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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 --FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 1781
A letter, of 28 January last, from the honble J. Jay, was read:
Ordered, That no more of the bills drawn on the honble John Jay or the honble Henry Laurens be sold until the farther order of Congress, and that the Board of Treasury take immediate steps for stopping the sale.2
[Note 2: 2 These two paragraphs were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
A letter, of 22, 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 127.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [George] Clymer.
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A letter, of 17, from the governor of Connecticut was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 66, II, folio 194.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A petition from the officers of Colonel Baldwin's regiment of artificers was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 21, from Mathias Halsted, was read, with sundry papers enclosed:
Ordered, That the same be transmitted to the Commander in Chief.
A letter, of 23, from Richard Carson, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 The officers' petition, dated April 20, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 43; Halsted's letter is in the Washington Papers, 96, folio 236; a copy is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XII, folio 137; Carson's letter is in No. 78, VI, folio 27.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs to take order.
A letter, of 22, from the Chevalier Paul-Jones, was read, expressing his obligation for the vote of thanks; and
A letter, of this day, from J. Gibson, were read.3
[Note 3: 3 Jones's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XIII, folio 228; Gibson's is in No. 78, X, folio 319.]
A letter, of 22 February, from W. Carmichael;4 and
[Note 4: 4 Carmichael's letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 265.]
A letter, of 23 and 25 January, from Mr. Dumas, were read.
Ordered, That the letter from Mr. Dumas be referred to the committee on his former letter, of October 4.
A letter, of 26, from the Board of War, was read; Whereupon,
War Office, April 26. 1781
Sir,
In consequence of the resolve of the 21st Oct: 1780, we expected that the Quarter Master General would be enabled to procure from the Continental Agent at Boston a handsome supply of Tent cloth, as that Act of Congress directed the delivery of all Duck in Mr. Bradford's hands except so much as the Admiralty Board should think necessary for the immediate supply of the Navy. The Admiralty Board have given it as their opinion that the whole is necessary, and
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therefore none could be obtained under the Resolution to our very great disappointment.
By letter received this day from the Q. M. G. he informs us that Mr Bradford has more than one thousand pieces, but whether or not his information is just, as it is not founded on any authentic documents, we cannot determine. Col. Pickering only required thirty pieces, and these might have been, if obtained, manufactured into Tents at this time. We think it our duty to lay this matter before Congress, that if they choose to give positive orders in the business they may be pleased to do it. If this should be their determination, it will be proper to resolve,
Ordered, That John Bradford continental agent at Boston deliver to the Quartermaster General or his order, all the duck in his hands belonging to the United States proper for tents.
When the Board are informed of the quantity received from Mr. Bradford, they will of course direct a deduction to be made from the Q. M. General's estimate of so many Tents as can be made out of the materials procured from Mr. Bradford.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 147, V, folio 29.]
A report from the Board of Treasury on a liquidated account of Capt J. Schott, was read:
Treasury Office April 21. 1781
Upon the re-commitment of the Reports of the Treasury in the cases of John Lloyd and Wm. Paulding the Board beg leave to explain,
That altho both are involved in the Department of the late Commissary General Trumbull, and ought to be settled upon a common principle, yet the nature and operation of the two demands are essentially different. Both their accounts have been liquidated, and the balances ascertained by the Persons appointed by Congress for that purpose, who, no doubt have retained copies for cheques; but Mr. Lloyd demands payment, while the other asks only for an acknowledgement of the settlement and balance due, with annual interest.
A material reason why, the accounts of a department should not be partially settled is that it is to be supposed, that the principal is in cash, equal to its demand, and this reason governed in the case of Mr Lloyd, but could not operate in that of Mr. Paulding: because if it should be found that the representatives of Mr. Trumbull are in cash equal to the demands of the department Mr. Paulding might yet
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be paid out of it; but should Mr. Lloyd be actually paid in cash, or Loan Office certificates bearing French interest (an unreasonable and improper demand in itself) the public at a crisis of distress must be in advance two sums for the discharge of one debt, if however, he should yield in the extent of his claim, and should agree to take a similar acknowledgement of his debt with Mr. Paulding, the Board are of opinion that it should be done.
The Board beg leave to inform the United States in Congress assembled,
That there is a considerable sum of the old emissions brought in to be cancelled, but on account of the allowance to the Commissioners for examining, counting and burning the same as mentioned in the resolution of Congress of the 4th. December last being inadequate not only in the opinion of the Commissioners but also in the opinion of this Board, that business is entirely stopped. That the Commissioners, as may be seen by their letter herewith submitted, demand twenty shillings specie each pr. day or six pence pr thousand dollars. The former the Board are of opinion ought not to be complied with, because there is no certainty or any probability that the old monies will come in fast enough to keep them constantly employed, and the latter demand will be a very expensive allowance from the public as a little calculation wilt demonstrate.
The Board are of opinion that four pence specie pr. thousand is an adequate allowance but have reason to believe that they will not act under six pence: the United States in Congress assembled will please determine.
That Captain John Schott of Col. Armands independent Corps, has lodged in the Treasury Office a duplicate of a liquidated account with a certificate from one of the Auditors of the Army of the balance due in specie and applies for payment, agreeable to the resolution of the 16th. inst: but the Board not knowing whether it was intended by the concluding Article of that Act, to repeal that of the 27th. of March directing the Board of War to draw warrants for payment of such Accounts and not understanding the resolution of the 13th inst. directing that application for that purpose be made in the first instance to the Pay Master accompanied with proper warrants, and there being no resolutions authorising the Board to draw warrants on the Military Chest: they beg leave to refer this business to the United States in Congress assembled for their direction.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 247.]
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order, the resolution of 4 January last notwithstanding.
Another report from the Board of Treasury was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That upon the application of Jacob Hiltzheimer, a warrant issue in his favor on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for one thousand dollars of the new emission to purchase forage for the use of the horses under his care, and for which sum the said Jacob Hiltzheimer is to be accountable:
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be re-committed.
The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 21, from the executive council of the eastern shore of Maryland, reported the draught of an answer, which was agreed to:
Ordered, That the letter be referred to the Board of War.
The report of the committee on the letter of 13 March from Robert Morris was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
In order that the superintendant of finance may be at liberty to devote his time and attention to the more immediate duties of his office,
Resolved, That he be, and hereby is, authorised to appoint by letter of attorney, or otherwise, such person or persons as he may think proper, to prosecute or defend for him in his official capacity, or on behalf of the United States, in all places where the same may be necessary:
That the oath of office to be taken by the superintendant of finance be as follows:
Ido swear (or affirm), that I will truly and impartially execute the office of superintendant of the finances of the United States of America, to which I am appointed; and will, in all respects, discharge the trust reposed in me by the said appointment, with fidelity, justice, and integrity, to the best of my skill and understanding:
That the form of the commission to the superintendant of finance be as follows:
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The United States in Congress assembled toGreeting:
We, reposing special trust and confidence in your fidelity, diligence, and ability, have constituted and appointed, and do by these presents, constitute and appoint, you the said, to be superintendant of the finances of the said United States, hereby giving and granting to you all powers, privileges, authorities, and emoluments, which to the said office now do or hereafter may belong or appertain.
Witness his excellency, Samuel Huntington, President of Congress, at Philadelphia, theday ofin the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, and in the fifth year of our independence.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Churchill Houston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 315.]
A letter, of this day, from the Board was read; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the Board of Admiralty pay the money produced by the sale of cannon mentioned in the resolution, of 29 March last, to the commissary general of military stores, for which he is to be accountable, and that the Board of War direct the appropriation of the said monies to the iron masters who have cast shot and shells, in proportion to their respective contracts.
A memorial of William Williams;
A memorial of William Barnett;
A petition of Lieutenant Andw Lee:2
[Note 2: 2 Williams's memorial, dated April 26, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 548; that of Barnet, dated April 27, 1781, is in No. 41, I, folio 341; Lee's petition is in No. 42, IV, folio 282.]
Ordered, That the Memorial of Wm. Williams, and petition of Lieutenant Lee, be referred to the Board of Treasury; and the memorial of Wm. Barnet be referred to the Medical Committee.
The Committee to whom was referred the Letter from the Honble. John M. Scot of the 13th instant, beg leave to report.
That the subject of the Letter referred, respects the pay said to be due to deputy quarter masters and artificers employed in the quarter masters department under the late and present quarter masters general.
That the persons so employed under the former arrangement were in the appointment and pay of the quarter master general, to whom,
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or his principal assistants, the sums advanced and wages due to persons under the above description, can only be known, as a proper account of the expenditures in that department does not appear to have been produced, or the large sums advanced thereto in any manner accounted for, untill which is done, your committee are of opinion no advances can be made with propriety to deputies and persons employed in that department under the late Quarter Master general.
With respect to those employed under the present arrangement of the quarter masters department passed in Congress the 15th July last your Committee beg leave to remind Congress, that by the said arrangement it is directed;
That one of the duties of assistant quarter [master] general shall be "to receive from the respective deputies at the end of every three months, returns of all persons employed, how where and on what conditions, and returns of all public property belonging to the department.
That the returns be made to the assistant quarter master general in March June September and December, and that the general returns be furnished to the quarter master general as soon after as possible.
That the quarter master general make returns to the Commander in Chief and Board of War, as soon as possible after they are delivered in to him by the assistant quarter master general of all officers and other persons employed.
That all officers in the quarter master generals department of what ever denomination, shall take the oaths of allegiance, and the oath of office prescribed by Congresss, before they enter on business.
That with the returns before directed to be made of the name and station of each person to be appointed in the quarter masters department, there be also at the same time certificates returned therewith, of their having respectively taken the oaths and qualifications aforementioned.
That in settling the accounts of officers in the quarter masters department to be appointed by this Act of Congress, no pay or allowance whatever be granted to any person employed in that department whose name and employment together with a certificate of his taking the aforesaid oaths, shall not be duly returned in manner above directed." After the above recitals, your Committee beg leave further to inform Congress, that upon enquiry they cannot find any of the returns above mentioned have been made to the Board of War; in consequence of which omission, your Committee are of
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opinion no advance for pay can be made to persons acting under the present quarter master general, untill the Act of Congress above mentioned, requiring returns of their names stations and employments with certificates of taking the oaths enjoined are fully complied with.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 471. It was delivered this day and recommitted on May 4. It is in the list of postponed reports in No. 31, folio 372.
A letter, of 24, from James Smith was road, according to the indorsement, and referred to the Board of Treasury. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 61.
A letter from Captain William Goold was read, according to the indorsement, and referred to the Board of Treasury; it is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 265.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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