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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, MARCH 24, 1781
A petition of Aaron Levy was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.
An application of Henry Neill, in behalf of the State of Delaware, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 Levy's petition, dated March 23, 1781, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, IV, folio 278; Neill's application, dated March 24, 1781, is in No. 20, II, folio 215.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favour of Richard Butler, for three hundred dollars new emission, being the balance of his account as agent of Indian affairs, settled by the commissioners of accounts the 20th instant.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 193.]
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A motion was made by Mr. [Thomas] McKean, seconded by Mr. [John] Mathews:
Whereas it is just, that the holders of certificates for prizes drawn, or to be drawn, in any of the classes of the present United States Lottery, shall sustain no loss thereon by any depreciation of the paper bills of credit, emitted by Congress subsequent to the dates of such certificates respectively, Thereforeresolved,
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folios 133, 135.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, Mr. [Thomas] Burke.
A motion was made by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, seconded by [Mr. Isaac] Motte, in the words following:2
[Note 2: 2 Bland's motion, and the proceedings following, were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
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Whereas, there is great reason to believe that the communications of Congress to their minister at the Court of Madrid, and from him to Congress, have been and are intercepted by the machinations of the instruments of the Court of Great Britain;
Resolved, therefore, Thatbe appointed, and he is hereby appointed, to reside at Cadiz, and authorized to receive and dispatch all letters to and from Congress to and from their minister at the Court of Madrid; and that be remitted him for the purpose of paying express couriers to and from that port to the Court of Madrid.
That a circumstantial account of the several actions and successes of our troops against those of the enemy since the battle of Camden, be transmitted through the aforesaid channel to our minister at the Court of Madrid, and a copy of the act of Virginia relinquishing their right to the navigation of the Mississippi.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 329.]
It was moved by Mr. [Samuel] Adams, seconded by Mr. M[eriwether] Smith, that the consideration of the motion be postponed, on which, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland:
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Ordered, That a member be added to the committee on the letters and papers of E. Forman and J. Gibson, and report of the committee on the letter of F. Hopkinson, in the room of Mr. [Joseph] Jones, who is absent:
The member, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll.
The Board of War, to whom was referred the motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
War OfficeMarch 24, 1781.
Sir.
The Board have been honored with a reference of a motion respecting the travelling expences of Col. Wood. It appears to us that Col. Wood's expences ought to be paid as his situation is singular and what is done for him cannot establish a precedent for others. We would therefore beg leave to report the motion as made by Col Bland.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 321.]
Resolved, That the supreme executive of the State of Virginia be authorised and requested to appoint suitable persons to settle the accounts of Colonel Wood, respecting his command in superintending the prisoners under the Convention of Saratoga, and if they think it right to allow his reasonable travelling expences between the two posts which he superintends, with those for one servant while on that duty.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 325.]
A report from the Board of War on the memorial of Captain Bedkin:
A report from the same on the representation of Captain Lucas: and
Two other reports from the same, one on a letter from S. Miles, deputy quartermaster for Pensylvania, the other
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respecting the regiment of artillery artificers at Carlisle, were read.1
[Note 1: 1 The Board of War report respecting Samuel Miles is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 131.]
The committee to whom were referred J. Wilkinson's letter respecting the cloathier's department, the report of the Board of War on that subject, &c., delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of James Wilkinson, cloathier general, approved by the Board of War, a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for four thousand dollars of the new emission, to enable him to discharge in part the arrearages due to the officers in the cloathing department, and for which sum the said James Wilkinson, cloathier general, is to be accountable:2
[Note 2: 2 The report of which this paragraph is a part is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 257. Setante, VOL. XVIII, p. 1018.]
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.
A motion was made by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland respecting the cloathing department:
Ordered, That it be referred to the foregoing committee.
Ordered, That the report of the Board of War on the letter of S. Miles, deputy quartermaster, be referred to the delegates of Pensylvania.
A letter, of this day, from the Board of War, was read; Whereupon,
War OfficeMarch 24, 1781
Sir
The Board have given the orders to Col Wood respecting the Convention Prisoners. It will be necessary for an American Officer to go with the British Officers to Connecticut. For this purpose money should be furnished Col. Wood to bear the expences of the Officer he will send with the British Officers. We have no means of furnishing it unless Congress will please to direct,
That a warrant for fifteen thousand dollars in Bills of the old Emissions be drawn on Thomas Smith Loan Officer of the State of Pennsylvania
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in Favor of Col. James Wood to enable him to furnish an Officer to be sent to Connecticut on public business with moneys to bear his Expences; Or
Resolved, That the executive of the State of Maryland be and hereby are requested to pay to Colonel James Wood, superintending the Convention prisoners, fifteen thousand dollars of the old emissions, or an equivalent in the bills emitted pursuant to the act of Congress, of the 18 March, 1780, to enable him to comply with the orders he has received from the Board of War, and charge the same to the United States, for which sum he is to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in thePapers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, VI, folio 317.]
A memorial from the honorable the Minister of France was read:
The Chevalier de la Luzerne, minister plenipotentiary of France, by a memorial informed Congress, That the king, being made acquainted with the situation of the affairs of the confederacy, had resolved to continue during the next campaign the land and sea forces which are now in this continent. That unforeseen obstacles had prevented the junction of the second division of sea forces with the first, as soon as was expected; but that it was to sail as soon as possible; and that Congress should use their utmost exertions to have their army ready for action without the least delay.
But while the king, actuated by his love for the United States, of his mere motion was giving them succours which he was under no obligation to do, and out of regard to them lessened the efforts which he could have made for his own advantage, he had reason to expect a proportionable activity from Congress; and he hopes that the United States, which have so much to gain or lose by the issue of the contest, will employ all their resources in the present conjuncture; and that the Congress which is entrusted with their dearest interest will hasten to
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adopt effectual measures for conducting matters to a happy issue.
The Chevalier de la Luzerne, when he communicated to the king the news of the final ratification of the confederation, thought himself warranted to assure his majesty that this event would have a happy influence on the councils of this republick; that they would thereby acquire all the energy necessary for conducting the important business entrusted to them; that the union would receive new force; and he did not doubt but the ensuing campaign would give decisive proofs of this. And the minister relies that his hopes, which are the same as are entertained by the whole continent, will not be disappointed. It is at the same time essential, while Congress are making the necessary arrangements for the ensuing campaign, that they should know for certain that they are to count only on their own resources for defraying the expenses that it will require. The frankness of the king, and the friendship he bears to the United States, will not permit him to encourage an errour which they appear to be in, with respect to the pecuniary aids which they seem to expect. The desire of securing their independence had induced his majesty to exceed the measure of the engagements he had contracted with them; and he will continue to support their interests, either by powerful diversions or by immediate succours; and they may rely not only on his most scrupulous punctuality in the execution of his engagements, but upon all the extraordinary assistance which it will be in his power to give them. But as to pecuniary aids, the enormous expenses of the present war, and the necessity of preserving credit, which is the only means of providing for those expenses, do not permit his majesty's ministers to give Congress the least hope in that respect. The Chevalier de la Luzerne will not
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dissemble that his court was exceedingly surprised on being informed of the step which Congress had taken in disposing of bills drawn on their minister, although they could not be ignorant that they had no funds for discharging them. This is a conduct totally inconsistent with that order which his majesty is forced to observe in his finances, and he has no doubt but, in future, Congress will most studiously avoid a repetition of it. He has nevertheless resolved to discharge the bills which became due last year, to the amount of one million of livres; and it is probable his majesty will be able to provide funds to the amount of three millions for the discharge of those which will become due in the course of the present year. The king's ministers have also procured for Mr. Franklin, whose zeal, wisdom and patriotism deserve their utmost confidence, the sums necessary for the purchase he is ordered to make. These expenses, joined to those occasioned by sending a fleet and army to this continent, far exceed what Congress had a right to expect from the friendship of their ally; and the Chevalier de la Luzerne is persuaded, that from this moment Congress will abstain from that ruinous measure of drawing bills of exchange without the previous knowledge and consent of his majesty's ministers. And as their attention is employed in what may be most for the convenience of the United States, they propose that Congress should furnish the fleet and army of his majesty which are in this country with the necessary provisions, and receive in payment bills on the treasury of France, which will be punctually discharged. As to the manner in which this arrangement may be made, the minister will have the honour of entering into a minute discussion with a committee which he begs Congress would be pleased to appoint to confer with him on the subject.
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The above was referred to a committee of six, namely, Mr. [Joseph] Jones, Mr. S[amuel] Adams, Mr. [Thomas] Burke, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James] Madison and Mr. [John] Hanson.1
[Note 1: 1 This memorial was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. It is printed in theDiplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 328.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter, of December 2, 1780, from Doctor Franklin, and that three members be added to that committee:
The members, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [John] Hanson.
The Medical Committee delivered in a report.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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