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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 --FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1780
A letter, of 10, from W. Palfrey was read, signifying his acceptance of the office of consul.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, dated November 9, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 545.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [Isaac] Motte.
A letter from J. Lawrence, judge advocate, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, dated November 10, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No 78, XIV, folio 389.]
The following gentlemen were put in nomination for the office of paymaster general:
Mr. John Sanford Dart, by Mr. [Thomas] Bee; Mr. John Pierce, by Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
The committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 1st, from General Washington, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom were referred the letter from Genl. Washington of the 1st. inst: beg leave to report
That the Canadians who from an attachment to our cause have left their own country appear to be greatly distressed: and that justice and humanity require that some provision should be made for them: your Committee therefore beg leave to submit the following resolution:
Resolved, That Congress approve of the order given by the Commander in Chief to Brigadier General Clinton, to supply the Canadian families residing in the State of New York with a ration for each individual; and that the governor of the said State be requested to cause an enquiry to be made into their circumstances, to take them under his protection, and to give them such further assistance, at the expence of the United States, as he shall judge necessary.
Resolved, That the accounts of Capt. Traversie, for services done for the United States, by order of Major General Gates, be paid, and that the Board of Treasury liquidate his account; and that a warrant issue on the treasurer for the balance which shall be found due to him.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 313.]
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The Board of Admiralty, to whom was referred a letter of 1, from the minister of France, setting forth the several inconveniences resulting from the abuse the British make of papers or clearances they take in American prizes, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommended to the governors or presidents of the several states, who grant commissions for private vessels of war, that on the back of the commission there be inserted, a minute description of the persons of the captain and his lieutenant, with their age, stature, complexion, &c. respectively certified by the governor or president under his seal of office.
That where commissions, commonly called letters of marque and reprisals, are granted to armed vessels going on mercantile voyages, the master and his chief mate be required to undersign their clearances, in the presence of the naval officer of the port, who is also to insert on the back of the clearance, a minute description of the persons of the master and chief mate, with their age, stature, complexion, &c. respectively, and to certify the same under his signature and seal of office.
Resolved, That authentic copies of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the respective governors of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 531.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letter from J. Lawrence, judge advocate, and thereupon
Resolved, That the salary of John Lawrence, as judge advocate, be settled at the rate of 60 dollars per month, from the time of his appointment to the 27 of March, 1778, and from that day to the 1st of August last, at the rate of seventy five dollars per month: that the depreciation on his pay shall be adjusted on the same principles as are directed
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with respect to that part of the line of the army which is to be provided for by Congress: that from the 1st day of August last, his pay and appointments be one hundred and forty dollars per month and two rations per day, forage for two horses, exclusive of what is allowed to the office by the arrangement of the quartermaster's department:
That Mr. Edwards, besides his pay as a lieutenant, shall be entitled to an addition of fifteen dollars per month, as deputy judge advocate, and that Mr. Strang shall in all respects, excepting the rank of lieutenant, be entitled to the pay and appointments provided for Mr. Edwards, for the time he hath or shall continue to execute the office of deputy judge advocate.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read:
Treasury Office
November 9th 1780
The Board of Treasury on the Recommitment of their report dated the 7th. instant; beg leave to Report,
That Ezkl. Forman, a commissioner of the Board of Treasury was elected on the 9th. of November 1779 and that he obtained a warrant for thirty thousand dollars on account of his Salary in pursuance of an order of Congress of the 23d of June 1780.
That John Gibson another Commissioner of the Board was elected on the 25th. of November 1779 and did also obtain a warrant for twenty five thousand dollars on account of his Salary in pursuance of an order of Congress of the 16th. of May 1780.
That William Denning the other Commissioner of the Board was elected the 28th. of April last.
The Board further Report--
That Peter R. Fell was appointed a Commissioner of the Chamber of accounts the 16th. of June last and obtained a warrant on the Treasurer for 12,000 dollars on account of his Salary in pursuance of an order of Congress of the 14th of August last.
That on the application of Peter R. Fell a warrant issue on the Treasurer in his favor for eight thousand dollars on account of his salary for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 717.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [John] Henry.
On motion of Mr. [Artemas] Ward, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Adams,
Resolved, That the commissioners of the continental loan offices in the respective states, be and hereby are directed to forward to the continental treasury at Philadelphia, all such continental bills of credit as may have been from time to time lodged in their offices, pursuant to the act of Congress of the 18 day of March last; having first cancelled them in the mode prescribed by the resolution of the let day of September last, that they may be examined and burned.
On the application of the Board of Admiralty,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for one hundred thousand dollars, in favour of the said Board; and for which they are to be accountable.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letters from Colonel Pickering, Q. M. G. and J. Neilson; and thereupon,
The Committee to whom was referred the letter from Timothy Pickering Esqr Quarter Master Genl: and also the letter from John Neilson Esq. Deputy Quarter Master Genl: in the State of N. Jersey: beg leave to Report--
That the letters referred represent the extreme scarcity of Forage with the Army and at the several posts in the Jerseys, and the utter impracticability of procuring the same in any degree proportioned to the demand: and it being a fact well ascertained, that the scarcity complained of is owing wholly to a deficiency of Hay in the Country occasioned by a failure of crops the last season. That for the above reason it is become absolutely necessary to remove from the Army a large proportion of the horses, all of which for some time past having been principally supplied with Forage obtained by Military force: a measure ever disagreeable, and in the present case, highly injurious
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to individuals, and detrimental to the publick cause. That as the Campaign is now drawing to a close, and the Army going into Winter Quarters, the officers Sensible of the absolute necessity of the measure, will it is expected, chearfully dispense with keeping more horses in the Army than the Commander in Chief may judge indispensably necessary for publick and immediate service. That in case the inhabitants are suffered to retain a sufficiency of Forage for their own teams and stocks free from forcible exactions, they will be enabled and induced to transport the most, if not all the stores necessary for the Amy, on which account the number of draft horses in the Army, may be greatly reduced. Whereupon
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be, and hereby is fully authorised and directed to cause all horses in the army, whether of public or private property, to be immediately removed from thence, which in his opinion are not absolutely necessary to be retained for public use:
That all horses belonging to officers, for which forage is allowed, shall, in case they are removed beyond the distance from which long forage is brought to the army, be furnished with their rations of forage during the winter, or an equivalent in money paid for the same, if kept at the expense of the owners:
That the quartermaster general take immediate measures for removing all horses, the property of the United States, which, in the opinion of the Commander in Chief, can be spared from the army, into some one or more of the said states where he can provide the said horses with forage on reasonable terms:
That if it be deemed preferable by the Commander in Chief, that a proportion of the public horses should be disposed of for draft oxen, to be provided for the ensuing campaign, he be authorised to direct the quartermaster general to effect the same, in such manner as may be most beneficial to the public service.
That the quarter master general immediately apply to the executive authority of the states nearest to the quarters of
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the main army, to furnish such quantities of forage as may be in their power, to enable him to lay up proper magazines for the use of the army; and that he also apply to the more distant states to furnish the intermediate posts with forage for the purpose of transporting provisions and stores to the army, and provide forage for the horses removed from the army:
Resolved, That it is the fixed intention of Congress that the Bills of the New Emission of March last shall be made good to those who receive them in Specie Value and finally redeemed with Specie agreeable to the Resolutions of the 18th of March last; and that whenever Continental money of the old emissions is paid in discharge of publick Debts the same shall pass at the Current exchange between that and Specie at the time it issues from the Treasury, at what Valuations
That, as soon as the foregoing resolutions for the removal of the horses in camp are carried into effect, the Commander in Chief cause returns to be made to the Board of War, of all horses, both of public and private property, kept in camp at the public expence, and also of those removed, noting at what places kept and on what business employed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 157.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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