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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 --MONDAY, JULY 16, 1781
A letter, of 18 June, from the governor of Massachusetts, was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee on the letter from the general assembly of that State.
An act passed by the general assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, empowering the United States in Congress assembled, to levy a duty of five per cent. on imports and prizes, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This act is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 75, folio 359.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the committee appointed to prepare an ordinance for collecting the said duty.
Mr. Edmund Randolph, a delegate for the State of Virginia, attended and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read, as follows:
Virginia To Wit
In General Assembly, the 14th. of June 1781.
Resolved that Edmund Randolph Esqr., be appointed a Delegate to represent this Commonwealth in Congress until the first Monday in November next, in the room of Benjamin Harrison Esquire who hath resigned.
Archibald Cary S. S.
Benj Harrison Sp H D
Attest.
John Beckley C. h. d.2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Virginia, Credentials of Delegates.]
A letter, of 13 June, from Saml Parsons at Martineque was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [John] Sullivan.
Another letter, of 13 June, from the same.
A letter from the Honble. John Jay, dated Madrid, April, 1781, was read, accompanied with a duplicate of Doctor
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Franklin's letter, of 12 March, 1781, together with copies of sundry intercepted letters:1
[Note 1: 1 Jay's letter, dated April 25, is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 384; Franklin's, of March 12, is on page 281.]
Ordered, That extracts of the intercepted letters, so far as they relate to military plans, be transmitted to the Commander in Chief and commanding officer in the southern department; and
That the said letters be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [Thomas] Bee, Mr. [Joseph] Jones:
That the letter from Mr. Jay be referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
A letter, of 9 April, from the honble John Laurens was read.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter, partly in cipher, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 165, I, folio 99 and inclosed extracts from intercepted letters. It is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 355. The following motion, undated, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 341: That copies of the intercepted letters forwarded to Congress by Colonel Laurens so far as they relate to the track of country commonly called Vermont be immediately transmitted to the Governors of New York and New Hampshire. This was "moved and seconded to postpone" as a note shows.]
A memorial of Captain Joseph Elliot, of the first South Carolina regiment, was read:3
[Note 3: 3 This memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 67. (4) This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 237.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War; and that the Board of War take order for affording such relief to the officers of the United States, lately returned and returning from captivity in Charleston, as their circumstances may require, and the finances will admit.
A letter, of this day, from F. I. S. de Brahme, major of engineers, was read:4
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War to take order.
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A remonstrance of Danl Roberdeau was read.
A letter, of this day, from Brigadier General Mcintosh, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 Roberdeau's remonstrance, dated July 9, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VIII, folio 310; McIntosh's letter is in No. 162, folio 301.]
Whereupon, it was moved by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, seconded by [Mr. Roger] Sherman, that the resolution of Congress of the 15 day of February, 1780, respecting Brigadier General Mcintosh, be, and the same is hereby repealed.
To which it was moved by Mr. [George] Walton, seconded by Mr. [Richard] Howly, to add, by way of amendment, "except so far as restrains him from taking command in the State of Georgia."
On the question to agree to the amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [George] Walton,
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So it passed in the negative.
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On the question to agree to the main question; resolved in the affirmative.
A letter, of 16, from Godfried Swartz, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 87.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A memorial of George Melven was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [George] Walton, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll.
A memorial of Archd. McClean, in behalf of Mary Meem, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 Melven's memorial, dated July 16, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, VI, folio 247; McClean's is on folio 255.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
War Office July 13th, 1781
Sir,
Major Parr who is appointed to command the Riflemen to be raised to cooperate with the Main Army against New York, has represented to the Board, that neither himself or officers can possibly proceed upon the recruiting business, unless they are assisted with an advance of money for their unavoidable expences, in the execution of that duty.
The board therefore beg leave to report,
Ordered, That the Board of War be authorised to draw warrant on the paymaster general in favour of Major James Parr, for twelve hundred dollars specie on account of pay for the officers of his corps, any resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, for which sum the said Major Parr is to be accountable.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 43. It gives the amount as 5,900 dollars new emission.]
Another report from the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
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At a Board Of War July 16, 1781
Present--Col. Grayson
General Cornell
The Board from the frequent applications of the officers of the Army on parole for liberty to draw their rations and the total prohibition contained in the Act of Congress of the 19th of May 1778 on that subject, find themselves under the necessity of reporting the following resolution for the consideration of Congress:
Resolved, That the Board of War, Commander in Chief, and commanding officer of a separate army, be, and they are hereby empowered to order rations to be delivered to such officers on parole as they shall think proper, the resolution of the 19 of May, 1778, notwithstanding.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 39.]
Another report from the Board of War was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [Joseph] Jones, Mr. [John] Sullivan.
The delegates of Massachusetts laid before the United States in Congress assembled a resolution passed by the legislature of that State in General Assembly, March 8th, 1781.2
[Note 2: 2 A copy of this resolution is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, II, folio 45.]
A letter, of 30th April, from R. Harrison at Cadiz was read, enclosing bills of lading for sundry merchandize by the ship Thomas Edwd.Tyler:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Commerce.
The committee of the week:
Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Nicholas] Eveleigh.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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