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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 15, 1780
A letter, of 18, from Colonel Armand; and
A letter, of 12, from Jonathan Bryan, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 Bryan's letter, addressed to the delegates of South Carolina and Georgia, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 41; Armand's is in No. 164, folio 424.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, Mr. [Isaac] Motte, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland.
A letter, of 10, from J. Carleton, paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, was read; Whereupon,3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 60, folio 19.]
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Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, for one hundred thousand dollars, for the contingent expences of the Board; and for which he is to be accountable.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of Ephraim Blaine, commissary general of purchases, a warrant issue on Abraham office for the State of New York, John Stephens, Esquire, treasurer of he State of New Jersey in favour of the said Ephraim Blaine, for one hundred and forty nine dollars of the new bills emitted under the resolution of Congress of the 18 March last, and being part of the quota assigned to the said State in the tax of three millions called for by the resolution of 26 of August last, to be applied to discharge an account of Peter R. Fell for cattle supplied by him, the 15 September, 1778; and for which the said commissary general is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 721.]
Treasury Office Novr 14, 1780
The Board of Treasury represent to Congress
That they have been notified to leave the house where the several officers of the Treasury now sit: That they expect to be turned out shortly by a due course of Law.
That the Board have not been able to provide a house for the Treasury, That a large, convenient house may now be had in Second Street, between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, (the house David Franks formerly lived in,) at three hundred pounds Gold a year, and the owner pay the Taxes, or two hundred and fifty pounds a year and the Tenant pay the Taxes, but the Owner will not suffer the several Officers of the Treasury to sit in it.
The Board therefore submit to Congress whether the house above described shall be taken for his Excellency the President of Congress; and the Treasury removed to the house where his Excellency the President now lives.
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That house was originally taken for the Treasury, in which there is a sufficient number of rooms to hold all the Offices required by the ordinance establishing the Treasury, a conveniency the Board cannot expect to procure elsewhere.
That on the application of Mr. T[homas] Bee, one of the delegates for the State of South Carolina, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for forty thousand dollars; for which the said State is to be accountable.
That on the application of Richard Phillips, steward to the President of Congress, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for fifteen thousand dollars, for the use of the President's household; for which sum the said steward is to be accountable.
That on the application of Richard Phillips, steward to the President of Congress, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour, for six thousand dollars, on account of his [and his daughter's] salary; for which sum he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 725. The words in brackets are in the report, but not in the Journal.]
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Jacob Hiltzeimer, for twenty five 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.
The committee, to whom was referred the report of the Board of Treasury, of the 16 and 17 of October, delivered in a report, which being read and debated,
Whereas the value of the salaries of the officers on the civil list is rendered uncertain by being fixed at different periods, and admits of injustice being done centrary to the intention of Congress.
Resolved, That the salaries of the officers on the civil list, as fixed by the resolution of the 13th and 25th September last, shall have retrospect from that day to the 2d day of
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November, 1778; and that the value of all monies and articles received on account of salaries or due for articles furnished them since the said 2d day of November, shall be accounted for and ascertained, agreeably to the resolutions of the 28th Friday of June last; and all sums so found due after a balance sums is struck that the balances shall be paid in the bills of credit emitted pursuant to the resolutions of the 18th of March, 1780, any former resolution to the contrary notwithstanding.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 215.]
The committee, to whom was referred a letter, of the 9th, from the paymaster general, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury take immediate measles for completing the settlement of the accounts of William Palfrey, late paymaster general, agreeably to his request, that he may forthwith proceed to the execution of the office to which he was appointed on the 4th instant: that in the adjustment of his accounts an allowance be made for his pay and subsistence, at the rate fixed by Congress, before the 1st day of September, 1777, upon the principle established in the resolution of this day:
That Mr. Audibert be allowed, for his services as first clerk in the office of paymaster general, five hundred dollars per annum; and that a settlement of his accounts be accordingly made by the Board of Treasury on the principle above mentioned.2
[Note 2: 2 The report, in the writing of William Churchill Houston and James Lovell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 13. It was adopted without material amendment.]
The committee on the letter from Ephraim Blaine;
The committee on the motion of the delegates for the State of South Carolina, of the 28 of October last;
The Committee to whom was referred the motion of the Delegates of the State of South Carolina on a letter from his Excellency John
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Rutledge Esq. Governor of the Said State dated thelast, and who were instructed to report whether it will be proper to continue the loan offices on the present establishment, beg leave to submit the following resolution,
Resolved, That the Continental Loan officers of the respective States be and they are hereby directed not to receive any further loans of money into their several offices until the further orders of Congress, and they are directed forthwith to settle their several accounts and transmit them to the Treasury to be reported to Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 29, folio 191. It is indorsed by Thomson: "Delivered November 15, 1780; Read. August. 24, 1781, not to be acted upon."]
The committee on the report of the Board of Treasury, of the 14 of October; and
The Committee to whom was referred the report from the Treasury of the 14th. of Octr. beg leave to report,
That the money mentioned therein to have been received into the Treasury in Specie from the Commonwealth of Virginia was received at the rate of seventy five for one as part of the State's Quota; to the receipt of which on those terms the Commissioners inadvertently consented it being then the current depreciation that the money of the old emission passed for in relation to specie, without maturely considering the effect that such a step might have on the money of the new Emission.
That it was paid into the Treasury at sundry times by the Agents of a Gentleman who was indebted to the said State as will appear from information in writing communicated to your Committee by the Commissioners of the Treasury which is hereunto annexed and which your Committee beg leave to make part of their report.
Vide information from the Commissioners &c.--
Your Committee are of opinion that no act of Congress authorises the Commissioners of the Treasury or the Treasurer of the United States to credit or receive specie into the treasury at a higher rate than the difference allowed between money of the new emissions and that of the old by the resolution of Congress of the 18th. of March last, and that the toleration of any negotiation invalidating that resolution in the Continental Treasury would [be] most destructive to
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the credit of the new emission, they therefore submit the following resolutions:
Resolved, that the Commissioners of the treasury take especial care that all debts due to the United States treasury on moneys deposited there, be received in no other manner than is directed by the act of Congress of the 18th. of March last for fining the value of specie and bills of the new emission.
Resolved, that a copy of this report be inclosed and sent to the Executive of the State of Virginia, and that Congress inform the said State that they are ready to credit the said State for the specie on the principles of the Resolution of March last or to reimburse the specie aforementioned to the said State on receiving money of the old or new emission on the principles of the aforesaid resolution.
Resolved, that Congress are sensible that the specie mentioned to have been paid as above at the supposed depreciation of seventy five for one by the agents of Mr Carter Braxton, was not done in that mode by any authority of the Said State.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 213.]
The committee on the letter, of 13, from Colonel Armand, delivered in their respective reports.
Tis the opinion of your Committee that Congress having signified their pleasure on this subject on the 4th inst, they cannot without manifest injustice to the Officers in the army, and a violation of the resolutions of 4th, establishing the rank and rule of promotion in the army reverse their resolution of the aforesaid date.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 85. It is indorsed as agreed to November 17.]
Mr. [George] Plater withdrew his nomination of Colonel Stewart for the office of secretary.
The Committee to whom was referred the Report of the Board of Treasury of 9 November inst. and other papers, submit the following report:
That a warrant issue on Thomas Harwood, Esqr Commissioner of the Continental Loan office in the State of Maryland in favor of Ezekial Forman one of the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury for ten thousand dollars of the ballance of salary due to him.
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That a warrant issue on the managers of the United States Lottery in favour of John Gibson, one of the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury, for thirty thousand dollars in part of the balance of Salary due to him.
It is the opinion of the Committee that the report of the Board of Treasury for payment of a quantity of Rum seized for the use of the Garrison at West Point is accurate and agreeable to the Contracts exhibited by the owners, and that to the said report ought to be annoxed the following resolution.
That where payment cannot be made in the present bills of credit, an equivalent be paid in other current money.
That a warrant issue on the Treasurer in favor of George Measam, one of the Commissioners of the Chamber of Accounts for fifteen thousand dollars, part of the balance of salary due to him.
[That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith Esqr Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office in the State of Pennsylvania in favor of Ezekiel Forman 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, in the writing of William Churchill Houston, except the potion in brackets, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 211. It is indorsed: "Delivered November 15. Recommitted."]
Adjoined to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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