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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 --MONDAY, MAY 14, 1781
Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer, a delegate for Maryland, attended and took his seat.
Mr. [Samuel] Livermore, a delegate for [New Hampshire, attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
State of New HampshireIn Council January 18th 1781
Whereas by a Vote of the Council and Assembly of this State of the 27th. of June last the Honble. Majr General John Sullivan and George Atkinson Esqr were chosen Delegates to represent this State in the Continental Congress for the Term of one year from and after the first day of November then next. Since which time the said George Atkinson Esqr. hath declined to accept of said trust. And it appearing Necessary that there should be Two Delegates from this State at Congress as much of the time as possible.
Therefore, Voted that Samuel Livermore and Benjamin Bellows Esqr be, and they hereby are chosen Delegates to represent this State in Congress for the Term of one year from the date hereof unless sooner recalled or relieved by order of this State with all the powers and privileges heretofore given to any Delegates of this State at Congress. One of them as they shall agree to repair to Congress at soon as may be. And whenever General Sullivan (now at Congress) shall signify his desire of returning home, or should be recalled by order of this State, That then the other of said Delegates Immediately go forward and supply his place. And the said John Sullivan, Samuel Livermore, and Benjamin Bellows, or either of them or any Two of them in the absence of the other, or others, are hereby fully Authorized and impower'd to appear as agent, or agents for this State before Congress or any Court or Commissioners appointed by Congress, to hear and determine any or all the disputes between New Hampshire,
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New York, Massachusetts and the Inhabitants of a certain district known by the name of the New Hampshire Grants.
Sent down for Concurrence E Thompson Secry
In the house of Representatives Janry 19th. 1781
The foregoing Vote was read and Concurred.
Wm. Whipple Speakr P T
Copy Examin'd by E Thompson Secry1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New Hampshire, Credentials of Delegates.]
A letter, of 3, and one, of 8, from Major General the Marquis de la Fayette; and
A letter, of 9, from the governor of Virginia, were read:2
[Note 2: 2 A copy of Lafayette's letter, of May 3, is in the Washington Papers, 96, folio 254; a copy of his letter, of May 8, on folio 253; and a copy of Jefferson's letter, of May 9, on folio 252.]
Ordered, That they be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 8th, from General Washington, was read, with sundry papers enclosed:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, X, folio 97; the indorsement shows that a new committee was appointed: Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [John] Witherspoon. The letter is printed in the Writings of Washington (Ford), IX, 240.]
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.
A letter, of 14, from R. Morris, was read signifying his acceptance of the office of superintendant of finance.4
[Note 4: 4 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folio 9.]
The committee of the week reported that they have examined the dispatches that have come to hand, and considered the orders necessary to be taken; Whereupon,
No. 1. A memorial from Thomas Yates, Lt. in Col. Baldwin's regiment of artificers requesting an advance of pay on account.
Ordered, That a memorial of Thomas Yates be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of 4 January last notwithstanding;5
[Note 5: 5 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 716.]
No. 2. A letter from Chas. Pettit, A. Q. M., requesting an advance of 32500 dollars in specie or the value thereof, on account of Maj. Gen. Greene, late Q. M. G.
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That a letter, of the 9th, from Charles Pettit, assistant quartermaster general, be referred to the committee to whom his letter of the 2d was referred;1
[Note 1: 1 Pettit's letter of May 9 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 192, folio 357.]
No. 3. A Letter from Joshua Johnston dated Nantes 20th. Feby. 1781. and Copy of another letter dated Nantes Octr. 10. 1780,
Representing, that American Seamen are daily taken into the French service, at the same time, that they strictly prohibit their engaging in the American service. Also, that private adventurers are engaging our men to serve on board their vessels and under the American colours are committing great abuses.
Ordered, That they be referred to a special Committee with instructions to confer with the Minister of France.
No. 5. [4] A Letter and Memorial from John Ross,
Praying, That the duck in the hands of the Agent at Boston might be assigned over to him, in part payment of his debt and that other measures might be adopted for the discharge of his whole debt.
Ordered, That Mr. Ross be informed, the Duck mentioned in his letter has been already appropriated to the use of the Army and Navy of these States; That he be further informed Congress are endeavouring to devise ways and means for discharging all the debts of the United States, at which time Mr. Ross's debt will be settled with others of the like nature.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 441. A note is added saying: This report approved except in Mr. Ross's case.]
That a letter, of 20 February, from Joshua Johnson; and a letter and memorial from John Ross, be referred to a committee of three:3
[Note 3: 3 Johnson's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIII, folio 215. Ross's letter and memorial are in No. 41, VIII, folios 288 and 290.]
The members, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [William] Sharpe, Mr. [Thomas] Bee.
Ordered, That a committee of the week be appointed:
The members, Mr. [Samuel] Johnston, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. [James] Madison.
The committee appointed to devise further ways and means to defray the expences of the ensuing campaign, &c.;
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[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of a clerk, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 283. See post, May 22.]
The committee on the motion of Mr. [James] Madison; and
The Medical Committee, delivered in their several reports.
The committee ∥consisting of Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Bland and Mr. Carroll∥ on the letter, of the 8th, from General Washington, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the executive authority in the several states, from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania, inclusive, to forward on to such place on Hudson's river, as the quartermaster general shall direct, at the expence of the respective states, in the first instance, all such supplies of provisions as they have been called upon to furnish by the resolution of Congress, of the 4 November last; and that all such necessary expence as any of the said states are at in transporting the provisions aforesaid to Hudson's river shall be preserved to them with interest placed to the credit of the states respectively, as soon as the states supply the Continental Treasury with money in such manner as to enable Congress to do it.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Witherspoon, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 215.]
The report of the committee on further ways and means to defray the expences of the ensuing campaign, &c., was taken into consideration, and the 5th proposition being under debate, viz.:3
[Note 3: 3 This paragraph and the debate following were also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
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"That the treasury be directed to issue no more bills to the states in pursuance of the act of Congress, of March 18, 1780; that the states be required to call out of circulation every year the same proportions of what they have already issued as they were in that act directed to redeem of the whole and that they be required to do this by taxes at the nominal or full value of the bills and by no means to exchange them at a discount or by a scale of depreciation."
A division was called for and on the question to agree to the first clause as far as "1780" inclusive, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Artemas] Ward:
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So it passed in the negative and the remaining clauses of the proposition fell of course.
The sixth proposition was then debated, viz.:
"That the states be called upon for their proportions of a tax to be paid in the new money or in gold and silver of three millions of dollars to be returned into the continental treasury on or before the first day of October next; and that whatever sum is paid in the new money one-half thereof shall be cancelled and the other half only applied to the public service."
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A motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [William] Sharpe, to strike out the words "in the new money or," and on the question shall those words stand, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Abraham] Clark:
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So the question was lost and the words were struck out.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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