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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, SEPTEMBER 18, 1781
The report of the committee of the week was read; Whereupon,
The Committee of the Week report,
That the petition of Danl. Simon an Indian preacher Minister of the Gospel praying that the salary which he formerly received from England may be made good to him, and that he may be employed in publick service, be referred to a special Committee.
That the petition of Capt. James Lees praying that, the money advanced by him for enlisting men soldiers [may be paid] be referred to the Board of War.
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That the petition of Celerin Brossard praying that his pay and depreciation may be paid to him be referred to the Board of War.
That the petition of Jn° Patton praying that the money due to him for military stores may be paid be read in Congress.
That the petition of Æneas Boisée praying for pay, Clothing and Depreciation be referred to the Board of War.
That the petition of Louis De La Valette a marine officer praying for his pay be referred to the Superintendant of Finance.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of George Partridge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 253.]
Ordered, That a petition of the Rev. Daniel Simon be referred to a committee of three:2
[Note 2: 2 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VII, folio 121.]
The members, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, Mr. [Daniel] Mowry;
That a memorial of James Lees, and one from Celerin Brossard, and a petition of Æneas Boisée be referred to the Board of War.3
[Note 3: 3 Lees's memorial, dated September 12, 1781, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, V, folio 238; Brossard's petition, dated September, 1781, is in No. 41, I, folio 365; Boisée's, dated September, 1781, is in No. 42, I, folio 262.]
A petition of John Patton was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of Treasury.
A petition of Louis de la Vallette was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the superintendant of finance.
A memorial of Benj Waller was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the particular circumstances of the public funds render it impracticable for Congress to comply with the prayer of the memorial.4
[Note 4: 4 This report, in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 578, Waller's memorial, dated September 16, 1781, being on folio 580.]
A report of the Board of War was read; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Board of War be authorised to draw warrants on the paymaster general in favour of Captain La
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Belcour and Lieutenant Decanture [Decoutures] of Colonel Armand's legion for six months' pay in bills of the new emissions, for which they are to be accountable.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 251.]
Another report of the Board of War was read, respecting the general hospital:
Ordered, That it be taken into consideration to Morrow. The committee ∥consisting of Mr. Varnum, Mr. Livermore, Mr. Atlee∥ to whom was referred the letter, of 25 August, from Major General Greene, and the letter, of 17, from the lieutenant governor, &c., of South Carolina, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Congress passed the following resolutions:
The United States in Congress assembled, viewing with abhorrence the barbarous and unexampled conduct of the British commanders in the late murderous and wanton execution of Colonel Hayne, a citizen of the State of South Carolina, and being impressed with the necessity of putting a stop to such violations of the laws of nations and arms:
Resolved, That the conduct of Major General Greene, in taking necessary measures for retaliation, be, and hereby is approved.
Resolved, That Major General Greene be, and hereby is authorised to take the most, prudential measures in reforming and completing the corps of South Carolina and Georgia state troops.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Mitchell Varnum, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 469.]
Resolved, That an attested copy of the deposition of Isaac Neufville and of the papers confided to Mr.s Edwards by Colonel Hayne the evening before his execution, and of her deposition be transmitted to Major General Greene;
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That he make full inquiry into the circumstances of the ease and that if it shall appear that such execution was contrary to the laws of war he cause retaliation upon the principles of those laws in a manner most likely to restrain the enemy from future similar acts of cruelty.
The report from the committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Randolph, Mr. Duane, Mr. Varnum,∥ to whom were referred several motions on the subject of retaliation, together with two letters, one from Major General the Marquis de la Fayette, and the other from the hon. Dr. Franklin, minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles, was taken into consideration; and,
It appearing from the depositions of Humphry Mechambor, Ranson Savage, Thomas Wood, Jesse Farrar, and Thomas Duffey, that the enemy are in the daily practice of forcing such Americans as have been captivated into their own sea-service by the most pointed cruelties: it also appearing from the letter of the minister plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Versailles, that American prisoners in Great Britain are increasing in number by the transportation of them thither from New York, and the refusal of the British admiralty to exchange Americans for any British prisoners not taken by American armed vessels: and it farther appearing, that no regular cartel hath hitherto been established:
The foregoing facts being taken into consideration, and it being farther recollected, that besides these proofs of British inhumanity, the files of Congress abound with instances, in which American citizens have been sacrificed in noisome dungeons, for their inflexible patriotism in refusing to assume arms against their country:
That a British Minister when a friend to humanity in the British House of Commons proclaimed the suffering of the American, and
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contrasted their condition with the more moderate treatment of French Prisoners replied with an insolent distinction between prisoners of war and rebels:
Resolved, That the Board of War be, and are hereby directed to set apart five hundred British prisoners, including a due proportion of officers, to whom exchange shall be denied, until the American prisoners now in Great Britain, be returned to these states by exchange or otherwise:
That the Board of War report a plan and an estimate of the expence for erecting Symsbury mines, in the State of Connecticut, into a state prison for the reception of British prisoners as shall from time to time be confined as subjects of retaliation of war, and for the purpose of retaliation.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edmund Randolph, except that the last paragraph has amendments in the writing of Thomas McKean, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 237.]
Ordered, That the order of the day for electing officers in the treasury department be postponed till to Morrow.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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