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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, MAY 31, 17822
[Note 2: 2 The proceedings for May 31 were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, in the More Secret Journal, and in Secret Journal No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III. They are printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton) V, 464.]
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Samuel]
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Wharton, to whom was referred a verbal communication of the honourable the minister plenipotentiary of France to the Secretary for foreign affairs.1
[Note 1: 1 See ante, May 28.]
Resolved, That the Secretary for foreign affairs acquaint the minister plenipotentiary of France, that the signal proofs of inviolable constancy to his engagements, given by his Most Christian Majesty in the answer to the attempts of the British court to seduce him into a seperate peace, has been received by Congress with the sentiments with which it ought naturally to inspire faithful and affectionate allies, and entirely corresponds with the expectations which the magnanimity and good faith of his past conduct had established. That Congress embrace with particular satisfaction this occasion of renewing to his Most Christian Majesty the assurances which they have so often and so sincerely repeated, of a reciprocal and equal resolution to adhere, in every event, to the principles of the alliance, and to hearken to no propositions for peace which axe not perfectly conformable thereto.
That in case any propositions conformable to these principles should be made to them, which the insidious steps the British Court is pursuing render very improbable at the present juncture, Congress will be no less attentive than they have heretofore been to the precautions necessary for preventing delays and preserving harmony and confidence in the discussion of them.
That the insidious steps which the Court of London is pursuing render it improbable that any propositions conformable to those principles will be made to the United States; but that in case such propositions should be made, Congress will not depart from the precautions measures which they have heretofore taken for
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preventing delay, and for conducting the discussions of them, in confidence, and in concert with his Most Christian Majesty; and that as Congress observe, with the warmest approbation, the purpose of his Most Christian Majesty to oppose to the false appearances of peace held out by Great Britain, those redoubled efforts which may render her sincerely disposed to it, so his Majesty may be persuaded, that they are no less impressed with the necessity of such concurrent exertions on the part of the United States, as may frustrate the views of the common enemy in the new defensive system which their policy seems to have adopted on this continent.
That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs also furnish to the said Minister Plenipotentiary a copy of so much of the letter of thedayoflast from the Commander in chief as relates to a letter to him from Genl. Carloton together with copies of the latter and of the resolution of Congress passed in consequence thereof.
That the Secretary of F. Affairs transmit copies of the first of these resolutions and of the papers referred to in the last, to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. States at the Court of Versailles and to their other public minister in Europe.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folios 341 and 341a.]
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