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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 --TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1780
A letter, of 25, from Mr. J[ohn] Sullivan was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [Willie] Jones and Mr. [Jesse] Root.
The Medical Committee laid before Congress a letter of this day from Thomas Bond, purveyor of the hospital:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 49.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
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A petition from Jacob Watson was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This petition, dated November 27, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VIII, folio 204.]
Ordered, That it be transmitted to E. Blaine, commissary general.
A petition from John Taggart, and a petition of sundry persons owners of rum seized, were read:
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A letter, of 15 [17], from J. Sumner was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 27, from the Board of War was read:2
[Note 2: 2 Sumner's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XX, 609; that of the Board of War is in No. 148, I, folio 229.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members chosen, Mr. [Richard] Howly, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland.
A letter, of this day, from Mr. [Isaac] Motte, a member of the Board of Treasury, was read, stating, that on examining the certificates, it appears, that of the 1400 dollars, reported in favour of Mr. Bryan, 800 were advanced by him on the 9th March, 1777, and 600 on the 2 March, 1778.3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, III, folio 37.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.
A petition of Philip Lyon and others was read:4
[Note 4: 4 This petition, dated November 20,1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 537.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
On motion of Mr. [John] Sullivan, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland,
Ordered, That the Commander in Chief, the commanding officer in the southern department, the inspector general, the adjutant general, and the commanding officer of each states' line, respectively, be supplied with the journals of Congress, for the use of the army.
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Some doubts having arisen in the minds of the general officers, whether the resolution of the 21st of October last, granting half pay for life to the officers who shall remain in service to the end of the war, was meant to extend to them:
Resolved, That the said half pay for life be extended to all major-generals and brigadiers general, who shall continue in service to the end of the war and that the resolution of 21 October was so meant and intended.
A certificate in favour of James Warren, Esquire, by the Commercial Committee was laid before Congress:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury, to devise ways and means for paying the money certified to be due to the said Mr. J. Warren.
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Adams,
Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to state the balances due from the respective states on the several requisitions of Congress and to prepare a letter requesting the discharge of those balances indispensably necessary to carry on the war:
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Jesse] Root, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston.
Resolved, That three members be added to the Commercial Committee:
The members chosen, Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [Thomas] Bee, Mr. [Jesse] Root.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office Novr. 28, 1780
The Board of Treasury having considered the letter from Charles Pettit Esqr. Asst. Qr. Masr. Genl. dated the 13th of Novr. inst: inclosing copies of two letters of the 5th and 8th instant from Col T. Pickering, beg leave to report
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Nicholas Gilman, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of New
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Hampshire, in favour of Charles Pettit, assistant quarter master, on account of Colonel T. Pickering, Q. M. G. for one hundred and eighteen thousand eight hundred and seventeen dollars and 19/90 of the old emissions, for the use of the department of the said Q. M. General; and 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 731.]
Ordered, That Saturday next be assigned for electing a secretary to the embassy at the Court of Versailles.
A letter, of this day, from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of the paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, for eight thousand dollars, for the purpose expressed in their said letter.2
[Note 2: 2 The letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, I, folio 403.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the instructions reported by the committee, to accompany the letter agreed to the 22d instant; and the same being amended were agreed to.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [James] Madison and Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, appointed to prepare instructions to the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles, Congress agreed to the following instructions to Dr. Franklin:
Sir,
1. The memorial letter to his most Christian Majesty which accompanies these instructions you will present deliver without loss of time. and exert your utmost abilities and diligence and exertions to give it success You will on all occasions, and in the strongest terms, represent the unalterable resolution of these United States to maintain their liberties and independence, and inviolably to adhere to the alliance at every hazard, and in every event. That the misfortunes of the last
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campaign instead of repressing, have redoubled their ardour. That Congress are resolved to employ every resource in their power to expel the enemy from every part of the United States, by the most vigorous and decisive co-operation with the marine and troops of their illustrious ally. That they have called for a large powerful army, and ample supplies of provisions, and that the states are disposed effectually to comply with their requisitions. That, if in aid of our own exertions, the Court of France can be prevailed on to assume a naval superiority in the American seas, to furnish the arms, ammunition and clothing specified in the estimate herewith transmitted, and to assist us with the loan mentioned in the memorial letter, we flatter ourselves, that under the divine blessing, the war must be speedily terminated with glory and advantage to both nations. To procure these necessary aids you will employ unremitted attention, and your utmost abilities. Your own knowledge of our circumstances, and the facts suggested in the memorial letter, will supply you with abundant arguments to support enforce our requisition.
2. You will give Colonel Palfrey, lately paymaster general for our armies, and now our consul general for the Kingdom of in France, all the support which is necessary for the exercise of his consular functions, as well as for the effectual execution of the special authority and instructions which he will communicate. The past sufferings of our army for want of the clothing and arms which the grant of his Most Christian Majesty and your own despatches gave us reason to expect, and the absolute and increasing necessity of their being immediately forwarded, to give efficacy to our future operations, will sufficiently impress upon you the dangerous consequences of a further disappointment.
3. With respect to the loan, we foresee, that the sum which we ask will be greatly inadequate to our wants:
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not amounting even to a year's pay of the great army which we are drawing into action and on a permanent establishment We wish, however, to depend as much as possible on our own internal exertions. In this negotiation the state of our finances requires, that you should endeavour to procure as long a respite after the war, for payment of the principal, as may be in your power. You may agree for an interest not exceeding the terms allowed or given on national security in France and Holland Europe, endeavouring to suspend the discharge of the interest for two or three years, if possible.
[You are hereby empowered to pledge the faith of the United States, by executing such securities or obligations for the payment of the money as you shall think proper; and also that the interest shall not be reduced, nor the principal paid, during the term for which the same shall have been borrowed, without the consent of the lenders, or their representatives.] You are to stipulate for the payment of both principal and interest in specie.1 The loan must prove ineffectual, unless the
[Note 1: 1 The following motion was made with reference to this part of the report. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 393.
Provided the said minister shall on no consideration be authorised and that you are to stipulate for the payment of either both principal and interest of the said debt in any of the commodities in specie of either of these states.
Motion by Mr [John Mathews] seconded by
Moved by Mr [John] Mathews to strike out the words "provided" "shall on no consideration be authorised" "either" "in any of the commodities of either of these United States" and on the question shall those words stand the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland,{table}
So it passed in the negative.]
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specie is actually remitted. Experience has shown that the negotiation of bills is attended with unsupportable loss and disadvantage. His Most Christian Majesty, we are persuaded, will see in the strongest light the necessity of despatching an effective naval armament to the American seas. This is a measure of such vast moment, that your utmost address will be employed to give it success. By such a conveyance, the specie may be remitted, in different ships of war, with a prospect of safety. If however it can be obtained atper cent you are authorized to effect it taking care that none but men of unexceptionable fortunes be permitted to under write.
4. We have received a letter from Stephen D'Audibert Caille, at Salè, of which the enclosed is a copy, wherein he styles himself consul for unrepresented nations at the court of the emperor of Morocco. If you shall see no objections to the contrary, you will correspond with him, and assure him in the name of Congress, and in terms the most respectful to the emperor, that we entertain a sincere disposition to cultivate the most perfect friendship with him, and are desirous to enter into a treaty of commerce with him; and that we shall embrace a favourable opportunity to announce our wishes in form.
You are to take upon yourself as far as may be consistent with your present functions the office of adjusting preliminaries for a treaty with that prince according to the form articles herewith forwarded provided that: you shall conceive it for the honor and interest of the United States to make such advances; and it shall be agreeable to the court at which you reside.1
[Note 1: 1 These instructions were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affaire. They are printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 163. The draft, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 371, except the portion in brackets, which is an amendment and is on folios 393 and 395.]
Adjoined to 10 o'Clock tomorrow.
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