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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 --SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1780
Two letters, of 30 October, from Colonel Pickering were read:2
[Note 2: 2 These letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 192, folios 37 and 41.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Theodorick] Bland.
A letter, of this day, from J. Lawrence, judge advocate general, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIV, folio 385.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter, of 23 October, from the Board of War.
A letter, of this day, from the Board of War was read, enclosing a letter, of 26 October, from Colonel Butler at Wioming:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee on the letter, of 21 October, from General Washington.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the letter, of 30 October, from Colonel Armand, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
War Office, November 2, 1780
Present Mr. Peters, Col. Grayson
The board having taken into their consideration the letter from Col. Armand on the subject of his promotion beg leave to refer Congress to their letter of the 18th. of January last, which contains all they can say on the occasion, except, that since the letter was written, Col. Armand has served another campaign with reputation, and that
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some promotions have since taken place, Col. Morgan's particularly, which in some measure lessen the weight of the objections to his advancement.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, IV, folio 639.]
Resolved, That Colonel Armand be informed that Congress, from a sense of his merit and services, have already made an honorable provision for him; and that it is inconsistent with the arrangement of the amy to grant him the promotion which he solicits.
The committee, to whom was re-committed the report of the committee on estimates and supplies, brought in their report; whereupon, Congress passed the following resolutions:
Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommended to the several states to levy, in the proportions hereafter mentioned, a tax, equal in value to six millions of silver dollars, to be paid partly in the specific articles and at the prices hereafter enumerated, and the residue in gold or silver, or bills of credit emitted pursuant to the resolution of the 18 March last:
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[Note 1: 1 The original rough draft upon which this report was based is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 11. A note is added: "N. B. No provision is made in the foregoing estimate for forage as it was in the opinion of your committee impracticable to procure that article by proportioning it on the several states as heretofore. They therefore recommend that it be purchased by the Q. M. General out of the moneys arising by the foregoing tax." Another draft is in No. 34, folio 3.]
Resolved, That the articles aforesaid be delivered by the respective states on or before the several days hereafter mentioned, at such place or places, within the respective states, as the Commander in Chief shall direct, viz.
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Resolved, That each barrel of beef contain 240 pounds net; each barrel of pork contain 220 pounds net; each barrel of flour contain 224 pounds net:
That the beef on foot be delivered at such times and places as the commissary general shall order.
Resolved, That a return be made on the days aforesaid, respectively, to the Board of War, and duplicates to the commissary general.
Resolved, That the sums of money above mentioned be paid into the treasury of the United States, in four equal quarterly payments, and that the first payment be made on the 1st day of May, 1781.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 34, folio 7. From this point the entries are by George Bond.]
Resolved, That pork be received from any state in lieu of beef, or beef in lieu of pork, in quantities proportioned to the prices annexed to each, by the resolution of Congress of the 25th of February last:
That continental rum, or other spirits suitable for the army, be received in lieu of West India rum, in proportion to the prices assigned to each by the said resolutions,
That Indian meal, well sifted or bolted, be received in lieu of flour, in the proportion of 1½ pound of the former for one pound of the latter, to be issued to the army in the same proportion; provided that no Indian meal be thus commutable after the first day of March, without the approbation of the officer commanding in the department.
Resolved, That if it shall appear, on an adjustment of the quotas of the several states, that any State has supplied more than its due proportion in value, every such State shall be paid the value of the surplus at the rates aforesaid, in specie, with interest at six per centum per annum, from the
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time such surplus shall have been deposited as above directed; and every State which shall have failed to supply its due proportion, shall be charged with the deficiency at the rates aforesaid, and the like interest thereon, from the time that the same ought to have been deposited.
Congress proceeded to the election of a consul to reside in France, and the ballots being taken, William Palfrey Esqr. was elected.
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury cause payment to be made of the bill drawn by Major General Lincoln, for fifteen thousand dollars, in favor of Stephen Drayton, D. Q. M. G. and endorsed to Mr. J[ohn] Mathews.1
[Note 1: 1 Here Charles Thomson resumes the entries.]
[The Committee to whom General Wilkinson's Letter respecting the Cloathier's Department was referred, beg leave to submit the following Resolution, viz.
Resolved, That all the rules and regulations respecting the Cloathier's Department be and hereby are repealed;
And That it be recommended to the several States to furnish their Troops respectively with Cloathing until the fifteenth first day of April July next;
That all State Purchases of Cloathing on Continental account and all State appointments and regulations in the Cloathing Department be abolished on the said 15th first day of April July next--at or before which time the Sub and agent Cloathiers are to deliver to the Cloathier General or his order all Cloathing procured at Continental Expence which they may then have on hand, taking his Receipt therefor, a Duplicate whereof to be Transmitted to the Chamber of Accounts Board of Treasury.
That an assistant Cloathier be appointed by the Cloathier General for whose conduct he is to be answerable.
That the Cloathier General at or before the 1st day of June annually make and deliver in to the Board of War an Estimate of Cloathing and disbursements for Cloathing for a year from the first day of January November then next, That Congress may be enabled to furnish the proper sums and adopt the necessary measures for procuring the same.]
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That the Clothier General be authorized to appoint with the approbation of the Board of War four purchasing Agents and assign to each of them such districts as he shall think proper for who are from time to time to receive his instructions for procuring necessary Articles of Clothing. The Clothier General to have the immediate control over said Agents and is to be responsible for their conduct, And to prevent a competition in purchasing He is to direct the said Agents to transmit weekly estimates of the prices of Articles in their respective Departments, that the Clothier General, in conjunction with the Board of War may be enabled to make out an estimate of prices which, being received by said agents shall be the rule for governing their conduct in all their purchases.
That the clothing agents be and they are hereby directed to transmitt weekly general accounts of Prices of the Articles within their Department that the Clothier General with the Concurrence of the Board of War may so far as may be prevent Competition in Purchases and Extravagance in Prices.
That all non Commissioned Officers or soldiers Artificers and Waggoners who are or may hereafter be inlisted during the War be annually furnished with
The Dragoons to receive 2 pr of Boots and 1 pr of Spurs instead of the Shoes and Buckles and also a Horseman's Cloke every two years.
That summer Clothing be issued on the fifteenth Day of April annually and the winter Clothing on the first Day of November following, and on those days annually during the War.
That the Clothier General deal out the Clothing Regimentally and keep regular accounts against the respective Regimental Clothiers,
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taking particular Care to have the Clothing equally and impartially distributed when it is found incompetent for the whole Army.
That previous to the Days of General issue the Regimental Clothiers settle their accounts with the Clothier General and receive his Certificates of the Arrearages of Clothing due to their respective Regiments and present him with a return of the number of Men for whom Clothing is to be drawn on the day of General issue said return to be examin'd and certified by the Officers commanding their respective Regiments and signed by the Brigadier or Officer Commanding the Brigade.
That all extra issues for detachment or for accidental [loss] of Clothing be by Certificate of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment or detachment to which the non Commissioned Officers or Soldiers in whose behalf such application is made shall belong said Certificate being approved and signed by the Commander in Chief or Commanding officer of a seperate army.
That all Issues of clothing be made from the Magazines or Places of General Issue with the Army and to avoid the Necessity of detached Issues the officers commanding Parties or Detachments are to be answerable that they are supplied so far as may be from the Magazines or Stores with the Army at Camp previous to their leaving the army to which they belong. All articles imported from Europe to be received, and when necessary, made up and forwarded by the respective Agent Clothiers.
That no Article of Clothing be issued by the Clothier General his Deputies or Assistants but by returns and Certificates made and approved as aforesaid.
That no non Commissioned Officer Soldier Artificer or Waggoner who is not engaged during the War or for the term at least of one year be furnished with any Article of Clothing.
That the Clothier General from time to time notify the pay Master General of all surplusages of Clothing specifying the corps to which they belong.
That stopages may be made therefor.
That the Clothier General be authorized to appoint six Deputies and employ one Clerk and one Labourer with each allowing no more than current wages to the Clerks and Labourers.
That he make return to Congress of the Board of War of all Clothing on hand and Persons employed in the department with the wages given to each regularly once in every two months.
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That the Clothing Agents transmitt with every Parcell of Clothing purchased or imported and sent on to the Magazines an exact Invoice containing Quantities Species and, if purchased, Prices.
That if at any Time it shall be necessary in the opinion of the Board of War to make purchases of Articles out of the Clothing Department the same shall be done by the Agent Clothiers under the special orders of the said Board.
[The Committee beg Leave To Submit the following Resolution, viz:
Resolved, That on the application of James Wilkinson Esqr Cloathier General approved by the Board of War a warrant issue in his favor on Thomas Smith, Esqr Treasurer Commissioner of Loans for the State of Pensylvania for four Thousand Dollars of the new emission to enable him to Discharge in part the Arrearages due the officers in the Cloathing Department for which sum the said Wilkinson is to be accountable.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 257. The portions in brackets are in the writing of John Sullivan. It is indorsed by Thomson: "Report of the Comty on the letter offrom the Clothier Genl Delivered Nov. 4, 1780; read--Recommitted."
On this day was presented by the Board of War "A list of Colonels in the Service of the United States of America." It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, II, folio 193.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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