| 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 --FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1781
A letter, of 4, from John Wharton, one of the navy board of the middle district, was read, desiring leave to resign;
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A letter, of 4, from John Sandford Dart, was read, accepting the office of auditor to the southern army.1
[Note 1: 1 Wharton's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 293; Dart's letter is in No. 78, VII, folio 323.]
Resolved, That two members be added to the committee appointed on the 3d instant to confer with the supreme executive of the State of Pensylvania, on the subject matter of the intelligence received that day; and that the said committee be instructed to act in concert with the said executive, and fully empowered to take such measures as may appear necessary to quiet the disturbances in the Pensylvania line:
The members added, Mr. [Samuel John] Atlee and Mr. [Theodorick] Bland.
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of the committee aforesaid on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for twenty-five thousand dollars, for defraying their expences.
The committee to whom was re-committed their report on the letter of James McComb brought in another report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That bills of exchange on the minister plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Versailles for twelve hundred pounds sterling, payable at 90 days sight, be prepared by the Board of Treasury and delivered to the Board of War, and negotiated for purchasing under their direction cloathing for the Jersey line.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
Resolved, That a warrant issue on the treasury of the State of New Jersey in favour of John Pierce, deputy paymaster, for £2000 five thousand dollars of the new emissions
Page 26 | Page image
agreed to be advanced by the said State towards the pay of the army.
A letter, of 26 December, from P. Schuyler, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 The report on McComb's letter, in the writing of James Duane, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 9. Schuyler's letter is in No. 153, III, folio 589.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The Committee to whom was referred the Petition of George Fisher late of the City of New York biscuit baker, Report.
That presuming that Congress intended by the resolutions of the 26th. of August last to give relief to all who have furnished supplies for the war and who have suffered by the depreciation of the paper currency, as well on settled as unsettled accounts, your Committee are of opinion, That the Petitioner is entitled to the relief provided by the said resolution if upon a resettlement it shall appear that payments have not been duly made, and in order that all creditors on settled as well as unsettled accounts may be enabled to obtain such liquidations of their respective accounts as will enable them to avail themselves of the relief provided by the said resolutions of the 26th. of August last, your Committee submit that it be,
Resolved, That all accounts of creditors to the United States who have furnished supplies for the Army, or for the transportation thereof which have been settled may be resettled agreeably to the rules laid down in the resolution of the 26th. of August last, and that all such creditors whose accounts shall be so resettled be entitled to the relief provided by the said resolution.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 281.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of George Fisher, and it appearing that the said George Fisher served as a baker to the army of these States in the years 1777, 1778 and 1779, and in the course of his business borrowed large sums of money to purchase flour which he baked into bread and delivered to the army; that, upon the settlement of his accounts with the commissary in December, 1779, he was allowed only the nominal sums advanced by him as aforesaid, which he received
Page 27 | Page image
in May, 1780; and that the sums borrowed and applied as aforesaid are still due and must be paid according to the value at the time of borrowing them, making good the depreciation; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the settlement of the accounts of George Fisher aforesaid be revised and settled by the commissary according to the resolution of the 26 of August last.1
[Note 1: 1 This and the preceding paragraph are based upon a report in the writing of Jesse Root, in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 285. A copy, as an extract from the minutes, is in No. 138, I, folio 479.]
The committee to whom were referred the letter of Abraham Skinner, commissary of prisoners, and other papers relative to the treatment of prisoners in the hands of the enemy, delivered in a report as follows:
"That notwithstanding every effort of Congress to obtain for our people, prisoners in the hands of the enemy, that treatment which humanity alone should have dictated, the British commanders, unmindful of the tenderness exercised towards their men, prisoners in our hands, and regardless of the practice of civilized nations, have persisted in treating our people, prisoners to them, with every species of insult, outrage and cruelty. Officers and men are indiscriminately thrown into the hold of prison-ships and into loathsome dungeons, and there deprived of fuel and the common necessaries of life, by which means many of the citizens of these states have been compelled to enter into their service, to avoid those distresses which a conduct so contrary to the law of nations had brought upon them. Our seamen taken upon the American coast, have been sent to Great Britain, and other parts beyond seas, to prevent their being exchanged, or to force them to take arms against theirnative country: that in the opinion of the committee, an exercise of the law of retaliation has become necessary, as a justice
Page 28 | Page image
due to those citizens of America whom the fortune of war has thrown into the power of our enemy; Whereupon,
Resolved, That copies of the letter of Mr. A. Skinner, and the other papers referred, be transmitted to the Commander in Chief, and that he be directed to enquire into the manner in which our people who are prisoners, are treated by the enemy, and that he give immediate orders to the commanding officers at the different posts to take particular care that the British prisoners receive the same allowance and treatment, in every respect, as our people, who are prisoners, receive from the enemy.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the several and respective executives to confine all British sea officers and seamen in prison ships or in common goals and order them the same allowance of provisions and the same treatment in every respect as our sea officers and seamen receive from the British.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective executives to take effectual measures for carrying into execution the act of Congress of the 13th of January, 1780, respecting prisoners taken by thesubjects citizens, troops or ships of particular states:
That the Board of Admiralty issue orders not to exchange any British sea officer or seaman, until the enemyRepealed January 29th. shall have returned to some of their garrisons in America, such seamen as they have taken upon the American coast, and sent to Great Britain, or other parts beyond sea: and that the Board of War and Board of Admiralty give orders for continuing the treatment of prisoners as herein directed, until they receive orders to the contrary from Congress or the Commanderin Chief."1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Sullivan, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folios 337 and 339.]
Ordered, That two members be added to the committee appointed to report a proper compensation to the staff of
Page 29 | Page image
the army in consequence of the depreciation of the currency, in the room of Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [Nathaniel] Peabody, who are absent.
The members chosen, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [Jesse] Root.
The delegates for Massachusetts laid before Congress instructions from their constituents:1
[Note 1: 1 Those instructions are in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 65, I, folio 468.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the foregoing committee.
A memorial of Captain John Williamson was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 534.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order.
The Commercial Committee to whom was referred the letter of Baron d'Arendt to Congress, report as follows,
That they have had the same under consideration, and that from Baron d'Arendt's assurances, as well as from authentic testimonials, they have every reason to conclude he is relied upon by the Court of Berlin for informations, respecting the trade and productions of these United States; with a view to discover how far the subjects of the king of Prussia might derive benefit from a commercial intercourse with us.
That altho' the points he hath submitted to your Committee may be considered rather as questions respecting the ordinary channels and modes of commerce, or matter connected therewith, capable of answer by private enquiry than as propositions for the judgment and determination of Congress. Yet they are of opinion it will appear, from the nature of Baron d'Arendt's agency, that the king of Prussia has evidenced an attention to the affairs and circumstances of America which as it may lead to important consequences, should not be suffered to pass by unnoticed. They therefore submit the following resolutions.
Resolved, That Congress approve of Baron d'Arendt's collecting the best information possible respecting the trade of America, and the best mode of opening and carrying on commerce between the citizens of these United States and the subjects of his Prussian Majesty.Resolved, That Congress do in the name of these United
Page 30 | Page image
States, publish and declare that it is their sincere desire to cultivate universal peace and friendship, and to promote a mutual exchange of the blessings of Commerce with all nations upon principles of justice, equality and reciprocal advantage.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 11. The indorsement says, "Read Jany. 5, 1781. Postponed; it being judged improper for Congress to give any answer on the subject to Baron d'Arendt."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |