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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 --THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1781
Two letters, of 10th, from the committee appointed to confer with the supreme executive of Pensylvania; and one, of 7th, from Major General St. Clair, were read:
Ordered, That the letter from the committee be referred to a committee of three.
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The members, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
A letter, of 31 December, from E. Blaine, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 One Pennsylvania letter of 10th is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 97; the other is in No. 152, IX, folio 465; St. Clair's letter is in No. 152, IX, folio 451; Blaine's letter is in No. 165, folio 331.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three.
The members, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [James] Duane.
A memorial from Lieutenant Colonel Fleuri was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This memorial is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 135.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A report from the Board of Treasury, on the letter of J. Pierce, was read:
Treasury OfficeJanuary 10, 1781.
The Board of Treasury represent for the Information of Congress--
That from the Entries in the Treasury Books it appears that a Balance is due from the Respective States upon the Monthly Tax of fifteen Million of Dollars per month; to the month of February, 1780, inclusive 42,491,284 7/9 7/0 Dollars as will more particularly appear by the Paper herewith sent, wherein the separate balances are particularly specified; as a part of these Balances three Warrants have been drawn in favor of the Commissary General of Purchases in Consequence of a Resolution of Congress of the 26th. of August last. One on the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey for 281,435 Dollars--one on the Treasurer of the State of New York for 647,810 Dollars--and one on the Treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania for 268,0493/90/0 dollars, none of which warrants are paid as this Board believe, and therefore it is considered the balance stated above is due.
That from any information received from the respective Treasurers of the different States, it is not probable that any more money will be brought in, in Discharge of their Quotas aforesaid up to the first of March last in the old money.
The Board also lay before Congress another Paper which will shew the whole amount of the four Tenths of the Money of the 18 of March subject to the order of Congress and the amount of the Warrants already drawn as a part of that money.
The Board have not received any information from the Loan officer of the State of New Hampshire and can't say that the new
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Bills are in circulation. The Loan officer of the State of Massachusetts informs that on the 10th: of November last the Treasurer had drawn from him 300,000 dollars in the new Bills. No information from the Loan officer of Rhode Island. No information from the Loan officer of Connecticut. The Loan officer of the State of New York has sent forward to the Treasurer 600,000 Dollars in Cancelled bills. The Loan officer of New Jersey has sent forward to the Treasurer 1,180,8723/90/0 Dollars in Cancelled Bills.
The Treasurer of Pennsylvania has not taken into the Loan office of that State any money to Exchange as this Board is informed by the Loan officer.
The Loan officer of Maryland has sent forward one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars old Emissions to be destroyed.
No information has been received from the Loan officer of Virginia.
The Board upon the Letter of John Pierce Dy: Py: Masr General of the 11 of December (referred to them by Congress) beg leave further to Report,
That there are no resources they know of by which the sum of three Millions one hundred and Twenty six thousand Seven hundred and Eighty dollars can be raised within a Short time, but from the disposal of Bills of Exchange on the Ministers in Europe if Congress shall incline to adopt that measure.
That in regard to the further sum of eight hundred seventy six thousand one hundred and fifty dollars in the new Emissions to discharge the Pay of the army from the first of August to the 31 of December last, they can only propose Warrants to be drawn on the several Loan offices in such proportions as may be most likely to be answered in the shortest time; at present the Board have no knowledge of any sum of Consequence but in the State of Massachusetts Bay.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 34, folio 123.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to the committee on Mr. Blaine's letter, and that two members be added to the committee.
The members added, Mr. [Samuel] Adams, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum.
The Board of Admiralty, to whom was referred the letter of J. Wharton, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
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Admiralty OfficeJan.y. 9th. 1781.
The Board of Admiralty to whom the letter of John Wharton Esqr. to the Honorable the Congress of the 4th. Instant respecting his resignation is referred beg leave to report--
That it is not without regret they find themselves called upon to attend to the proposed resignation of Mr. Wharton who hath been so long, and so diligent a member of the Navy Board, but in compliance with their duty they would observe, that as from his first appointment he hath been principally employed in that branch of the business, which respects the equipping and fitting out ships, they cannot conceive that he ought to be constrained to keep his seat at that Board for the purpose of settling its accounts, and therefore they submit to Congress this Resolution.
Ordered, That the resignation of John Wharton be accepted.
And whereas the business of the Navy Board, by its present constitution cannot proceed, in case Mr. Wharton's resignation should be accepted, unless a member should be chosen in his room, or the only present member James Reed Esqr. be clothed with authority to conduct the same, and as from the information of Mr. Reed, it appears to be altogether impracticable for him to settle the accounts of the Navy Board without a suitable Clerk, the Board of Admiralty therefore, provided that the aforegoing Resolution should be agreed to by Congress, and they should not think it proper to appoint a member in the room of Mr. Wharton, beg leave to submit the following Resolution.
Resolved, That James Reed be, and he is hereby invested with full powers for conducting the business of the navy board in the middle department, until the further order of Congress, and that he be empowered to hire a competent clerk for the purpose of assisting him in settling the accounts of that Board.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 455.]
Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for electing a director general of the hospital, and a paymastergeneral to the army.
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Doctor J. Cochran was nominated by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum for the office of directorgeneral;
Doctor Brown, by Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery;
Dr. Craig, by Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
A letter, of the 8th, from John Sandford Dart, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VII, folio 327.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
For the office of paymaster general were nominated:
William Geddes, by Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery;
J. Pierce, by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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