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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, MAY 30, 1781
A letter, of 20 March, from the honorable J. Laurens was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 317.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee to whom was referred the memorial, of 25, from the honorable minister plenipotentiary of France.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the Board draw a warrant on the paymaster general, in favour of Major General Gates, for five hundred dollars in bills of the new emissions, equal to three months' pay, for which sum he is to be accountable;2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 207.]
That the Board also draw a warrant on the paymaster general, in favour of Thomas Jones, deputy field commissary of military stores to the main army, for two hundred and ten dollars new emissions, equal to three months' pay, for which sum he is to be accountable.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 217.]
The committee to whom were referred the motions of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland delivered in a report.
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews:
[Whereas the period assigned by the act of the 18th of March 1780 for calling in and cancelling the Bills of Credit emitted by Congress prior to that date, hath long since elapsed, and a great proportion of the said Bills is notwithstanding through the remissness of the States in sinking their respective quotas, still left in circulation whereby the public is deprived of the use of the 4/10 of the new bills issuable pursuant to the act aforesaid in place thereof, to the great prejudice of the public service, ordered that warrants be drawn on the Commissioners of the several Loan offices] for the full amount of the said four tenths. And that the Commissioners of the said Loan offices cause new bills to the amount of the said 4/10 to be perfected with all possible expedition in order to answer the draughts made upon them, and that they deliver no more of the 6/10 to their respective States
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until the 4/10 are paid, and thereafter not until the States shall have delivered and cancelled old Bills, to the amount of twenty times the nominal sum of the said 4/10 after which they are to deliver to the respective States what remains of the new bills as fast and no faster than old Continental bills are by them respectively brought in and cancelled at the rate of 20 of the latter for one of the former.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 299. The portion in brackets is in the writing of James Madison; the rest in that of John Mathews.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of four:
The members, Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [John] Mathews.
The Board of Admiralty, to whom was referred the memorial of Joze da Fonceca Soarez de Figuerido, report,
Admiralty Office May 29th 1781.
The Board of Admiralty to whom was referred the memorial of Joze da Fonseca de Figuerido, relative to the capture of a Brigantine called Nossa Senhora de Leiramento taken by the Privateer Mars of Massachusetts, Commanded by Captain Sampson beg leave to Report to the Honorable the United States in Congress assembled as their opinion,
That the proper mode for the memorialist to obtain redress of any injuries he may have sustained, either in his property or person, from Captain Sampson, is by prosecution in due course of law; and that a letter should be written by the President to the supreme executive of the State of Massachusetts, enclosing a copy of the said memorial, and a copy of the proclamation issued by Congress, May 9, 1778; and recommending to the said executive to give all such countenance, protection and assistance to the memorialist, in his attempts to obtain legal satisfaction for the injuries alleged in his memorial to have been done to him personally and in his property by Captain Sampson, as becomes the United States respectively to give to the subjects of neutral powers, who shall complain of a violation of the rights of neutrality.
The Board have the honor to acquaint the United States in Congress assembled, that they are informed by the late Captain of the Protector
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a State Ship belonging to the State of Massachusetts, lately captured and carried into New York, that the Mars Commanded by Capt: Sampson is a State Ship of the same State, and that both their Commissions issued immediately from and were signed by the Governor of said State and not by the President of Congress. The Board have mentioned this circumstance, not because they entertain any the most distant idea that the Mars belonging to the State of Massachusetts, and being Commissioned by the Governor of that State, might influence the conduct of the Supreme Executive thereof with respect to the memorialist, but because the Board humbly conceive that Commissions issueing from different Fountains of Power is a matter which may merit the attention of the United States in Congress assembled, who are the Supreme power of War and Peace.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 467.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report:
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Thomas] Bee, Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer.2
[Note 2: 2 When the report of the committee was submitted is not stated in the Journal nor upon the report. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 469, and is in the writing of Thomas Bee:
The Committee to whom that part of the report of the Board of Admiralty of the 29 Instant which relates to Commissions for Ships and Vessels of War Issuing from different fountains of Power,
Report
That it appears very clearly from the 6th. Article of the Confederation that after a declaration of War by the United States in Congress assembled each State has a power to grant Commissions to any Ship or Vessel of War under such regulations as shall be established by the United States in Congress assembled; Therefore that the only step necessary to be taken at present, will be for the Board of Admiralty to transmit to the Executives of the several States copies of the Regulations now in force for the purposes aforesaid as a rule to be observed by them in issuing such Commissions in future.]
The report of the committee on the motions of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland was taken into consideration, and after debate:
Ordered, That it be re-committed, and that the committee confer with the Board of War.
A letter, of this day, from Colonel D. Broadhead, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 221.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
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A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office May 30. 1781.
Sir
Mr. Christie Surgeon of the first regiment of artillery, being now in town and unable to join his regiment, for want of money, the Board beg leave to report:
Ordered, That the Board of War draw a warrant on the paymaster general, in favour of Thomas Christie, surgeon of the 1st regiment of artillery, for three months' pay;1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 209.]
War Office May 30. 1781
Sir,
The Board have considered the papers from Mr. Ross Agent for the State of Virginia, referred to them to take order on, and beg leave to enclose Mr. Hodgdon's estimate of the money, which it will be necessary to advance after making considerable deductions from the list of articles furnished by the Agent.
They therefore beg leave to report
That a warrant issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, in favor of Samuel Hodgdon, assistant commissary general of military stores, for eleven thousand two hundred and sixty-six dollars and two-thirds of a dollar, in bills of the new emission, for the purpose of furnishing arms and other articles for the use of the State of Virginia, the said Samuel Hodgdon to be accountable; and that the supplies furnished be charged to the said State of Virginia.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 211.]
A letter, of 24th, from Major General the Marquis de la Fayette, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 156, folio 141.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.4
[Note 4: 4 A letter from the Board of War, of this day, relative to relief of Americans, prisoners of war, was read, as the indorsement indicates. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, I, folio 389.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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