| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1781
A letter, of 23, from Colonel D. Broadhead, was read.
The letter, of 17, from R. Morris, with the enclosed plan of a bank, was taken into consideration, and after debate:
Page 531 | Page image
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to devise farther ways and means for defraying the expences of the present campaign, &c.
A report from the Board of Admiralty on the petition of Dumaine and Lyon, was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Resolved, That a copy of said petition be transmitted to the minister plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Spain; and that he be directed to represent the matter to the said Court, and take such measures as he may judge expedient to obtain an order to the judge of the admiralty at Teneriffe, to deliver the whole amount of the sales of the prize therein mentioned, to the owners of the brigantine Brilliant, their agent or attorney, for the use of the said owners and the captors.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The report of the committee on the resolution relative to a compensation for the staff of the army was taken into consideration, and after debate:
Ordered, That the same, together with a motion of Mr. [John] Sullivan, be referred to the Board of War.
The report of the committee ∥consisting of Mr. Mathews, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Clymer∥ on the letter, of 22d April, from Major General the Marquis de la Fayette, was taken into consideration; Whereupon
Resolved, That Congress entertain a just sense of the patriotic and timely exertions of the Merchants of Baltimore who so generously supplied the Marquis de La Fayette with about two thousand guineas to enable him to forward the detachment under his Command.
That the Marquis de La Fayette be assured that Congress will take proper measures to discharge the engagements he has entered into with the said Merchants.
That of this purpose Congress will draw bills on France to the amount of such engagements out of the first monies they may be
Page 532 | Page image
authorized to draw for, unless in the meantime other measures can be adopted for discharging the said debt.
That the first paragraph of this report be published in the News papers.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 233.]
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
The Committee of the Week
Report
Resolved, That a warrant issue in his Favor upon Thomas Smith Loan officer of the State of Pennsylvania for one thousand Dollars of the New Emissions on Account. Colo. Smith's Memorial be referred to the Board of War to take order.
Resolved, That the said Memorial be referred to the Board of Treasury.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Board of War.
Ordered to lie on the table to be considered with the report from the Board of War upon a former memorial of the said Alexr. Dow.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Samuel John Atlee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 431.]
Ordered, That the memorial of Lieutenant Colonel Smith be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of 4 January notwithstanding;3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IX, folio 159.]
That the memorial of B. Armitage be referred to the Board of Treasury;
That the letter, of 23, from Major Lomagne be referred to the Board of War;
Page 533 | Page image
That the letter from Alexander Dew lie on the table.1
[Note 1: 1 Armitage's memorial, dated May 19, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 71; Lomagne's letter is in No. 78, XIV, folio 437; Dow's letter is in No. 78, VII, folio 387.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.2
[Note 2: 2 The following motion was made this day by James Mitchell Varnum, as the indorsement shows. It is in the writing of Varnum and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 187.
Whereas, notwithstanding the Resolution of theoflast, and the measures taken by the Commander in Chief in pursuance thereof, the situation of the Southern Department has been such as hitherto to prevent the inquiry mentioned therein. And whereas Major General Gates has applied to Congress requesting a speedy decision to the end that he may justify his conduct and be in a situation to render farther services in the field. And whereas it appears to Congress by satisfactory information that the defeat of the Troops under the command of General Gates on theoflast was owing to misfortune only and not chargeable to any misconduct in the Genl. And it being impracticable for the Court of Inquiry to be convened during the present Campaign it is therefore Resolved that so much of the said Resolution as respects an inquiry into the conduct of General Gates during his command in the Southern Department be and the same is hereby repealed.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |