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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, JANUARY 9, 1781
A letter, of December 14, 1780, from Governor Nash, was read.
A letter, of 8th, from Captain A. McLane, was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue in favour of Captain A. McLane, on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for the sum of ten thousand dollars, to be charged to the State of Maryland, and for which the said State of Maryland is to be accountable.
A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 Nash's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 115; McLane's is in No. 78, XVI, folio 121; that of the Board of War is in No. 148, I, folio 269.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three.
The members, Mr. [Thomas] Bee, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
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Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [James] Duane, a delegate for the State of New York, a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in his favour, for fifteen thousand dollars old emissions, for which the said State of New York is to be accountable:
That on the application of William Kinnan, copper plate printer to the United States, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, for eight thousand dollars old emissions, part of the salary due to him and for which he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 23.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the letter of 6 December last, from the president and supreme executive of Pensylvania; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the president and supreme executive council of the State of Pensylvania be informed, that Congress have paid due attention to their letter of the 6 December last, stating "a high abuse of office, committed by James Mease, late clothier-general, and William West, jun., his deputy or appointee: who, in conjunction with Major General Arnold, did, under colour of office, in the year 1778, take from sundry inhabitants of this city, great quantities of merchandise, not necessary for the army, which were converted to their private emolument:"
That Congress highly disapprove such conduct, and consider it as a flagrant abuse of office and of the public confidence reposed in them, and meriting exemplary punishment; and,
That it be recommended to the said president and supreme executive of the State of Pensylvania, to direct the attorney general of the said State to prosecute the said James Mease and William West, jun., in the name of the United States,
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in the ordinary course of law, for the abuse of office and breach of trust complained of.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jesse Root, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 137. It was delivered Dec. 18, 1780.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report on the letter from J. Pierce; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the said letter be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee on the memorial of J. Henderson, and, after debate:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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