| 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 --SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1781
A letter, of 6, from Colonel D. Broadhead, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 215.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War, to take order.
A report from the Board of Admiralty was read, enclosing a letter, of 3, from Captain J.P. Jones:
Admiralty Office July 6th. 1781.
The Commissioners of the Admiralty have the honor to inclose to the United States in Congress assembled a letter from Capt. Jones,
Page 727 | Page image
recommending William Nicholson, and desiring that they would apply to Congress that his appointment as Captain of Marines might be confirmed.
The Commission that Mr. Nicholson now holds, and which is also enclosed is a full Commission, and one of those which long since, and during the Presidency of Mr. Hancock, were we presume by order of Congress transmitted to your Commissioners in France, to be issued in case of necessity. What number of officers have been created in this manner, we are not informed, nor of their merit, but suppose that many of the officers who served under Capt. Jones in his expedition to the North Seas, and several other previous thereto, were furnished with those Commissions.
It might have been expedient to send blank Commissions to your Ministers at Foreign Courts, to be issued as circumstances should render it necessary, but we conceive such Commissions should have been temporary, and besides there seems to be an impropriety in Commissions being dated in foreign parts, and signed by a person as President, who was not President at the time when they were dated.
We wish to have the sense of Congress on the following questions: Whether officers created in manner aforesaid are to bear rank in the Navy of these States, according to their Commissions? And whether new Commissions are to be issued bearing date with those issued abroad to all such as shall have received the Commissions of these States in France or in other Kingdoms or States from your Ministers or Commissioners?
We would only add because we would not take up too much of the time of your Honorable assembly, that Mr. Dale, late Lieutenant of the Ariel and Mr. Livingston late Lieutenant of the Boston, have exhibited their Commissions to this Board, and they are similar to that of Mr. Nicholson.
The Commissioners of the Admiralty beg leave to renew their request that your Honorable assembly would be pleased to take into consideration their application, respecting their salaries and the mode of paying them.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 495.]
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of three:
Page 728 | Page image
The members, Mr. [Daniel of St. Thomas] Jenifer, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland.
The letter, of 14 April, from the Board of Admiralty, was called for, and a motion thereon being made and question put, "that the salary of the commissioners of the Board of Admiralty be augmented,"
Passed in the negative.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 37, folio 407.]
Resolved, That the application of the Board of Admiralty of 2, in behalf of themselves and the secretary of the Board, for the payment of the balance of salary due to them, be referred to the superintendant of finance to take order.
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Johnson, Mr. Motte, Mr. Clymer,∥ to whom were referred the several papers accompanying Colonel Hazen's application delivered in a report; Whereupon,
That the difference in opinion between the Treasury Board and the chamber of accounts, with respect to the vouchers which should be required of the times of enlistment and periods of service of such part of Col. Hazen's Regiment whose depreciation is to be made up by the United States, having proceeded from the want of a precedent in the Treasury office; the Committee conceive that no higher degree of Evidence ought to be required in this case than that which has been accepted by the States having troops serving in the said Regiment. They therefore offer the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury in the settlement of the depreciation due to that part of Colonel Hazen's regiment not of the quota of any State, admit such evidence of the times of inlistment and periods of service as have been accepted by any of the states in settling with other parts of the said regiment, and that the said Board appoint some person, who shall deliver certificates for the balances due on account of depreciation, to the officers and soldiers respectively to whom they shall be due; he taking their receipts for
Page 729 | Page image
the same, to be transmitted to and lodged in the treasury office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of George Clymer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 97.]
The committee ∥consisting of Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Bland, Mr. Osgood,∥ to whom was referred the letter, of June 7, from the governor of Rhode Island, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
It appearing to the United States in Congress assembled, that a complete regiment of Militia should be immediately furnished for the defence of Rhode Island, to do duty there till the first day of November next unless sooner discharged by Congress,
Therefore Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the New England States immediately to furnish the same in the following proportions, viz:
{table}
Resolved, That the said Troops be supplied with rations and paid at the expence of the United States,
Resolved, That so much of the said letter as relates to a call for militia for the defence of that island, be referred to the Commander in Chief; and that he be authorised to call upon the four eastern states, namely, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, for such number of militia for the defence of Rhode Island as he shall think necessary.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Sullivan, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folios 205 and 208.]
The committee to whom were referred the memorial and other papers of the Baron d'Arendt delivered in a report.
Page 730 | Page image
A motion was made by the delegates of South Carolina, that the Board of War be directed to forward to the State of South Carolina, with all convenient dispatch, three thousand stand of arms for the use of the militia of that state.
A motion was made by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, seconded by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, to strike out the words "for the use of the militia of that State:" and in lieu thereof insert, "to be disposed of as the commanding officer of the southern department shall direct;" a division was called for, and on the question to strike out the words "for the use of the militia of that State;" the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Mathews:
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Roger] Sherman, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, between the words "arms" and "for" to insert "to be disposed of as the commanding officer of the southern department shall direct."
Page 731 | Page image
On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Mathews,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
After debate,
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the motion be postponed.
Treasury Office, July 6th. 1781.
The Board of Treasury beg leave to lay before the United States in Congress assembled, the application of Ebenzr Hazard Surveyor of the post office: and to acquaint Congress that there are no Funds within the reach of the Board on which they can draw to satisfy the request of the applicant. For the same Reason they also submit the application of the Honorable Mr Johnston a Delegate from the State of North Carolina for one thousand Dollars new emissions.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 136, V, folio 409, and was read on this day, as the indorsement indicates.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow. [Monday.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |