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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 --TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1781
A letter from J. Ross was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter, dated June 19, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIX, folio 385.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on his former memorial.
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a memorial of Colonel Nicola be referred to the Board of War to take order.3
[Note 3: 3 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VII, folio 71.]
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Bee:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [George] Walton, Mr. [Roger] Sherman.
The committee reported the draft of a letter to Doctor Franklin, which was agreed to as follows:
The Committee to whom was referred Dr. Franklin['s letter], and the revision of the Instructions to the Commissioners appointed to negotiate a treaty of Commerce with Great Britain report the following letter to Dr. Franklin:
Sir,
Congress have received your letter of the 12 of March last, with the papers enclosed. The prospect of conferences being soon opened in Europe, under the mediation of the imperial courts of Petersburg and Vienna, for accommodating the disputes between the belligerent powers, which must necessarily involve the essential
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interests of these United States, has determined us to increase the number of our ministers for negotiating a peace with Great Britain. We have therefore added yourself, Messrs. Jay, H. Laurens, and Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Adams, to repair to such place as shall be fixed on for transacting this important business.
A compliance with your request to retire from publick employment would be inconvenient at this particular conjuncture, as it is the desire of Congress to avail themselves of your abilities and experience at the approaching negotiation. Should you find repose necessary, after rendering the United States this further service, Congress, in consideration of your age and bodily infirmities, will be disposed to gratify your inclination.
You will receive herewith a letter to his Most Christian Majesty and the instructions to our Ministers for negotiating a peace, to be presented to his Majesty attended with such a memorial as the importance of the subject requires.
You will present the letter to his Most Christian Majesty, and communicate to him the instructions to our ministers for negotiating a peace, attended with such memorial as your prudence shall suggest and the importance of the subject requires.
You Committee report the following, that it be
Resolved, That the power heretofore given to the Honble John Adams, Esqr. for negotiating a treaty of Commerce with Great Britain be and hereby are invested in the Several Ministers plenipotentiary of these United States appointed to negotiate a peace; and that they or a majority of them or of such of them as may assemble; Postponed or in case of the death, absence, indisposition or other impediment of the others, any one of them may receive proposals from Great Britain on that subject; but not to conclude any treaty relative thereto without further instructions from Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Daniel Carroll, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 429. The letter was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in the More Secret Journal.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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