| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1780
A letter, of 2, from Major General Greene was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 3, from Major General Greene was read.
A petition of J. Loring, late lieutenant colonel of 3 Massachusetts Regiment, was read; after debate,
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
Page 1005 | Page image
A letter, of 25 October, from Major General McDougal was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on his letter of 15th September last.
An account of Captain Leonard Cooper and of Ensign William Spencer was laid before Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 2d, from J. Boreman, deputy paymaster in the western district, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Greene's letter of November 2 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 459; that of November 3 on folio 467; McDougall's letter is in No. 161, folio 127; Boreman's letter is in No. 78, IV, folio 37.]
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to his pay be referred to the committee on the letters of 23 October from the commissioners of the Board of War, and that the remainder be referred to the Committee of Estimates and Ways and Means.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter, of 11 October, from Colonel Baldwin, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That Colonel Jeduthun Baldwin continue to receive the pay of colonel of engineers as heretofore.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 637. Another copy as an extract from the minutes is in No. 19, I, folio 193.]
A letter, of this day, from Major General Greene was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Major General Greene, for sixty thousand dollars, for which the said Major General Greene is to be accountable.
A letter, of this day, from Charles Lee, secretary to the Board of Treasury, was read, signifying his desire to resign:3
[Note 3: 3 Greene's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 155, I, folio 463; that of Charles Lee is in No. 78, XIV, folio 383.]
Page 1006 | Page image
Resolved, That his resignation be accepted.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That upon the application of James McCall and Jonathan Burral, extra commissioners of accounts, for travelling expences and other contingent expences of their office, a warrant issue on the treasurer, for fifteen thousand dollars for the purposes aforesaid; and for which they are to be accountable.
That on the application of Jonathan Burral, one of the extra commissioners of accounts, a warrant issue on John Lawrence, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Connecticut, for five hundred dollars, on account of his salary, in bills of credit emitted pursuant to the act of Congress, of the 18 of March last; and for which the said Jonathan Burral is to be accountable.
That on the application of James McCall, the other extra commissioner of accounts, a warrant issue on John Lawrence, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Connecticut, for five hundred dollars on account of his salary, in bills of credit emitted pursuant to the act of Congress, of the 18 of March last; and for which the said James McCall is to be accountable.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Massachusetts Bay, in favour of John Scollay, for one thousand two hundred and sixty two dollars and 56/90, in bills of credit emitted pursuant to the act of Congress, of the 18 of March last, part of the bills aforesaid subject to the orders of Congress, in discharge of an account exhibited by the said John Scollay and approved by the executive council of the State of Massachusetts Bay for the board of Major General Warren's children.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 705.]
Page 1007 | Page image
Treasury Office October 30, 1780
The Board of Treasury beg leave to report
That they have considered the memorial of Ralph Pomeroy referred to them and submit the following facts--That the said Ralph. Pomeroy was appointed a Commissioner to settle and pay arrearages of clothing due to the Troops of the United States for the year 1777, to be allowed the pay of an auditor of the army fixed by the resolution of Congress of the 5th of May 1778 at 5 dollars per diem, and by the resolve of Congress of the 3d of Septr following 50 dollars per month subsistance--That the said R. Pomeroy has received at sundry times from the Board of War and Pay Master General several sums which he credits in his account against the United States. The following Resolution is therefore submitted:
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be authorized to direct the liquidation of the accounts of Ralph Pomeroy agreeable to the Table of Depreciation under the resolution of the 28th of June last, and to report a warrant in favor of the said R. Pomeroy for the balance, in the new bills emitted under the Resolution of Congress of the 18th. of March last1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 695.]
Ordered, That so much of the report as relates to R. Pomeroy be referred to the committee on the letters, of 23 October, from the commissioners of the Board of War.
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read; Whereupon,
The Board of Admiralty beg leave to Report to Congress, that agreeable to a Resolution of Congress of the 25th of August, they agreed to retain Mr. Stone, a Pilot belonging to the State of South Carolina, and one of the four mentioned in the said Resolution, and to allow him fifty Dollars pr Day until the farther orders of Congress
The Board have been applied to by Mr. Stone for payment of his wages according to the above agreement, but not having any money in their hands which can possibly be spared for that purpose, they are under the necessity of representing this matter to Congress.
Admiralty Office Novr 2d 1780.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 443.]
Page 1008 | Page image
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of the Board of Admiralty for three four thousand four hundred and fifty dollars, to defray the wages due to Mr. Stone who was retained agreeably to the resolution of 25 August last, and that the Board no longer retain him in service.
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read:
Admiralty Office 21st. October 1780.
The Board of Admiralty beg leave to Report, that agreeably to the Resolution of Congress of the 5th. Instant, The following instructions conformable to the principles contained in the declaration of the Empress of all the Russias, on the rights of Neutral Vessels, be given to Commanders of Armed Vessels Commissioned by the United States.
Instructions to be observed by Masters and Commanders of all Armed Vessels Commissioned by the United States.
1st. You are to suffer all Neutral Vessels freely to navigate on the high Seas, or Coasts of America, excepting such as are carrying contraband goods, or soldiers to the Enemies of the United States.
2dly. You are not to seize or capture any effects belonging to the subjects of Belligerant Powers on board Neutral Vessels except contraband goods.
3dly. These Instructions, and the principles on which they are grounded, shall serve as a rule of proceedings in the United States aforesaid, on the legality of Prizes.
The Board beg leave to refer Congress to the Second article of the inclosed printed instructions as also to the XXVI article of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce concluded with his Most Christian Majesty, wherein the several articles of contraband are enumerated, and may with the approbation of Congress be inserted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 97, folio 447.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Samuel] Adams and Mr. [George] Plater.
A letter, of 3d, from J. Carleton, secretary to the Board of Ordnance, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 60, folio 11.]
Ordered, To lie on the table.
Page 1009 | Page image
A letter from the honorable the Minister of France was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, dated November 1, 1780, is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 111.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
Resolved, That the consul to be appointed to reside in France be allowed a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per annum, in lieu of all commissions for business done on account of the United States.
The committee, to whom was referred General Washington's letter, of 7th of October, delivered in a report, which being read, Congress came to the following resolution:
Whereas Congress have received information that John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert, three young volunteer militia men of the State of New York, did, on the 23d day of September last, intercept Major John André, adjutant general of the British army, on his return from the American lines, in the character of a spy; and, notwithstanding the large bribes offered them for his release, nobly disdaining to sacrifice their country for the sake of gold, secured and conveyed him to the commanding officer of the district, whereby the dangerous and traiterous conspiracy of Benedict Arnold was brought to light, the insidious designs of the enemy baffled, and the United States rescued from impending danger:
Resolved, That Congress have a high sense of the virtuous and patriotic conduct of the said John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac Van Wert.
In testimony whereof,
Ordered, That each of them receive annually, out of the public treasury, 200 dollars in specie, or an equivalent in the current money of these states, during life; and that the Board of War procure for each of them a silver medal, on one side of which shall be a shield with this inscription, "Fidelity,"
Page 1010 | Page image
and on the other the following motto, "Vincit amor patriĉ," and forward them to the Commander in Chief, who is requested to present the same, with a copy of this resolution, and the thanks of Congress for their fidelity and the eminent service they have rendered their country.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 311.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |