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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 --WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1781
A letter, of this day, from J. Ross; and
A letter, of the 6, from Theop. Gardner and Pat. Ferral, were read.
A memorial of Francis Hagan, a physician and surgeon in the hospital, was read; Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 Ross's letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 339; Gardner and Ferrall's is in No. 78, X, folio 303; Hagan's memorial is in No. 41, IV, folio 173.]
The report of the committee, appointed to report a proper compensation for the staff of the army in consequence of the depreciation of the currency, and to whom was referred a paper containing instructions to the delegates of Massachusetts, was called for; and, Thereupon,
Resolved, That the officers in the several staff departments who have served under Congress with the army, or any detachment of the army, and who were engaged for three years or during the war, and were in service on the tenth day of April last, or who have since engaged or shall hereafter engage during the war, and who have been on certain wages or monthly pay, shall, so soon as the state of the public finances will admit, have the depreciation, accruing on their original pay after the time of their respective entry into office, made good; and that all additions to the pay originally assigned to the office, and all the money and articles heretofore paid or furnished or hereafter to be paid or furnished by Congress or the states or any of them as for pay, subsistance or to compensate for deficiencies, shall be deemed as advanced on account;
That the Board of War certify what officers in the staff are entitled to the benefit of the above resolution, and that none shall be considered as entitled to the compensation for the depreciation aforesaid but those who shall obtain such certificates.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Thomas Burke, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 259.]
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A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office,March 6th, 1781.
The Board of Treasury beg leave to report,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [James] Duane, one of the delegates for the State of New York, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for twenty thousand dollars of the old emissions, for which the said State of New York is to be accountable;
That upon the application of Mr. W[illiam] Floyd, a delegate for the said State of New York, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, for fifteen thousand dollars of the old emissions, for which the said State of New York is to be accountable;
The Board having considered the Applications from the Commissioners of the Chambers of Accounts at the Treasury and Joseph Carleton Secy to the Board of War and Pay Master to the Board of War and Ordnance inclosing Estimates of Necessaries immediately wanted in their Offices respectively and conceiving the same indispensibly necessary beg leave to report,
That the following warrants issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid: one in favour of Joseph Carleton, paymaster to the Board of War and Ordnance, for ten thousand dollars of the old emissions, to defray the contingent expences of the office, and for which he is to be accountable; and another in favour of John L. Clarkson, clerk to the Board of Treasury, for ten thousand dollars of the old emissions to defray the contingent expences of the treasury office, and for which sum he is to be accountable;1 and
[Note 1: 1 Up to this point this report, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 149.]
Treasury Office,March 5th, 1781.
The Board of Treasury having considered the Letter of the 27th of February last from Mr. Jonathan Bryan referred to them by Congress beg leave to report,
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another in favour of Jonathan Bryan for one hundred and ninety-three dollars and one-third of a dollar specie, equal to forty-three pounds ten shillings sterling, which added to a like slim received by the order of the Board of Treasury, of the 29 of November, 1780, on account, in compliance with a resolution of Congress, of the 25 of the same month, is in full for two boats furnished by the said Jonathan Bryan for the use of the army service in the southern department.
The Board further report, upon the Letter of Benjamin Stoddert, late Secretary in the War Office referred the 2d inst.;
That Mr. Stoddert's Claims against the Publick being of a special nature cannot be settled at the Treasury.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 143.]
Ordered, That the Board of Treasury, at their request, be discharged of the letter, of 2, from B. Stoddert, and that it be referred to a committee of three.
The members, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [William] Few, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll.2
[Note 2: 2 The committee made the following report in the writing of James Mitchell Varnum, but it does not appear to have been acted upon. It is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 33:
The Committee to whom was referred the Letter ofStoddard, beg Liberty to report the following Resolutions-- (Viz)
Resolved, That all officers in the Line of the federal army who have been regularly discharged from the Service, by their Resignations being accepted by Congress, the Commander in Chief, or the Commander of a seperate Department, since the first day of January A.D. 1777, be intitled to Depreciation upon their Wages, in the same manner as Officers retiring as Supernumeraries.
Resolved, That the Legislatures of the respective States be requested to cause the Accompts of all Officers of the foregoing Description formerly belonging to the Line of their States, to be adjusted, and transmit the Ballances due to each, up to the Time of Discharge from the Army, to the Board of War.
Resolved, Upon the Ballances being finally liquidated, certificates shall be issued, payable to the Persons in whose favor they shall be drawn, or Order, on or before the first Day of January A.D. 1784, with an Interest of six per cent per annum from the Time when such Ballances became due.
Resolved, That the Depreciation of Officers not attached to the Line of any particular State, be adjusted by the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That the Table of Depreciation adopted by Congress up to the Eighteenth Day of March A.D. 1780, be considered as the Standard of Computation, and that the Ballances be ascertained in Specie Dollars.
The following motion, in the writing of John Sullivan, undated, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 371:
Resolved, That all officers and Soldiers who are now serving or who have Served in the army of the United States not having been annexed to the line of any State or had their depreciation made up, Such of them as belong to any particular State shall have their depreciation made up by such States respectively upon the principles adopted by them in Settling with the Troops of their respective States; and that such as are not Inhabitants of either of those United States shall have their Depreciation paid them out of the publick Treasury upon the same principles as the same was made up to the Troops of Hazen's Regiment.
Resolved, That the Depreciation in the Department of the Adjutant and the Inspector General be Settled upon the same principle and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.]
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A report from the Board of War was read, enclosing two letters from the governor of Maryland:
War OfficeMarch 6, 1781
Sir,
The Board beg leave to lay before Congress a letter received from his Excellency Governor Lee of Maryland. The Gentleman who is proposed as the subject of the appointment was a Captain in the late Rawlins's regiment and received from the State the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel of their additional regiment after his having resigned his Captaincy. He never did any duty in the regiment which was broke up and the Non Commissioned Officers and privates drafted into their old regiments. As the case is somewhat singular and may establish a precedent if the request of the executive of Maryland is complied with, the Board thought it best to have the sense of Congress thereupon for their government.
We also enclose for the directions of Congress to us copy of a letter from Governor Lee requesting commissions for four companies of Artillery. As the resolves of Congress respecting the arrangements of the present Army do not take notice of such a corps we have informed the Governor that we cannot comply with his desire without the express orders of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 259. A letter of March 8 from the Board of Wax was as follows. It is on folio 263:
In a report on the subject of Lt Col Lawson Smith's Commission we from a misapprehension informed Congress "That he never did any duty in the regiment." We have been since informed that Colonel Smith marched with the regiment and joined the Southern Army. We think it our duty to mention this to Congress lest any mistake of ours should have influence in the determination upon that Gentleman's case.]
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Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum.
Another report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a warrant in favour of Captain Andrew Nixon of the first regiment of light dragoons, on the paymaster general, for three months' pay and subsistance equal to one hundred and eighty dollars in the bills emitted under the act of Congress of the 18 March, 1780, on account, the resolution of the 4 January notwithstanding.
And whereas the Board of War have represented, that it hath been too much a practice of the commanding officers of regiments, to send their officers to this place on commands that are out of the line of their duty, which is not only expensive to the public and the officers, but appears to the Board altogether unnecessary:
That the Board be informed the United States in Congress assembled, highly disapprove such practice; and that the Board take measures not only to discourage it in future, but that all such officers join their respective corps immediately.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 235.]
A letter, of 6, from the Board of War, was read, enclosing a letter of 20 May, 1780, from Messrs. Penet & Co., whereby it appears that the contract entered into with them for the manufacturing of arms, is entirely at an end, from a failure on their part.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 227.]
The consideration of the report of the committee on the letters from Governor Clinton, &c., was resumed; and, after debate;
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War OfficeMarch 6th 1781
Sir.
The Board in considering the reference with which they were honored by Congress on General Washingtons letter of the 27th ultimo beg leave to observe that on the 15 day of February last an estimate for mounting and equipping Sheldons and Moylans Legionary Corps amounting to 115,957 1/3 dollars of the new emission was reported to Congress. The enclosed estimate amounting to 51,464 dollars in the same money contains such part of the former estimate as is wanted for Moylans legion and unless that sum can be furnished the Board conceive it is not in their power to give any orders for equipping those Cavalry that can be executed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 239. It was read on this day, as the indorsement indicates. A further indorsement says: "August 23d, 1781, not to be acted upon."
A letter of February 23d from Major General Steuben to the Board of War was read on this day, the indorsement states. It is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 164, folio 218.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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