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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, JUNE 20, 1782
Mr. John Taylor Gilman, a delegate for the State of New Hampshire, attended and produced his credentials, by which it appears that on the 15th January, 1782, he was appointed by the legislature to represent that State until the first day of November next.
State of New Hampshire New the House of Representatives Janry 15th 1782
Voted that Mr John Taylor Gilman be and he hereby is appointed a Delegate to represent this State in the Continental Congress untill the first day of November next, unless sooner relieved or recalled by the General Assembly of this State with all the Powers & Priviledges which other Delegates from this State have heretofore had and enjoyed agreeably to the Confederation of the United States.
Sent up for Concurrence.
John Dudley Speaker P. T.
In Council the same day,
Read and Concurred.
Joseph Pearson Dep. Secy
Copy Exad.
by Joseph Pearson D Secy2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New Hampshire, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in file Journal.]
On the report of the secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, to whom were referred the several reports on the device for a great seal, to take order:
The device for an armorial atchievement and reverse of the great seal for the United States in Congress assembled, is as follows:
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ARMS. Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent and gules; a chief, azure; the escutcheon on the breast of the American bald eagle displayed proper, holding in his dexter talon an olive branch, and in his sinister a bundle of thirteen arrows, all proper, and in his beak a scroll, inscribed with this motto, "E pluribus Unum."
For the CREST. Over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escutcheon, a glory, or, breaking through a cloud, proper, and surrounding thirteen stars, forming a constellation, argent, on an azure field.
REVERSE. A pyramid unfinished. In the zenith, an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a glory proper. Over the eye these words, "Annuit Coeptis." On the base of the pyramid the numerical letters MDCCLXXVI. And underneath the following motto, "Novus Ordo Seclorum."
Remarks and explanation:
The escutcheon is composed of the Chief and pale, the two most honorable ordinaries. The pieces, paly, represent the several States all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a Chief which unites the whole and represents Congress. The motto alludes to this Union. The pales in the Arms are kept closely united by the Chief and the Chief depends on that union, and the strength resulting from it for its support, to denote the Confederacy of the United States of America, and the preservation of their Union through Congress. The colours of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America. White signifies purity and innocence. Red hardiness and valour and Blue the colour of the Chief signifies vigilance perseverance and justice. The Olive Branch and arrows denote the power of peace and war which is exclusively vested in Congress. The Constellation denotes a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers. The escutcheon is borne on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters, to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own virtue.
Reverse: The Pyramid signifies strength and duration. The eye over it and the motto allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favour of the American cause. The date underneath is that of the Declaration of Independence, and the words under it
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signify the beginning of the new American Era, which commences from that date.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 113. It was adapted from a report by William Barton which was, in its turn, an "improvement on the Secretary's device," as the indorsement states. It is on folio 131. The Secretary's device is on folio 179, the drawing accompanying it being on folio 180. The first device offered by Barton is on folio 137. His second was approved by the committee, reported to Congress May 9, 1782, and referred to the Secretary of Congress to take order June 13, as the indorsement shows. It is on folio 181, the drawing accompanying it, and the indorsement, being on folio 117.]
The Committee [Mr. Philemon Dickinson, Mr. Arthur Middleton, and Mr. Ezekiel Cornell] to whom was referred a letter from Governor Hancock of May 6th, 1782,
Having considered the allowance made to Henry Lawrence Esq. by a Resolution of Congress of the 12th November 1779, amounting to 35,000 Dollars for 13 months for his extra Household Expences as President of Congress which being about 32,000 dollars per Annum, reduced agreeable to the scale of depreciation of Pennsylvania amounts to 833 dollars in specie per annum;
Therefore, report that the like allowance of 833 dollars specie per annum be made to Governor Hancock during the time he was President of Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Philemon Dickinson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 19. The indorsement shows it was read June 20, and postponed; and was referred March 3, 1783, to Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, and Mr. [John] Rutledge.
On this day, as the indorsement shows, a letter of 14 February, from Oliver Pollock, was read. It is in No. 50, folio 275. Also one of May 3 from Oliver Pollock which is on folio 285.
Also, a communication from the Governor of Connecticut transmitting a plan for a prison for prisoners at war at Simsbury mines, pursuant to a resolve of Congress of September 18, 1781, was referred to Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Samuel John] Atlee, Mr. [John] Lowell. It is in No. 149, I, folios 325--381.]
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