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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, JULY 20, 1781
Mr. [Daniel] Mowry, a delegate for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, attended, and produced the credentials of the delegates for that State, which are in the words following:
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
I certify that at the annual Election of Officers for the State aforesaid held at Newport on the First Wednesday in May last The Hon'ble William Ellery, Ezekiel Cornell, Daniel Mowry and James Mitchel Varnum Esquires were chosen Delegates to represent the said State in the Congress of the United States of America for One Year.
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Witness my Hand this Thirtieth Day of June A. D. 1781 and in the Fifth Year of Independence.
Henry Ward Secry1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Rhode Island, Credentials of Delegates.]
A memorial from the honbble. the Minister of France was read, stating that he has received some dispatches which he wishes to communicate to Congress by means of a committee:
Ordered, That a committee of five be appointed to receive the communications of the honble the Minister of France:
The members, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [John] Sullivan, Mr. [John] Mathews.2
[Note 2: 2 These three paragraphs, beginning with "A memorial," were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Jenifer, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Bland,∥ to whom was re-committed part of the report of the Board of Admiralty, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
The Committee to whom was recommitted part of the Report of the Board of Admiralty, Beg leave to Report.
That Richard Dale went out Master's Mate of the Continental Brig Lexington in Nov. 1776, was taken prisoner in the European Seas in the Summer 1777 when that Brig was captured, was carried to England where he remained a prisoner for a considerable time, escaped to France, entered on board the Bon homme Richard as a Lieutenant under Commission which he received from Doctor Franklin, was at the taking the Serapis, afterwards was Lieutenant with Captain Jones on board the Alliance--removed to be a Lieutenant on board the Ariel in which vessel he came to Philadelphia.
That Muscoe Livingston was appointed a Lieutenant of the Navy of the United States by Doctr. Franklin april 19th 1778. That from the face of the commission it appears that several erasures have been made and insertions therein with different ink and handwriting, Therefore It is the opinion of your Committee, that that part of the Report from the Board of Admiralty respecting the issuing a Commission to Muscoe Livingston be postponed.
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That it has appeared to your Committee from the testimony of Captain Nicholson, and of one of your Committee that Alexander Murray, a Captain in the first Maryland Regiment, resigned his Commission in consequence of promises made to him by Mr Hancock and other members of Congress and of the Marine Committee that he should be appointed a Lieutenant of the Navy of the United States, and that his name should be entered on their books. That upon the destruction of some of the Frigates of these States the said Murray (who was brought up to sea affairs from his infancy and had a command of a vessel in the Eastern trade at 19 years of age) took the command of a private sloop of war, and captured two Privateers and several merchantmen, That he is a man of fortune and family and will in all probability be a credit to the Navy of the United States.
The Committee therefore submit to Congress the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That Richard Dale and Alexander Murray, be appointed lieutenants in the navy of the United States; and that commissions be issued to them accordingly.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 143.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 20 June, from the President of New Hampshire, with sundry papers enclosed, delivered in a report:
The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the President of the State of New Hampshire of the 20th of June last with the papers accompanying the same beg leave to submit to Congress the following report
Whereas the claims of the States of New Hampshire and New York to a tract of Country lying West of Connecticut River commonly called the New Hampshire Grants are yet unsettled;
And whereas the people inhabiting the said tract of Country have ever since the present revolution exercised the powers of Sovereignty and Independence under the name of the State of Vermont;
The United States in Congress assembled do most earnestly recommend to the States of New Hampshire and New York Postponed and to the people inhabiting the disputed Territory aforesaid a speedy and amicable settlement of their respective claims in such manner as they shall judge most conducive to it. ;
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That copies of the Act of the Genl. Assembly of the Commonwealth of the Massachusetts of the 8th day of March last respecting aforesaid the disputed Territory situate on the West side of the River Connecticut commonly called the New Hampshire Grants be transmitted to the States of New Hampshire and New York and the expediency of passing similar Acts be referred to the Said States;
And that in case the said States shall relinquish their respective claims to said District called the New Hampshire Grants or the State of Vermont bounded East by Connecticut River South by the North Line of the State of the Massachusetts West part by Lake Champlain and Wood Creek to the West line of the Township of Dunbar from thence by the West lines of several Townships formerly granted by the Governor of New Hampshire to the North West Corner of the State of Massachusetts and Bounded North by Latitude forty five degrees.
The United States in Congress Assembled will guaranty to the States of New Hampshire and New York all the lands to them respectively belonging lying without their limits aforesaid, and the Jurisdiction over the same against any claims or encroachments from the State of Vermont the people inhabiting the district of the New Hampshire grants within the limits before described.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Daniel Carroll, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, II, folio 77. Another version, in the writing of Roger Sherman, is on folio 79 and is as follows:
The committee to whom was referred the letter of the President of the State of New Hampshire of the 2Oth of June last, and the papers accompanying the same, beg leave to submit to Congress the following report:
Whereas the claims of the States of New Hampshire and New York to the Territory and Jurisdiction of a certain tract of Inhabited Country lying between the Hartford and West of Connecticut River, commonly called the New Hampshire Grants axe yet unsettled, notwithstanding applications from the parties respectively for that purpose;
And whereas the people inhabiting the said tract of Country have for some time since, assumed and exercised inand in their own name the powers of Sovereignty and Independence, claiming the right of an Independent State, under the name of Vermont. To prevent therefore in future the mischiefs arising from such unsettled claims, The United States in Congress Assembled do earnestly recommend to the said States of New Hampshire and New York and to the people inhabiting the disputed Territory aforesaid to take the premises into their serious consideration and to use their best endeavours for an amicable settlement of said Controversy in such way as they shall judge most conducive to the public weal, hereby engaging to ratify and confirm whatever they may mutually agree to and perform. And in case the said parties can not agree in settling said dispute upon due notice the United States in Congress Assembled, upon application of the said parties or any of them, will proceed to examine into the merit of their several claims and finally determine thereon.
And whereas it hath been represented to the United States in Congress Assembled by the President of the State of New Hampshire that many of the Citizens of said State, Inhabiting Towns on the East side of Connecticut River have lately withdrawn their Allegiance from said State and have refused to yield obedience to the laws thereof, and that they have been countenanced and aided therein by the people inhabiting the said New Hampshire Grants on the West side of said River, The United States in Congress Assembled consider this revolt as a disturbance of the peace of the United States and therefore do order and enjoin the said Citizens and all and every of them, inhabiting on the East side of Connecticut River who have revolted as aforesaid immediately to return to their allegiance to the said State of New Hampshire and the people inhabiting the said disputed Territory on the West side of Connecticut River called Vermont, are hereby strictly forbid giving any countenance, aid, or protection to the Citizens on the East Side of said River in their revolt aforesaid, upon pain of being considered as Enemies of the United States and treated and of being proceeded against accordingly.
That copies of the Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of the Massachusetts of the 8th day of March last, respecting the aforesaid disputed Territory be transmitted to the States of New Hampshire and New York and the expediency of passing similar Acts be referred to the said States.
The two following paragraphs in the writing of Abraham Clark, are on folio 83:
That it be recommended to the States of New York and New Hampshire to consider of the expediency of relinquishing their respective claims of Jurisdiction to the Territory called the New Hampshire Grants West of Connecticut River and every part thereof from, &c.
That copies of the act of the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts of the 8th day of March respecting the said Territory be transmitted to the Legislatures of the States o[ N. York and New Hampshire.]
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Ordered, That Monday next be assigned for the consideration thereof.
A letter, of this day, from W. Honeyman, lieutenant and quartermaster of Invalid regiment, was read, requesting leave to resign:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XII, folio 167.]
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
The Committee of the week report.
A Letter from Brigr. Genl. Lachn. Mc.Intosh requesting a fuller and more particular investigation of facts respecting his conduct in Georgia.
Resolv'd, That the said letter be referred to a special Committee.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Nicholas Eveleigh, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 193. The indorsement shows it was passed in the negative.]
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A letter, of 20 [18], from Brigadier General L. Mcintosh, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 162, folio 305.]
The Grand Committee made report; Whereupon,
The Grand Comeee. submit the following Report:
That it be recommended to the several States to pass laws empowering the United States in Congress assembled to have use and exercise the right of laying Embargoes in time of War, provided that such Embargoes extend to all the States in the Union, and be laid for a term not exceeding sixty days, at any one time.
And also
That the quotas of monies called for by the United States in Congress assembled when voted by the respective States, be appropriated and vested specifically by the Legislatures of the respective States for the use of the United States in Congress assembled: And that the taxes so appropriated be paid by the Collectors in the first instance, to such person or persons as the United States in Congress assembled shall appoint for receiving the same.
Resolved, That the said committee be discharged and that the business committed to them, together with the said report, be referred to a committee of three:2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 15]
The members, Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum.
A motion was made by Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, seconded by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum:
Ordered, That it be referred to the said committee.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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