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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, JUNE 6, 1781
A letter, of this day, from J. Ross, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 381.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on his memorial read the 14 May last.
A report from the committee of the week was read; Whereupon,
The Committee of the week beg leave to report that the petition of John Jordan, James Mc.Kenzie, Joseph Brussell and Nicholas Culvill be referred to the Board of Admiralty.
Ordered, That the petition of John Jordan and others be referred to the Board of Admiralty;
That the petition of Migl Lorenzo Yznardy be referred to a committee of three:2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Richard Howly, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 167.]
The members, Mr. [Samuel John] Atlee, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [Thomas] Bee.
A report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Treasury Office June 4, 1781
The Board of Treasury have had under their consideration a letter of the first instant, from Gustavus Risberg late Deputy Commissary General of issues referred to them the 2nd instant. Whereupon they beg leave to report.
That the money of the 18 of March, 1780, issued in this, or the southern States, can't be had to make the exchange Mr Risberg proposes, nor can this Board suggest any other mode, than endeavouring to exchange the money he has in a private way, with Gentlemen who have occasion for money in the eastern States--the Board are clearly of opinion, that Mr Risberg ought not to pass it [a]way, at the loss intimated in his letter.
As to the Warrant on the State of Connecticut for ten thousand dollars, mentioned in the said letter, this Board are not of opinion
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that any other Warrant should issue in lieu thereof. That State no doubt will provide the ways and means to make the payment, altho' they have not issued the money of the 18th of March, 1780.
The Board have also considered the report of the Board of War upon the letter from the A Q M Genl accompanied with sundry letters, estimates &c from R Claiborne D Q Mr for the State of Virginia.
From the letters and papers aforesaid the Board are convinced of the necessity of supplying that department, were it practicable, but the mode proposed by the Dy. Qr Master of the State of Virginia to wit, a Warrant on the Loan Officer of that State, can't possibly answer the purpose proposed, for altho' the Loan Officer of that State, had money to issue from his office on the 20th ult, there are Warrants of Congress on him, that he could not then have been apprised of, to the amount of 258,532 dollars and 30/90 of the now emission.
Therefore for the relief of that department, the Board take the liberty to suggest to Congress, the necessity of appropriating a part of the moneys directed to be drawn for, by the Treasurer of the United States, by their Act of the 22d ultimo. Whereupon the following order is submitted.
Ordered, That the Treasurer of the United States draw an order on the Treasurer of the State of Virginia fordollars payable in specie, or other money of equal value to specie, in favor of Charles Pettit, Asst Qr. Master General, on account of Timothy Pickering Esqr Qr Master General, to be assigned over, and paid to R Claiborne Dy Qr Master for the State of Virginia, being part of the moneys directed to be drawn for, by the act of the 22d May last, to be applied to the purposes of the Quarter Masters department to the southward, for which sum Col Timothy Pickering Qr Master Genl is to be accountable, upon the requisition of the A. Q M General to the Board of War and approved by the said Board in their letter of the 31 ultimo, to His Excellency the President of Congress.
The Board beg leave further to report,
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [Samuel] Johnston, one of the delegates for the State of North Carolina, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for eight
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hundred dollars of the new emission, for which the State of North Carolina is to be accountable:1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No, 147, V, folio 247. It is indorsed by Thomson: The House seems to concur in opinion with the board on the advance of money for the quarter [master's] Department in Virginia. Postponed.]
Ordered, That the remainder of the report respecting the letter of G. Risberg and on the report of the Board of War on the letter from the assistant quartermaster general, accompanied with sundry letters, estimates, &c., from R. Claiborne, deputy quartermaster for the State of Virginia, be postponed:
Treasury Office June 4th 1781
The Board of Treasury having considered a Letter from Nathaniel Barrett dated Boston May 10th 1781 respecting the Loss of two Bills of Exchange drawn on the Commissioners at Paris, and inclosing a Letter from Jonathan Williams, relative to the said Bills, dated at Nantz the 20th of March last beg leave to report
That it appears by the said Letter and Testimonies on oath exhibited and filed, that the first and second Bills of two sets of Exchange drawn by the United States on the Commissioners at Paris in favor of Mr. John Loring or order, No. 73 for twenty four dollars and No. 76 for thirty dollars, both dated November 10th 1778, and issued by the Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for the State of Massachusetts, (as he has certified to this Board) were inclosed by the said Nathaniel Barrett to Jonathan Williams of Nantz and forwarded by Captains Arne and Carzneau, both of whom sailed for Europe in the fall of the year 1778 the first of whom after being chased by the Enemy and dismasted put into Cadiz, and the latter was taken; the third Bill was inclosed and went by Col. Dirks, who sailed about the same time, and says by Accident the letter was lost--the fourth Bill was sent by Captain Grinnel, who sailed for Holland in the year 1779, was cast away and lost his papers. The foregoing Facts as stated having been certified on Oath, the Board have no Reason to doubt the Truth and therefore submit the following Resolution:
Ordered, That the treasurer of loans sign and transmit to Nathaniel Appleton, commissioner of the continental loan
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office for the State of Massachusetts, to be by him issued to Nathaniel Barrett, two sets of exchange, of the tenor and date of two sets drawn by the United States on the commissioners at Paris, in favor of Mr. John Loring, or order, No. 73, for twenty-four dollars, and No. 76, for thirty dollars; both dated November 10, 1778, and issued by the commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Massachusetts aforesaid: which by proofs and affidavits lodged at the Board of Treasury, appear to have been lost; except that each set, now drawn, consist of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th bills, one of the eight only to be paid; that the treasurer of loans furnish the said Nathaniel Barrett with quadruplicate letters of advice, each containing a certified copy of the foregoing order; and that the said Nathaniel Barrett enter into bond to the loan officer aforesaid, on behalf of the United States, with two or more sufficient freeholders as securities, in double the amount of the value of the said bills, with condition to indemnify the United States against the holder or holders of any of the bills aforesaid, which are said to be lost, should any such appear.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 363.
From this point, the proceedings for the day were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in the More Secret Journal.]
The committee to whom was referred their report of the communications made to them by the minister of France, having reported thereon, their report was taken into consideration: And thereupon,
Resolved, That the minister plenipotentiary, &c. be authorised and instructed to concur, in behalf of these United States, with his Most Christian Majesty in accepting the mediation proposed by the Empress of Russia and the Emperor of Germany; and but to accede to any treaty of peace which may be the result thereof
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in which the independence and sovereignty of the thirteen United States is effectually assured to them [no treaty of peace which shall not be such as may effectually secure the independence and sovereignty of the thirteen states,] according to the form and effect of the treaties subsisting between the said states and his most Christian Majesty, and in which the said treaties shall not be left in their full force and validity.
That the boundaries of the said states be as follows:1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Madison, except the part in brackets, which is in Samuel Huntington's writing, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 439.]
A motion was then made by Mr. [John] Witherspoon, seconded by Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, That the minister who is to negotiate in behalf of the United States be further instructed as follows:
"But as to disputed boundaries, and other particulars, we refer you to your former instructions, from which you will easily perceive the desires and expectations of Congress; but we think it unsafe at this distance to tie you up by absolute and peremptory directions upon any other subject than the two essential articles abovementioned. You will, therefore, use your own judgment and prudence in securing the interest of the United States in such manner as circumstances may direct, and as the state of the belligerent and disposition of the mediating powers may require."
"You are to make the most candid and confidential communications, upon all subjects, to the ministers of our generous ally the king of France; to undertake nothing in the negotiations for peace without their knowledge and concurrence; and to make them sensible how much we rely upon his Majesty's influence for effectual support, in every thing that may be necessary
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to the present security or future prosperity of the United States of America."1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Witherspoon, and the vote are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 438.]
On the question to agree to the first paragraph, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. M[eriwether] Smith--
{table}
So the question was lost. Whereupon,
Ordered, That the report together with the foregoing motion be re-committed.
Admiralty Office June 6th. 1781.
The Board of Admiralty have the honor to inform the Honorable the United States in Congress assembled, that they have conferred with the Superintendant of Finance on ways and means for manning and fitting out the Frigate Trumbull, That the result thereof was, that he would furnish paper money sufficient for manning said Ship and enable the Board to procure such articles as will be necessary to complete her outfit.
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There will be nothing to impede the equipment of this Ship, when your honorable body shall have decided on the report, which the Board had the honor lately to lay on your table, respecting the mode of payment of officers pay and subsistence and of seamens bounty and wages &c, &c.
The Board therefore hope that it will be agreeable to your Honorable Body to take up and decide on that Report immediately.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 471. It was read on this day, as the indorsement shows.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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