| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1780
A letter, of this day, from J. Laurens was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, folio 17.]
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [Jesse] Root,
Resolved, That the resolution for appointing a minister to the Court of Versailles be re-considered so far as to alter the stile and title of the minister.3
[Note 3: 3 The motion of Mr. Duane and the vote and proceedings following, are also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
A motion was then made by Mr. [James] Madison, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane, to strike out the words, "Envoy extraordinary," a division being called for. On the question shall the word "Envoy" stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Mathews,
Page 1178 | Page image
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
On the question shall the word "extraordinary" stand, passed in the negative; and the words were accordingly struck out.
A farther amendment was moved and agreed to by striking out the words "in conjunction with our minister plenipotentiary at that court."
On the question, Resolved, That in lieu of the words "envoy extraordinary," the word "minister" be inserted.
And the resolution as amended is as follows:
Resolved, That a minister be appointed to proceed to the Court of Versailles for the special purpose of soliciting the aids requested by Congress, and forwarding them to America without loss of time.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [John] Witherspoon,
Page 1179 | Page image
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take into consideration the case of the hon. Henry Laurens, made a prisoner on his passage to Europe, and said to be committed to the tower of London, on suspicion of high treason, and to report thereon: the members, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
On motion of Mr. [Samuel] Adams, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Bee,
Ordered, That the President write to our ministers plenipotentiary at the Courts of Versailles and Madrid, desiring them to apply to the courts at which they respectively reside, to use means for obtaining the release and exchange of the hon. Henry Laurens.
The committee on certain bills of exchange, drawn on the President of Congress, by a person subscribing himself Baron de Wulffen, brought in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee on certain Bills of Exchange drawn on the President of Congress by Baron de Wulffen beg leave to report,
That a Bill is presented for acceptance subscribed Baron de Wulffen on the President and members of Congress dated the 3d. of August last for 794 guilders and ten stivers Bank money payable to John de Neufville & Son of Amsterdam or their order and expressed to be for value received from them for the drawer's expences in Amsterdam and for embarking. That another Bill is presented drawn by the same person and in the like manner dated the 9th. of August last for 100 Guilders Bank money payable to Messrs. De Neufville & Son for the same purpose. That both the said Bills are endorsed by Messrs. De Neufville & Son. That it appears by the annexed certificate of one of the members of the Board of War that the Person styling himself Baron Wulffen never had any commission in the service of the United States, that he produced no satisfactory credentials, but it being conceived that he was acquainted with the inferior parts of discipline he was sent to the Baron Steuben at Camp, that a judgment might be formed whether he could or could not be usefully employed; the Baron finding him unqualified for the inspectorate turned him over to Capt. Vanheer of the Marechassé Corps who nominated him as a Lieutenant, and as
Page 1180 | Page image
such he was returned to the Board of War who knowing the impropriety of the appointment refused to recommend a confirmation of it to Congress. That Baron Steuben after this transaction informed the Board that for a small sum he could enable and pursuade Wulffen to leave the Country the Board furnished him with 200 dollars or thereabouts and it was supposed he went to Europe That the said Messrs. De Neufville & Son in the absence of the Honorable Mr. Laurens accepted the public bills of Exchange to a considerable amount, for the honor of Congress, and in the opinion of your Committee they are entitled to a like mark of respect from Congress. That a letter ought to be written to them by the President acknowledging and thanking them for their good offices and friendly disposition, and acquainting them that de Wulffen had no authority to draw upon Congress on any account, that they have ordered the Bill to be protested, but for the honor of Messrs. De Neufville & Son have directed it to be paid out of the public treasury and charged to their account and also cautioning them not to accept drafts on Congress in future unless they shall be satisfied that they are drawn by the immediate advice or authority of Congress or of one of their public ministers, and desiring that they will take the necessary measures to oblige de Wulffen to repay the money now advanced for their Honor as the endorsers, and your Committee submit the following resolutions
Resolved, That the two bills of exchange, the one dated the 3 August last, for 794 gilders and ten stivers, and the other the 9th of the same month, for 100 gilders, bank money, and signed Baron de Wulffen, both drawn on the President and members of Congress, in favour of Messrs. John de Neuville & Son, of Amsterdam, and expressed to be for value received from them for the drawer's expences, and for his embarking, and tendered to the President, be protested for non acceptance; but that, in consideration of Messrs. de Neuville & Son having accepted of several of the bills of exchange drawn by Congress on Henry Laurens, esq. in his absence, and for the honor of Congress, the Board of Treasury be, and hereby are, directed to take up the said bills, (paying the amount thereof to the present holders,) for the honor of
Page 1181 | Page image
Messrs. de Neuville & Son, who have endorsed them, and charge the same to their account in the treasury books, and that they inform those gentlemen of this transaction.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 237. Accompanying the report was a letter from Wulffen Peters, for the Board of War, to James Duane, giving the facts concerning Wulffen, as they appear in the report. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 241.]
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
The Board of Treasury beg leave to report,
That the said Board be authorized to dispose of as many Bills of Exchange, to be drawn on the Honble Benjamin Franklin Esqr. At Ninety Days Sight as will be sufficient to Pay the Rent of the Treasury Offices.
December 14, 1780.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, IV, folio 761.]
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury be and hereby are authorised to dispose of bills of exchange drawn on the honble. Doctor Benjamin Franklin at ninety days sight, to the amount of two hundred and fifty dollars; for which sum the said Board of Treasury is to be accountable.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |