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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 --FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1781
The committee of the week made report; Whereupon,
The Committee of the Week, Report,
That the memorial of Colo. Hay praying for allowance for Depreciation &c. be referred to the Board of War, and that the Letter from Resolve Smith with the Copy of the oath therein referred to upon the vindication of his character, be read in Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of George Partridge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 279; Hay's memorial, dated October 25, 1781, is in No. 78, XII, folio 193; Smith's letter is in No. 78, XXI, folio 137.]
Ordered, That a memorial of Colonel Hay be referred to the Board of War.
A letter, of 24, from Resolve Smith, was read.
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Varnum, Mr. Sherman,∥ appointed to prepare a recommendation for setting apart a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, reported the draught of a proclamation, which was agreed to as follows:
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God, the supreme Disposer of all Events father of mercies, remarkably to assist and support the United States of America in their important struggle for liberty,
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against the long continued efforts of a powerful nation: it is the duty of all ranks to observe and thankfully acknowledge the interpositions of his Providence in their behalf. Through the whole of the contest, from its first rise to this time, the influence of divine Providence may be clearly perceived in many signal instances, of which we mention but a few.
In revealing the councils of our enemies, when the discoveries were seasonable and important, and the means seemingly inadequate or fortuitous; in preserving and even improving the union of the several states, on the breach of which our enemies placed their greatest dependence; in increasing the number, and adding to the zeal and attachment of the friends of Liberty; in granting remarkable deliverances, and blessing us with the most signal success, when affairs seemed to have the most discouraging appearance; in raising up for us a powerful and generous ally, in one of the first of the European powers; in confounding the councils of our enemies, and suffering them to pursue such measures as have most directly contributed to frustrate their own desires and expectations; above all, in making their extreme cruelty of their officers and soldiers to the inhabitants of these states, when in their power, and their savage devastation of property, the very means of cementing our union, and adding vigor to every effort in opposition to them.
And as we cannot help leading the good people of these states to a retrospect on the events which have taken place since the beginning of the war, so we beg recommend in a particular manner that they may observe and acknowledge to their observation, the goodness of God in the year now drawing to a conclusion: in which
A mutiny in the American Army was not only happily appeased but became in its issue a pleasing and undeniable proof of the unalterable attachment of the people in general to the cause of liberty since great and real grievances only made them tumultuously seek redress while the abhorred the thoughts of going over to the enemy, in which the Confederation of the United States has been completed by the accession of all without exception in which there have been so many instances of prowess and success in our armies; particularly in the southern states, where, notwithstanding the difficulties with which they had to struggle, they have recovered the whole country which the enemy had overrun, leaving them only a post or two upon on or near the sea: in which we have been so powerfully and effectually assisted by our allies, while in all the conjunct operations the
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most perfect union and harmony has subsisted in the allied army: in which there has been so plentiful a harvest, and so great abundance of the fruits of the earth of every kind, as not only enables us easily to supply the wants of the army, but gives comfort and happiness to the whole people: and in which, after the success of our allies by sea, a General of the first Rank, with his whole army, has been captured by the allied forces under the direction of our illustrious Commander in Chief.
It is therefore recommended to the several states to set apart the 13th day of December next, to be religiously observed as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer; that all the people may assemble on that day, with grateful hearts, to celebrate the praises of our gracious Benefactor; to confess our manifold sins; to offer up our most fervent supplications to the God of all grace, that it may please Him to pardon our offences, and incline our hearts for the future to keep all his laws; to comfort and relieve all our brethren who are in distress or captivity; to prosper our husbandmen, and give success to all engaged in lawful commerce; to impart wisdom and integrity to our counsellors, judgment and fortitude to our officers and soldiers; to protect and prosper our illustrious ally, and favor our united exertions for the speedy establishment of a safe, honorable and lasting peace; to bless all seminaries of learning; and cause the knowledge of God to cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Witherspoon, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 463.]
A motion was made by the delegates of Virginia:
That inasmuch as it appears upon a review of the past proceedings of Congress, and particularly of from the journal of the 27 of November, 1775; the 28 of July, the 12th of August, the 12 of September, the 10th and 20th of October, and the 2 November, 1778; the 22 and 26 January, the 16 and 23 February, the 1st of March, the 15 of April, the 11 and 28 of May, the 1st of June, the 5 and 28 of July, the 27 of September, the 20 and 22 December, 1779; that after orders for referring papers to a committee, or for the re-commitment of a report, it was expressly provided in some of the preceding instances, that the committee should be instructed, m others that they should be directed, and in others that
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they should be authorised to hear evidence, and reduce to writing such parts thereof as they should think proper, to confer with persons not members of Congress, or to send for persons or papers: and as it appears to be the usage of Congress, in cases of moment or difficulty, or in which it may be their pleasure that committees should have recourse to documents, proofs or evidence, other than those which are to be found among the records, or on the files of Congress, to instruct them specially for this purpose; and as the delegates of Virginia, having received notice from the committee to whom was re-committed the report on the cessions of Connecticut, New York, and Virginia, and on the memorials of the Vandalia, Illionois, Ouabache, and Indiana companies, that they should confer with the agents thereof, on a day now past, did, for the reasons assigned in their motion of the 16th, request the said committee to postpone such conference until the sense of Congress should be taken, how far they were warranted by the terms of their appointment to enter thereon:
It be declared, that the re-commitment of the said report, does not authorise the said committee to admit counsel, or to have recourse to hear documents, proofs, or evidence, not among the records, nor on the files of Congress, which have not been specially referred to them.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Edmund Randolph, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 229.]
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by the delegates of Virginia,
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So it passed in the negative.
The committee to whom was referred the letter, of 19th, from General Washington, delivered in a report.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Monday.
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