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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 --SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1781
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read:
The Board of Admiralty beg leave to lay before the Hon'ble the United States in Congress assembled an extraordinary letter they yesterday received from one Samuel Parsons, directed to the Honorable the Marine Committee of Congress, inclosing an account of the purchase and disbursements of a certain schooner called by him the Continental SchoonerFame.
This same (we suppose) Samuel Parsons not long since drew a bill upon the Marine Committee, in favor of the Hon'ble the Committee of Commerce, which this Board refused to accept, and they shall not think themselves justifiable in giving him credit for the amount of the first cost and disbursements of the SchoonerFame, unless they are directed so to do by your Honors, for they have noofficial knowledge of this man.
One of your Commissioners (Mr Ellery) informs the Board, that while he had the honor of a seat in Congress, he received a letter from Martinico, addressed to the Delegates of the State of Rhode Island, which placed Samuel Parsons in so unfavorable a light, that he thought it his duty to communicate it to Congress. He did read it in his place, as some of your Honorable body may recollect, but the matter not being considered in so serious a light as he thought it deserved, he put his letter in his pocket with the satisfaction of
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having done his duty. He remembers that the Honorable Delegates from Massachusetts of whom the Honorable James Lovell then was and now is one, received information from Martinico respecting Samuel Parsons similar to that which he had communicated.
He begs leave through the channel of this address further to inform the United States in Congress assembled, that he not long since heard a Gentleman who had been a Captain in the line of your army and whose name is Herring, declare that Samuel Parsons, Merchant, at St. Pierre Martinico, was a dishonest scoundrel, and give an instance of his dishonesty.
As St. Eustatius is in the possession of the enemy and of course the trade of these States to the French Islands will be probably increased, the Board with all submission would beg leave to suggest, that it might not perhaps be improper to appoint a Consul for Hispaniola and another for Martinico invested with power to act ascontinental or commercial agents for the United States in Congress assembled.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folio 571.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [William] Sharpe, Mr. [George] Clymer.
A memorial of Musco Livingston was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
A letter, of 13, from J. M. Scott, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 53.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Samuel] Johnston, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.
A memorial from F. Hopkinson, treasurer of loans, was read:
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury; and that the Board of Treasury take order and give directions that the remainder of the emissions of May, 1777, and April, 1778, which are yet uncancelled and undestroyed, be delivered to the commissioners appointed to count and burn the same, to be by them counted and burned at the office where they are now counting and destroying other
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emissions of continental currency; and that Francis Hopkinson, treasurer of loans, be excused from farther attendance on that business.
A warrant on George Webb, treasurer of the Commonwealth of Virginia, by order of Congress dated June 14, 1780, in favour of Major General Gates, for one hundred thousand dollars, towards forming a military chest for the southern army being returned unpaid:
Ordered, That it be transmitted to the Board of Treasury to be cancelled, and that proper entries be made in their books accordingly.
The committee to whom was re-committed the report of the committee on Mr. Morris's letter, of 13th March; and
The committee on the letter, of 25 November last, from General Sullivan; and
The Committee upon Genl Sullivans letter of the 25th. Novr having taken the same under their consideration report as follows:
That the Board of Treasury be directed to pass to the credit of Genl Sullivandollars in specie as a compensation for the expences incurred by him in securing the military stores and ordnance in Fort William, New Hampshire in the year 1775, and distributing them in various parts of the country for the use of the United States.
With respect to other claims upon the United States set forth in his said letter for depreciated pay and for extraordinary expences incurred by him on several occasions, as the commanding officer in a seperate department, 'tho' they are of opinion the said claims are such as might justly entitle him to compensation, yet as they must be determined upon principles which will include the cases of many others, not provided for, your Committee cannot with propriety report specially upon them, but refer them to the equity and wisdom of Congress whenever they may deem it expedient to enter into the consideration.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of George Clymer, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 445. It was re-committed June 13, 1781.]
The committee on the motion of Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, delivered in their respective reports:
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The Committee to whom was referred the motion of Mr Wolcott, and the plan of finance offered by M. Smith, report the ordinances under the following titles, to wit, "An Ordinance for the Support of Public Credit" and, "An Ordinance for emitting the Sum of ten millions of Dollars in Bills of Credit, and providing for the redemption thereof; and for other purposes therein mentioned."
Which your Committee beg leave to refer to the Consideration of Congress.
M. Smith,Chairman of Come.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Meriwether Smith, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 255.]
The report of the committee ∥consisting of Mr. Houston, Mr. Burke, Mr. Wolcott∥ on Mr. Morris' letter ∥of 13th of March last∥ was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
The committee to whom was recommitted the report respecting the powers of the Superintendant of Finance beg leave to submit the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the superintendant of finance be, and he is hereby authorised to remove from office or employment, for incapacity, negligence, dishonesty or other misbehaviour, such persons, not immediately appointed by the United States in Congress assembled, as are or may be officially entrusted with, and immediately employed in the expenditure of the public money; in the issues and expenditure of public supplies, stores and other property; in stating, examining and passing the public accounts, or in the receipt of the continental revenues of the United States, and such of the said persons as are or may be in his judgment unnecessary, reporting to such authority, board, minister or office, to whom it may belong to supply the vacancy, the respective names of the persons so removedand the causes of removal:2
[Note 2: 2 A marginal note says: "Struck out May 7th."]
That he be authorised to suspend from office or employment, for similar causes, persons officially employed and entrusted as aforesaid, immediately appointed by the United States in Congress assembled, reporting forthwith their names and the reasons of suspension:
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Provided, that in all cases where any of the persons aforesaid, are or may be amenable to the law martial, the superintendant be, and he is hereby authorised and directed, if he shalt deem it most expedient for the public service, to put them in arrest by order in writing, and to apply to the officer whose duty it may be, to order a court martial; and such officer is hereby directed to order proceedings on the arrest accordingly:
That in every case of suspension, all pay and emoluments cease from the date thereof, unless the persons suspended be, upon trial, acquitted and restored; and the superintendant shall have power to supply the place when it may be necessary, by a temporary appointment, to continue until the person suspended be restored or dismissed:
That the aforesaid powers shall not be construed to interfere with the rank, commission or military duty of any officer in the line of the army, or to those who may be duly entrusted with money for secret services by Congress, or the Commander in Chief of the army, or of commanding officer of a seperate department:
That the powers aforesaid be exercised during the pleasure of Congress, but not to extend beyond the duration of the war:
And in order that the said Superintendent of Finance may be at liberty to devote his time and attention to the more immediate duties of his officeResolved, that a Procurator or Solicitour be appointed in each State on the nomination of the said Superintendent, the Duty of whom, and of each and every of them, among other Things, shall be to carry on Prosecutions against Persons delinquent and suspended or removed as aforesaid, when the same may be necessary on Behalf of the said Superintendent.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Churchill Houston, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 313.]
Ordered, That the committee have leave to sit again.
On motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, seconded by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum,
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Ordered, That Ezekiel Cornell, one of the commissioners of the Board of War, have leave of absence for six weeks agreeably to his request:
That the said E. Cornell be, and he is hereby directed to visit the military stores and elaboratory to the eastward, in the department of the commissary of military stores, and to take measures for removing arms, ammunition and stores from thence to the main army, or to the southward; and to correct abuses in the said department, agreeably to instructions he may receive from the Board of War for those purposes.
That a warrant issue on Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Massachusetts, and another on Joseph Clarke, commissioner of the continental loan office in the State of Rhode Island, each for ten thousand dollars money of the new emissions, in favor [of] Joseph Carleton, paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance, to be put into the hands of Ezekiel Cornell, to enable him to execute the instructions he may receive from the Board of War. For which sums the said paymaster of the Board of War and Ordnance is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, undated, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 107.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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