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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 --THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1781
Mr. Benjamin Hawkins, a delegate for the State of North Carolina, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read in the words following, to wit:
The State of North Carolina to William Sharpe Samuel Johnston Ephraim Brevard and Benjamin Hawkins esquires
Whereas it appears on Record that you the said William Sharpe, Samuel Johnston, Ephraim Brevard and Benjamin Hawkins at a Session of the General Assembly held at Wake Court House in the said State in the Months of June and July in this present Year were each of you duly elected Delegates for one Year to represent the said State in the Congress of the United States of America: that is to say you the said William Sharpe, Samuel Johnston and Ephraim Brevard on the twelfth day of July and you the said Benjamin Hawkins on the Fourteenth day of the same month.
These are therefore to make known, that you the said William Sharpe, Samuel Johnston, Ephraim Brevard and Benjamin Hawkins or any two or more of you are fully and duly authorised as Delegates to represent the said State for one year from the date of your Election when and wheresoever the said United States shall assemble or be assembled in Congress, and to advise, confer, debate, resolve and determine for and in behalf of the said State upon all matters and things which shall come before the said United States in Congress assembled agreably to the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union made and ratified between the said United States and not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of the Said State of North Carolina.
Witness Thomas Burke esquire, Governor, Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Said State under his Hand and the Great Seal of the Said State at Williamsborough in the County of Granville the thirteenth day of August Anne Dom 1781, and in the Sixth Year of our Independence.
Thos Burke
By His Excellency's Command
Jno. Huske, Secretary.
[With the Great Seal appendant]1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, North Carolina, Credentials of Delegates.]
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A letter, of 7 September [August], from the governor of North Carolina, was read, enclosing an act passed by the legislature of that State, in pursuance of the resolution of Congress of 3 February last, empowering Congress to levy a duty of five per cent. on all imports and prizes.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 123.]
A memorial of Captain J. P. Short was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 3, from Brigadier Irwine was read.2
[Note 2: 2 Schott's memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Conqress, No. 41, IX, folio 185; Irvine's letter is in No. 78, XIII, folio 277.]
The committee of the week made a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a letter, of 2, from John Wereat, with his accounts against the late Marine Committee accompanying it, be referred to the Board of War Superintendant of Finance.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Jonathan Elmer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 263.]
A report of the Board of War on the memorial of Captain Lieutenant A. Hoops, was read; Whereupon,
At a Board of War October 3rd. 1781.
Present Mr Peters
General Cornell
The Board have considered the memorial of Captain Lieutenant Adam Hoops and beg leave to state to Congress that this Gentleman's request for a particular exchange is inadmissible in the opinion of the Board. As to his desire to have a furlough to go to France for the improvement of his mind by the acquisition of military knowledge, the Board submit the matter entirely to Congress, with these observations, that permission has been granted to several officers to go beyond Sea for the recovery of their health; but to none for their education, or the improvement of their fortune. The danger of capture has been an obstacle to the compliance with their request; but this is obviated in the case of Captain Hoops, who is already a prisoner, and has permission from the enemy to go to any part of the world, not within twelve miles of any British Post. If Congress
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should be of opinion that the precedent established by granting Captain Hoops's request will not open a door for applications from officers unemployed to go to sea for mere personal purposes, and give rise to complaints, from those who remain in the way of duty, they will please to direct,
Resolved, That Captain Lieutenant Adam Hoops, have leave to go to France until exchanged, retaining his rank his pay and rations to be suspended during hisabsence.
Captain Lt. Hoops is very low on the list of prisoners, and it is not very probable he will be speedily exchanged.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 347.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.
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