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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 --SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1781
The committee to whom was referred the letter from the treasurer;
The committee to whom was referred the memorial of Mr. Storey; and
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Bland, Mr. Clymer, Mr. Osgood, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Jenifer, Mr. Bee,∥ to whom was
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referred the motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, delivered in their respective reports:
The Committee on the motions of Col. Bland, and Mr Bee, make the following report, that it appears to your Committee that a considerable number of Inhabitants from the States of South Carolina and Georgia, having lately been exchanged, and relieved from the loathsome confinement of prisonships and dungeons, are lately arrived in this city, that the property of many of them, which was solemnly secured by the capitulation of Charlestown has in direct violation of the said capitulation been withheld from them; That they themselves have been subjected to every evil which their faithful adherence to our righteous cause could prompt a vindictive and disappointed enemy to inflict on them; that many of them have numerous and helpless families, who have been compelled to abandon their habitations, and to seek a temporary asylum in such of their sister states, as are in a more fortunate situation, and who are at this time not only stript of every comfort, but in a great measure destitute of the common necessaries of life.
Your Committee therefore are of opinion, that for the purpose of administering suitable relief to these unfortunate but highly virtuous citizens, a recommendation be immediately forwarded from Congress to the several Executives in the Union to promote a loan of money within their respective states, and that it be notified to them that the Delegates representing the States of South Carolina and Georgia in Congress have pledged the faith of the said States for the repayment of the money so lent, in proportion to what shall be supplied to their respective Citizens as soon as the legislatures of the said states shall be in a condition to make provision for so doing; and that in the meantime the United States in Congress assembled will guarantee the re-payment of all monies lent for the above purpose to the amount of twenty thousand dollars.
Your Committee are also of opinion that Congress do further recommend to the Executives of said States respectively to encourage and promote a benevolent contribution by way of free gift from the citizens thereof for the aforesaid purposes, to transmit as soon as possible an accurate state of the sums of money so lent or given, with the names of the subscribers. and to forward the Money so
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subscribed to Philadelphia, there to be deposited in the hands of the Directors of the bank of the United States, who will superintend the proper application of the same and keep exact accounts thereof, and for the more conveniently advancing the loans before mentioned. Your Committee are of opinion, that it be recommended that the money be paid at 4 equal monthly payments, the first payment to be made at the time of subscribing.
The Committee also recommend, as a further relief for many of the aforesaid persons That the Board of Treasury Auditor General be directed forthwith to ascertain in the best manner they can the specie value at the time the same were dated of the several bills drawn by Major General Lincoln, in pursuance of the Resolution of Congress of theDay of1780 and also of such quartermaster's certificates, as were given in South Carolina in the same year, and that the Superintendant of Finance issue certificates for the amount thereof, with lawful interest from their respective dates and also provide sufficient funds for the final Redemption of the said Certificates and for the punctual payment of the Interest thereof annually in specie, in the meantime.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, except the last paragraph which is in the writing of Thomas Bee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 387.]
The last report being taken up, and the following paragraph being under debate, viz.
"That for the purpose of administering suitable relief to these unfortunate but highly virtuous citizens (namely, sundry inhabitants of South Carolina and Georgia, lately arrived in cartels from Charlestown) a recommendation be immediately forwarded from Congress to the several executives in the Union, to promote a loan of money within their respective states; and that it be notified to them, that the delegates representing the states of South Carolina and Georgia in Congress, have pledged the faith of the said states for the re-payment of the money so lent, in proportion to what shall be supplied to their respective citizens, as soon
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as the legislatures of the said states shall be in a condition to make provision for so doing; and that in the mean time the United States in Congress assembled, will guaranty the re-payment of all monies lent for the above purpose."
A motion was made by Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, seconded by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, to postpone the consideration of that paragraph; and on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Thomas] Bee,
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So it passed in the negative.
A division being then called for, and a question taken on the first part, so far as the words "a loan of money within their respective states," inclusive: it was lost, only five states being in the affirmative.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
O
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