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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 --WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1780
A letter, of 4, from General Washington was read.3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152. IX, folio 343.]
A letter from the inspectors of the press was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letters, of 23 October, from the commissioners of the Board of War.
A petition from a number of the freemen of the State of Pensylvania was read:4
[Note 4: 4 This petition, undated, praying retaliation, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 246.]
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On which a motion being made,
Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed.
The delegates for New York laid before Congress three letters from the legislature of that State:1
[Note 1: 1 Two of the letters are dated October 7, 1780. They are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folios 314 and 318. The third is dated October 10, 1780, and is in No. 67, II, folio 322.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [John] Henry, Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
Ordered, That the letter, of 3d, from J. Carleton, secretary of the Board of Ordnance, with the letter enclosed from Captain Thomas Wylie, be referred to the committee on the report of the Board of War and letter from S. Hodgson.
Ordered, That a member be added to the committee on the report of the Board of Treasury, in the room of Mr. [Thomas] McKean.
The member chosen, Mr. [George] Plater
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office November 7 1780.
The Board of Treasury beg leave to lay before Congress the application of Jacob Hiltzheimer for sixty thousand dollars for the purposes in his letter set forth, with his account of receipts and expenditures, on which application the Board submit the following report.
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer, in favour of Jacob Hiltzeimer, for sixty thousand dollars, to enable him to purchase forage for the horses under his care belonging to members of Congress; and for which he is to be accountable.
That a Warrant issue on the Treasurer in favor of William Denning one of the Commissioners of the Board [of] Treasury for forty thousand dollars on account of two quarters salary now due to him, and for which he is to be accountable.
That a Warrant issue on Thomas Harwood Esqr Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office in the State of Maryland in favor of
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Ezekiel Forman one of the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury for fifty thousand dollars on account of three quarters salary now due to him, and for which he is to be accountable.
That a Warrant issue on the Managers of the Lottery in favor of John Gibson one of the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury for twenty thousand dollars in part of the balance of salary due to him.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 711. It is indorsed: "First paragraph passed. The remainder recommitted that the board may report the time of service and the sums advanced to the gentlemen mentioned."]
Ordered, That the remainder be re-committed.
Ordered, That the report of the Board of Treasury of the 16 of October, be referred to the committee on the letters, of 23 October, from the commissioners of the Board of War.
The Committee of Estimates and of Ways and Means delivered in a report.
The Committee of Ways and Means, Report,
Whereas it is necessary in order to provide funds for the discharge of such foreign debts as the United States have already contracted and to enable them to make such further loans as the public Exigeneies may require That certain stated revenues be assigned for that those purpose[s]:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislatures of each of the United States to impose without delay a duty of two and one half per cent on all exports being of the growth or manufacture of either any of the said States or the produce of the fisheries and a similar duty upon all imports except military stores and except also cloathing imported on account of the United States.
Resolved, That in order to prevent frauds in the collection of such duties it be recommended to the several States to vest the appointment of the officers necessary for that purpose in Congress.
Resolved, That all such duties be paid in specie or in kind.
Resolved, That the money raised by such duties be applied to the discharge of such debts as have been or may be hereafter contracted with foreign powers and to no other use whatever.
Resolved, That Books containing a true state of such debts be open at the Treasury Board for the inspection of the Delegates or Agents of the respective States to the inspection of the legislatures of State by their respective committees and that the said duties cease when the said foreign debts are discharged.
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Resolved, That a committee be appointed to the Board of Treasury adjust a tariff of all exports and imports and to form a plan for the collection of such duties that the same being adopted by the respective Legislatures may render the system equal and uniform.
Resolved, That it be recommended to every State that shall have passed laws above recommended for the purposes aforesaid to repeal all laws containing embargoes and restrictions on trade and embargoes now in force in such state taking care at the same time that their several quota of supplies for the Army be provided effectually secured.
Resolved, That the Treasury take immediate measures to ascertain the value of the exports and imports from and into the several ports of the United States and lay before Congress an estimate thereof.
Resolved, That copies of such estimates be transmitted to the Minister of the United States at the Court of Versailles and Madrid, and that they be empowered to enter into stipulations for the repayment of such sums of money as they may borrow, out of the said funds and pledge the faith of the United States to make up any deficiency in the same.
And whereas Congress have recommended to the States of Virginia and Maryland to raise by Assessment upon their respective Inhabitants a certain quantity of Tobacco amounting to--
And whereas it appears by a return from Virginia that they will have on hand 4000 hogsheads by the 1st day of Jany. next.
Resolved, That Dr. Franklin the minister at the Court of Versailles of these States be directed to pledge the same for the repayment of a sum of Money equal to its value with 5 pr Cent interest the same to be paid delivered at some port in Chesapeake Bay.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the said States of Virginia and Maryland to take the necessary measures for the delivery of the Tobacco assessed on the said States to the order of the Minister of the United States at the Court of his most Christian Majesty Versailles.
Resolved, That Bills of Exchange to the Amtt. of £100,000 sterg. be drawn on Mr. Jay at 6 months sight and disposed of under the directions of the Board of Treasury at par for specie or new Bills of Credit issued agreeable to the resolutions of the 18th March last or for the highest exchange in the Bills of Credit emitted by Congress.
Resolved, That Bills of Exchange to the Amt. £30,000 sterlg. be drawn on Doctr [Franklin] to be disposed of on like conditions as above by the Board of Treasury,
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And whereas it is absolutely necessary to assign some fixed and stated revenue to be applied to the use of the navy that they may be enabled more effectually to protect protection may be afforded to the trade of these United States.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the respective States to impose a duty of 5 pr. Cent on the value of all prizes taken from the enemy to be collected by officers of the United States empowered by each State for that purpose which impost shall be applied solely to the use of the navy of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, undated, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 34, folio 11.]
Congress took into consideration the draught of the circular letter; and after debate,
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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