relative to the money aforesaid, Copies whereof follow--
Augusta May the 9th. 1780.
Georgia--In Council--Resolved, That his honor the Governor, be requested to take proper measures, for having brought into this State,
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the sum of 300,000 dollars sent by an Escort by the Board of War from Congress and which are now at Camden
Extract from the Minutes,
SamL Stirk, S. E. [C.]
Augusta, May the 10th 1780
Gentlemen,
You will please to deliver unto Captn. John Hardy, the Bearer of this, the sum of 300,000 dollars, which you have informed me to be arrived, by your letter of the 3rd. instant, his receipt will be a sufficient discharge--
I am your humble servant
Richard Howley
To, Messrs Joseph Gray and
John White Escorts of the
Board of War
Camden May the 13th. 1780
Received of Wm Palfrey Esqr Pay Master General by the hands of Messrs White and Gray Escorts, by order of the Hon'ble Richard Howley Esqr Governor of the State of Georgia the sum of 300,000 dollars for the said State having signed two receipts of the same date and tenor for the same
John Hardy
The Hon'ble Mr. Howley informs the Board that John Hardy aforesaid, is one of the Treasurers for the State of Georgia that the 300,000 dollars aforesaid, went into the Treasury of the said State and was applied in various ways under the direction of the Governor and Council.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 625]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury OfficeOctr 16 1780
The Board of Treasury Beg leave to Report,
That it appears by the affidavit of Edward Charleton on oath exhibited and filed that two sets of Bills of Exchange, for thirty six dollars each, numbered 2516 and 2517, each dated the 20th. of April 1780 on the Commissioners at Paris in favor of Wm. Finnie and duly issued from the Continental Loan office for the State of Pennsylvania were in his Pocket Book which he lost with the sets of Exchange
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aforesaid in the same, the Truth whereof they have no reason to doubt, and therefore beg leave to submit the following Resolution
Resolved, That the treasurer of loans deliver to Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, to be by him issued to William Finnie, two setts of bills of exchange, on the commissioners at Paris, for the payment of interest due on loan office certificates, for thirty six dollars each, dated the 20th April, 1780, numbered 2516 and 2517, each set to consist of the 5, 6, 7 and 8 bills, one of the eight only to be paid.
That the treasurer of loans furnish the said William Finnie with quadruplicate letters of advice, each containing a certified copy of this resolution; and that the aforesaid William Finnie enter into bond to the loan office aforesaid, on behalf of the United States, with two or more sufficient freeholders as securities, in double the amount of the value of the said bills, with condition to indemnify the United States against the holder or holders of any of the bills aforesaid, the first four sets of which are said to be lost.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 633. Here Charles Thomson begins the entries.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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