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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 --TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1781
A letter, of 27, from General Washington;1 and
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 152, X, folio 224.]
A letter, of this day, from Major General St. Clair, were read:
Ordered, That the letter from Major General St. Clair be referred to the superintendant of finance.
A letter, of 30 March, from William Carmichael, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 Carmichael's letter is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), IV, 341.]
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to the good offices of the Count de Montmorin to Mr. Jay be referred to the committee appointed to confer with the honble the Minister of France.
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The committee to whom was referred the letter from the lieutenant governor and sundry members of the privy council of South Carolina,
The committee on the motion of Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, and
The committee to whom was re-committed the plan of a convention for regulating the powers of consuls, vice consuls and agents, delivered in their several reports.
Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned for the consideration of the last report.
The report of the committee on the letter from the lieutenant governor and sundry members of the privy council of South Carolina was taken into consideration, and, after debate,
The Committee, to whom was referred the Letter from the Lieutenant Governor, and Members of the Privy Council of the State of South Carolina, Report
That altho' their sufferings cannot be remembered, but with approbation of their patriotic fortitude, and resentment against the Enemy it is not within the ability of the United States, great as those sufferings may be, to make advances of money at present, not immediately ministering to the operations of War.
But for as much as by the reestablishment of Government in South Carolina, that State will be the sooner able to supply its quota of men and money, the friends of America will receive fresh confidence, and the British foe feel their impotence to abolish political power, as founded upon the principles of the revolution;
And whereas the exertions of the said Lieutenant Governor and Members of the Privy Council, will greatly contribute to the production of these public benefits, but British avarice and perfidy have thrust them from their country, spoiled of the means of returning home, in defiance of a solemn capitulation;
Resolved, That it be an instruction to the Superintendant of Finance, to pay as soon as he can to the Honorable Christopher Gadsden, Thos. Ferguson, Richard Hutson, Benjamin Cattell and David Ramsay Esquires, each two hundred and sixty six dollars,
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and two thirds of a dollar in specie to be charged to the State of South Carolina and that the Board of War be directed to furnish to them a waggon and team to enable them to return to the said State.
The Committee beg leave to set again,1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edmund Randolph, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 542.]
Ordered, That it be re-committed.
The report of the committee on the motion of Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
The committee to whom was referred the letter from Nicholas and John Brown to the Delegates of Rhode Island and the motion of Mr. Varnum thereon, report
Ordered, That a letter, of 30 July, from Nicholas and John Brown to the delegates of Rhode Island, with the order on Joseph Clark, commissioner of the continental loan office of the said State, accompanying the same, be referred to the superintendant of finance to take order.
Ordered, That the Board of War make sale of the cannon and stores, now in the State of Rhode Island, and late belonging to the sloop Argo, for specie only; and that the monies arising therefrom, be placed in the hands of the superintendant of finance.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Mathews, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 425.]
The Committee of Commerce reported on a memorial of William Bingham.
Ordered, That Mr. [Theodorick] Bland have leave of absence.
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Mathews, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland:
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Roger] Sherman.
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Ordered, That the letter from Major General St. Clair be referred to a committee of three, who are to confer with the superintendant of finance on the subject:
The members, [Mr. James] Duane, Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, Mr. [Joseph] Jones.
The ordinance relative to captures was taken up for a second reading, and some progress being made:
The committee to whom was re-committed the plan of a convention for determining and fixing the functions and prerogatives of consuls, &c. delivered in a report.
Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned for the consideration thereof.1
[Note 1: 1 These two paragraphs were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. See post January 2, 1782.
A letter of this date from Robert Morris was presented to Congress, probably on this or an approximate date. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folio 121.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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