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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, JULY 31, 1781
Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [Ezra] L'Hommedieu, two delegates for the State of New York, attended.
A letter, of 23, from the governor of the State of New York, was read.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 418.]
A report from the Board of War on the petition of Lieutenant D. Campbell and memorial of Lieutenant Pepin, was read:
War Office July 28. 1781.
Sir,
The Board have considered the memorial of Lieutenant Duncan Campbell, and beg leave to observe that their opinion on the subject is set forth in the report on a former memorial from this Gentleman to which they beg leave to refer. Any provision made for him will establish a precedent affecting all supernumerary officers who will doubtless exhibit claims, and those of the States in the power of the enemy, will think themselves peculiarly entitled to compensation. If however Congress are pleased to think that there are particular circumstances attending the situation of the Canadian officers, which do not reach the cases of other officers discharged under the same arrangement, and that provision can be made for them without introducing a multiplicity of claims and creating much jealousy among other officers, they will please to resolve,
That the Treasury Board be directed to cause the accounts for pay and depreciation of the Canadian officers, who have been discharged
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the service of the United States as Supernumeraries under the arrangement of the Army made in the year 1779 to be adjusted in Specie, and that such officers respectively receive Loan office certificates for the Ballances due them.
This report will include the Case of Andrew Pepin. The Canadian officers have been constantly drawing rations for themselves and families since their being discharged either at Albany or Philadelphia, at which latter Post we have been obliged lately to discontinue furnishing them, as no provision was made for them in the Contract made by the Superintendant of Finance. We mention this circumstance for the information and consideration of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 148, II, folio 105.]
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to rations be re-committed.
The committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Carroll, Mr. Bland, Mr. Varnum,∥ appointed to confer with the Commander in Chief, the Board of War, and the superintendant of finance, made report; Whereupon,
Ordered, That one of the members of the Board of War be, and he is hereby directed to repair to head quarters with the superintendant of finance, in order to consult with the Commander in Chief on the subject of the arrangement and numbers of the army for the ensuing year.
Ordered, That on the application of Mr. [William] Sharpe, one of the delegates for North Carolina, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner of the continental loan office for the State of Pensylvania, for two thousand five hundred dollars new emission;
That on the application of Mr. [George] Walton and Mr. [Richard] Howly, delegates for the State of Georgia, warrants issue on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, one in favour of Mr. [George] Walton for twelve hundred dollars, and one in favour of Mr. [Richard] Howly for two thousand one hundred dollars like emissions; and
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That on the application of Mr. [Isaac] Motte, one of the delegates for the State of South Carolina, a warrant issue in his favour on Thomas Smith, commissioner aforesaid, for eleven hundred and ten dollars like emissions, for which several sums the said states respectively are to be accountable.
Mr. [Thomas] Bee laid before Congress accounts against him and Mr. [Isaac] Motte, by Mr. Hiltzeimer, for keeping their horses in the public stables:
Ordered, That they be transmitted to the Board of Treasury, and that the amount thereof be charged to the account of the State of South Carolina.
According to the order of the day, Congress resumed the consideration of the report on the letter and papers from the president of the State of New Hampshire, and after debate:
Ordered, That the same be referred to a committee of five:
The members, Mr. [Nicholas] Van Dyke, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Daniel] Mowry.
The report of the committee on the report of the Board of War respecting Major Brahme was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
Ordered, That so much of Major Brahme's letter, of 16, as relates to horses be referred to the Board of War to take order; and that what relates to money be referred to Board of Treasury the draughts made by the Board of War for three months be at the nominal sum in bills of the new emission.
The report of the committee, ∥consisting of Mr. Clymer, Mr. Root, Mr. Johnson,∥ on the letter from General Sullivan of the 25 November, 1780, was taken into consideration; Whereupon,
The Committee upon Gen Sullivan's letter of the 25 of Novr. having taken the same, under their consideration, report as follows--
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Ordered, That the Board of Treasury pass to the credit of General Sullivan the following sums in specie, viz. one hundred dollars as a compensation for the expences incurred by him in securing the military stores and ordnance in Fort William and Mary, New Hampshire, in the year 1775, and distributing them in various parts of the country for the use of the United States; one thousand dollars for the extraordinary expences, necessarily incurred by him on several occasions, as the commanding officer in a seperate department, for which no provision or compensation has been made; and four hundred dollars as a reimbursement of the expence incurred by him, after his resignation for the recovery of his health, which he had lost in the service and was thereby induced to retire.
With respect to his claim upon the United States set forth in his said letter for depreciated pay: tho' they are of opinion that the said claim is such as might justly entitle him to compensation, yet as it must be determined on principles which will include the cases of many others not provided for--Your Committee cannot with propriety report specially thereon, but refer it to Congress whenever they may deem it expedient to enter into the consideration.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 443. A copy is in No. 41, IX, folio 257.]
Ordered, That the remainder be referred to the committee on the report of the Board of War on an allowance to the staff of the army for depreciation;
That two members be added to that committee:
The members, Mr. [John] Mathews, Mr. [Nicholas] Van Dyke.
A report from the Board of War was read, enclosing accounts against the United States for the support and tuition of three Indian boys at Princetown; Whereupon,
Ordered, That the same be referred to the Board of Treasury; and that the Board devise ways and means for furnishing
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Colonel George Morgan with the sum of one hundred and thirty-seven pounds currency of New Jersey, in specie, to enable him to pay for the support and tuition of three Indian boys of the Delaware nation, now at Princetown college; for which sum Colonel George Morgan is to be accountable.
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock to Morrow.1
[Note 1: 1 The following motion was offered this day by James Mitchell Varnum, seconded by John Sullivan, as the indorsement shows:
Resolved, That on theday of August next, Congress will adjourn to the first day of November next, then to convene atin the State of
It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 213, and in the writing of James Mitchell Varnum.]
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