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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, DECEMBER 12, 1780
A letter from the Board of War was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
A letter from William Bradford, president of a convention of committees from the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York, with the proceedings of the said convention was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of five:
The members, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Jesse] Root, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [James] Madison.
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A letter, of 27 November, from the governor of Connecticut was read:
A letter from J. Pierce was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Bradford's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 33, folio 417, the proceedings being on folio 391; the Connecticut letter is in No. 66, II, folio 119; Pierce's letter, dated December 11, 1780, is in No. 165, folio 571.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed on the 28 November to state the balances due from the states, &c.
Congress took into consideration the report of the Committee on the Post Office; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the salary of the surveyor of the post office be three hundred and twenty dollars five hundred and eighty six dollars and two thirds of a dollar per annum, and four dollars per day for his travelling expenses while on journies; and that the said yearly pay have retrospect to the first day of September, 1777:
That the depreciation of money, as settled on the 28 day of June last, be made good, on the pay of the post riders, from the time the same was originally fixed, and that for the future, their pay be double the sum they received before the present war:
That the rates on postage of letters be fixed at half the rates paid at the commencement of the present war:
That for the future, the above allowance and rates be paid in specie, or money emitted in pursuance of the resolution of the 18 March last, or other money equivalent:
That the post riders to the eastward, during their necessary stay at Fishkill, have their horses kept in the public stables, and that a reasonable deduction be made from their pay for the forage they shall be supplied with.
Ordered, That the postmaster general lay before the Board of Treasury, as soon as may be, a state of the accounts and sums due to the post riders:
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That the postmaster general order the post riders to travel through Connecticut, at a distance from the sea shore, in such manner as may render them secure from attempts of a like nature with that which lately happened at Stratford, in that State.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folios 483 and 487.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
The Board further report
That the residue of the bills of exchange at six months eight be drawn on the Honorable John Jay Esqr, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Madrid set apart for the use of the Prisoners of war by the resolution of the 21st of April last and also
Ordered, That the bills of exchange, not subject to the order of the Board of War, drawn on Doctor Franklin, agreeably to a resolution of 23 day of August last, be deposited in the hands of Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pennsylvania, for sale, under the direction of the Board of Treasury.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 741.]
That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favour of William Kinnan, copper plate printer to the United States, for fifteen hundred dollars, in lieu of the warrant granted by the resolution, of the 8th instant, on Thomas Smith, loan officer for the State of Pensylvania, for the like sum, to purchase colours for the use of the rolling press, and that payment be made immediately; for which sum the said W. Kinnan is to be accountable.
That on the application of Mr. R[ichard] Howly, one of the delegates for the State of Georgia, a warrant issue on the treasurer in his favour for twenty thousand dollars; for which sum the said State is to be accountable.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 757.]
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Treasury Office Decr. 11, 1780
The Board of Treasury beg leave to inform Congress
That by their Report of the 10th. of Feby. last they recommended the Renewal of certain Bills of Exchange in favor of Blair McClenachan which have been lost at sea or captured by the enemy: which Report was afterwards withdrawn by the applicant on his gaining some intelligence that the said Bills had been carried into Bermudas, and that he was in hopes of recovering them. The Board being now informed by a letter of the 8th inst: from the said Blair McClenachan that he has taken every means in his power to obtain some information respecting them, but to no purpose, beg leave to offer their afsd. Report that; it may be now carried into execution.
The Board having taken into consideration a letter from George Fisher & Company of the 6th. inst: and an account inclosed signed by Jonathan Trumbull Junr. the Commissioner appointed to settle the accounts of the late Jos. Trumbull Commissary Genl. of Purchases by which it appears that in August 1777, the balance of the said account to wit £1729.6.10 New York money equal to 4323 3/9 1/0 dollars was due to the said George Fisher & Company and is now due for Flower and Bread delivered to the army of the United States, beg leave to offer the following Resolution
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasurer in favor of George Fisher & Company for the sum of four thousand three hundred and twenty three dollars and 31/90 payable in money issued pursuant to the resolution of the 18 March last in discharge of an account exhibited by the said George Fisher & Co. for bread and flour delivered to Joseph Trumbull late commissary general of purchases in the year 1776 and 1777 to be charged to the account of late Commissary General Joseph Trumbull deceased.
The Board beg leave to lay before Congress a State of the Bills of Exchange now remaining in the hands of the Treasurer of Loans and of Thomas Smith Esqr. (exclusive of the Bills to be drawn for the payment of interest)
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[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 753.]
Treasury Office Febry. 10th 1780
The Board beg leave to report the following resolution.
Whereas it appears by the certificate of Thos. Smith Esq. commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for the State of Pennsylvania, that he issued sundry bills of exchange for the payment of interest drawn by Francis Hopkinson Esq. Treasurer of Loans on the commissioner of the United States at Paris; in favor of Blair McClenachan of the City of Philada. Merchant dated the 10th. of June 1779 to the amount of three thousand six hundred and seventy eight dollars in the following numbers Viz. No. 118, 119, 120, 121, 124, 125 for six hundred dollars each No. 594 for sixty dollars and No 729 for eighteen dollars.
And whereas it appears by the deposition of the said Blair McClenachan, that the said Bills were indorsed by him, and made payable to the order of Aull & Morson, of the Island of St. Eustatia delivered to Joseph Erwin, Clerk to the said Blair [McClenachan] with directions to enclose them in a packet and send them forward, And whereas it further appears from the deposition of the said Joseph Erwin that he did enclose and deliver in a packet directed to Aull & Morson the specific bills mentioned in the aforesaid deposition of Blair McClenachan to John Burrows late Master of the Sloop Tryall.
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And it appearing also by the deposition of the said John Burrows that he "received some time in June 1779 a Packet from Joseph Erwin directed to Aull & Morson of the Island of St. Eustatia, the contents of which were unknown to him but said to contain sundry sets of bills of Exchange; that in the course of his passage he was captured by one of the Enemies Privateers previous to which he threw over board into the Sea a number of his letters and never afterwards having seen or heard of the Packet above alluded to he supposes it to have been among the number" tho' of this, the deponent could not be certain. For renewing of the said bills to the said Blair McClenachan without injury to these United States;
Ordered, That the treasurer of loans sign and deliver to Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, to be by him issued to Blair McClenaghan, eight serfs of exchange, viz. No. 118, 119, 120, 121, 124, 125, for six hundred dollars each; No. 594 for 60 dollars and No. 729 for eighteen dollars, amounting in the whole to three thousand six hundred and seventy-eight dollars, or eighteen thousand three hundred and ninety livres tournois, of the same tenor and date of those filed in the treasury office by the said Blair McClenaghan, excepting1 that each set is to consist of the 5, 6, 7, and 8th bills and to specify in the body of each bill that one only is to be paid; provided, nevertheless, that the said Blair McClenaghan shall previous to the issuing of the said bills give to the treasurer of loans a bond in the penalty of sixty thousand dollars, with sufficient sureties payable to the President of Congress, or his successor in office, for the benefit of the United States, for indemnifying the public or any person or persons who may be interested therein, from the payment of any of the original bills of exchange aforesaid.
[Note 1: 1 From this point the entries are by George Bond.]
That the treasurer of loans furnish the said Blair McClennachan with quadruplicate letters of advice, each containing an
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attested copy of the preceding resolve, to the commissioner or commissioners of the United States at Paris.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Paper of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 99.]
The committee to whom was referred Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter, of June 26th, from the honorable J. Adams delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the said letter be referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs, and that they be instructed to inform Mr. Adams of the satisfaction which Congress receives from his industrious attention to the interests and honor of these United States abroad, especially in the transactions communicated to them by that letter.
The committee to whom was referred the letter from the Board of War, of 28th November, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom was referred the letter from the Board of War of the 28 Novr. 1780, beg leave to report.
That in their option the causes of the distress under which the Garrison of Wyoming now labors, and has for some time past, originate from a jealousy subsisting between the States of Connecticut and Pennsylvania on account of a territorial claim. They find however that the Post of Wyoming was originally established by Congress as a necessary means for the defence of a frontier and for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants of that Quarter from the encroachments of the savages. That ever since its establishment it has been under the direction of Congress, the Board of War, or the Commander in Chief, has been garrisoned by Continental Officers and Soldiers and supplied with provisions from the Continental Stores. They do not therefore think it advisable that this post should be discontinued by Congress, until they are informed by the Commander in Chief, that it is unnecessary for the general defence. But your Committee are of opinion that it is becoming the wisdom of Congress, at the same time that they carefully guard the Citizens of these States against the attacks of the common enemy, to remove as far as is in their power every cause of Jealousy or discontent between States, which might endanger the harmony of the general union.
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Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed to report to Congress his opinion of the expediency of continuing the post and garrison of Wyoming, and how far that post may be considered as contributing to the general defence of the frontier of one or more of these states.
Resolved that should it be the opinion of the Commander in Chief that the said post necessary for the defence of the frontier against the encroachments of the enemy that the officers and men composing if he shall judge the post at Wyoming necessary, to relieve the garrison there as soon as may be, by troops from the continental army, not belonging to the lines of Pensylvania or Connecticut, or citizens of either of the said states; and that the present and future garrison continue to be supplied by the commissary general from the magazines of the continent, by purchase, or out of the quota of provisions raised by any State for the use of the continent.
Resolved, That the State of Pensylvania be informed of the steps Congress have taken to remove every subject of jealousy or discontent, and that they be requested to order the supplies which were stopped by Lieutenant Hunter, on their progress to Wyoming, to be immediately forwarded to that garrison, to relieve its present urgent distresses.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 115.]
The committee, to whom was referred the letter, of 30th November, from the president and supreme executive council of Pensylvania, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom was referred the letter from the President and Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania to their Delegates respecting Captain Harding's impressing seamen, Report,
That they have conferred with the President of the Council on the subject, Who informs that, having received repeated complaints against Capt. Harding for impressing men, they thought it their duty to lay the matter before Congress not with a view to hinder Captain
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Harding from pursuing his voyage, but that proper measures may be taken to prevent such practices in future.
Ordered, That the said letter be referred to the Board of Admiralty to take order thereon.1
[Note 1: 1 Here Charles Thomson resumes the entries. This report, in the writing of Jesse Root, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 41.]
A duplicate of the letter, of 26 June, from the honble J. Adams was read, with some papers not enclosed in his former.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), III, 818.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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