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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, DECEMBER 22, 1780
The delegates for Virginia laid before Congress a letter, of 21, from the Board of War, stating that there are three gentlemen citizens of Virginia who were taken in arms as voluntier militia men and carried to New York, that the enemy have admitted them to their paroles, that they are now here and want money to carry them home; that there is no provision made by Congress for persons in their circumstances; Whereupon,
On motion of the delegates of Virginia,
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury War advance to those three gentlemen so much money as may be absolutely
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necessary to enable them to proceed to Virginia, and charge the same to the said State.
A letter, of 21, from M. Ridley was read, requesting a duplicate of the safe conduct granted in pursuance of an order, of the 25 April last, which is lost:
Ordered, That a duplicate be granted.
A letter, of 20, from James Jay was read.1
[Note 1: 1 Ridley's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 331; that of Jay is in No. 78, XIII, folio 211.]
A letter, of the 15th, from General Washington, was read;2 Whereupon, on motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. S[amuel] Adams,
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, IX, folio 401.]
Resolved, That the paragraph of the letter from the Commander in Chief, of the 15th instant, which points out the pressing necessity of effectual measures for recruiting the army to its full complement, be immediately communicated to the respective legislatures or executives; and they are earnestly requested required, by the most decided and vigorous exertions, not only to urge forward the levying their respective quotas of troops, without loss of time, but to furnish the supplies of provisions and money assigned for their support, with such punctuality as will put the Commander in Chief in a condition, with the co-operation of our ally, under the divine blessing, to compel the enemy to relinquish their object of subjugating these states, and secure to us an honorable and permanent peace: and Congress once more remind the states, that the public safety essentially depends on their complying, without reserve or delay, with the measures adopted for an active and decisive campaign.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 119.]
A memorial of William Peck was read:4
[Note 4: 4 This memorial, dated December 20, 1780, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 138.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee for regulating the finances of the United States, and some time being spent thereon,
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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