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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, OCTOBER 13, 1781
A letter, of this day, from Captain J. Barry, was read:1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, IV, folio 287.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, Mr. [Elias] Boudinot.
A letter, of this day, from W. C. Houston, was read, declining the office of comptroller;2 Whereupon,
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XII, folio 187.]
Congress proceeded to the election of a comptroller; and, the ballots being taken, James Milligan was elected, having been previously nominated by Mr. [Thomas] McKean.
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That a petition of Mr. O'Neil be referred to the Board of War;3
[Note 3: 3 This petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 51.]
That a letter of John Wereat respecting the settlement of his accounts be referred to the comptroller.4
[Note 4: 4 This report, in the writing of Roger Sherman, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 269.]
The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 10th October, from Mr. Walton delivered in a report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That on the application of the delegates of the State of Georgia the sum of five hundred dollars be advanced to the honble. George Walton, late a delegate from the said State, to enable him to discharge arrearages of expenditure during his delegation and to return home, and for which sum the said State of Georgia is to be accountable.5
[Note 5: 5 This report, in the writing of James Mitchell Varnum, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXIV, folio 340, indorsed on Walton's letter.]
The report of the committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Osgood, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Mathews,∥ to whom were referred the papers relative to the order on Dr. J. Witherspoon, which has been protested, was taken into consideration; and, thereupon,
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Resolved, That the protested order and papers be referred to the superintendant of finance, with whom Dr. Witherspoon is to account, for the money due to the United States in his hands, which he received of prisoners that have been exchanged, and pay over the same to the said superintendant, who is to take order for the support and education of the Indian youths at Princeton college, under the care of Colonel George Morgan, out of the said moneys, or otherwise, as he may think expedient.
That Dr. J. Witherspoon, upon paying over the said money, be indemnified by the United States, from any demand the said prisoners may have against him on this account, for want of original vouchers, until they may be furnished by the comptroller of accounts, who is directed to liquidate, as soon as may be, the charges against the said exchanged prisoners upon principles of equity; and if it shall appear that the agent of the said prisoners has paid more than is found to be due, the balance shall be immediately refunded to him.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 583.]
A letter from the officers of the South Carolina and Georgia lines was read:
Ordered, That it be referred to [a] committee of three:
The members, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. J[oseph] Jones, Mr. N[oble] W[imberly] Jones.
A letter, of 7th, from Major General Heath, was read:2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 157, folio 332.]
Ordered, That a copy thereof be transmitted by express to the Commander in Chief.
On motion of Mr. [James Mitchell] Varnum, seconded by Mr. [Roer] Sherman:
Ordered, That the Board of War proceed without loss of time to form the estimates of expenditures for the year
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1782; and that an army of twenty five thousand rank and file form the basis of their calculations.1
[Note 1: 1 According to the indorsement a letter of October 10, from Alexander Martin, speaker of the Senate of North Carolina, was read. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 72, folio 127.]
At a Board of War October 12, 1781.
Present Mr Peters
Genl. Cornell
The Board have considered the letter from Captain George Melven claiming pay for an horse which he claims as his property, and said to be delivered to Major Pinckney to ride on public service, and being left by that gentleman near Camden fell into the hands of the British and there being no resolution of Congress providing for compensating losses of this nature, we see no means of granting relief to Captain Melvin especially as paying him would establish a precedent which would create infinite difficulties. We therefore beg leave to report,
That Captain Melven be informed that his request contained in his letter of the 10 Instant cannot be complied with.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 373. It is indorsed as having been read on this day. The indorsement says further: "October 18th, motion to refer it to a committee passed in the negative."]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow. [on Monday]
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