| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1782
Mr. [John] Rutledge and Mr. [George] Clymer having returned, made a report of their proceedings,
The Committee appointed by a Resolve of the 22d. May, to repair to the Southern States, Report, That (having conferred with the Superintendant of Finance, the Secretary at War, and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and received the necessary information from their respective departments) they made the representations which Congress directed, to the executive of this State as the legislature were not sitting and the President gave the Committee the strongest assurances, that proper laws having been passed for carrying the requisitions of Congress into effect, those laws should be duly executed. The legislature of Delaware not having assembled, when the Committee were about to leave this city, it being uncertain when they would meet, and it appearing necessary to proceed without delay, to the southward, lest the legislatures of Maryland and Virginia should adjourn before the Committee could arrive there, they made their representations to the Governor of Delaware, who promised to make a proper communication of them to the legislature. They then proceeded to Maryland and having had a conference with a Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives of that State received a letter from the Speaker of both houses. They repaired next to Virginia, and having had an audience of both Houses, as well on the business committed by the resolve abovementioned, as on the subject of the flag vessels mentioned in the Resolves of the -- May received a letter from the Speaker, enclosing several resolutions of the House of Delegates. These letters and Resolves the Committee herewith lay before Congress. The Committee did not proceed to North Carolina, being informed that the legislature of that State had adjourned about the beginning of this month for a considerable time, and it was not probable that they could be soon assembled.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 397.]
Page 354 | Page image
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Lowell, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Osgood,
That when disputes and differences between two or more states, concerning boundary, jurisdiction, or any other cause whatever, are under the consideration of Congress, the delegates representing the several differing states may not, agreeably to the Confederation, sit and judge in any question to be decided by Congress relative to such dispute or difference.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Lowell. is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 333. The vote was indorsed on it.]
On this the previous question was moved by the State of South Carolina, seconded by New York, and the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Lowell,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Page 355 | Page image
The order of the day being called for, to proceed in the business of the difference subsisting between the states of Pensylvania and Connecticut, the delegates for Connecticut laid before Congress an instruction from their constituents, in the words following, viz.
"At a general assembly of the governor and company of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford, in said State, by adjournment on the 10th day of January, Anne Domini 1782:
"Resolved, by this assembly, That the delegates of this State in the Congress of the United States, be, and they are hereby authorised and instructed to move Congress to postpone the appointment of commissioners, to hear and determine the case respecting the lands in controversy between the State of Pensylvania and this State, until after the termination of the present war: because that sundry papers of importance in the case are in the hands of counsel in England, and cannot be procured during the war: nor is it convenient for the states to divert their attention from the great objects of the war to attend to private controversies."
And they are hereby further authorised, and Instructed to confer with such persons as may be authorised on the part of the State of Pensylvania, respecting the quieting of the possessions of the people settled on the lands in controversy between the State of Pensylvania and this State under the claim of either of said States, and also the lands that have been heretofore possessed and improved by persons, that have been driven off therefrom by the common Enemy, and on behalf of this State to confirm to such persons and claimants so much of said Lands, which have been by them so occupied and improved, and other lands adjoining thereto as the said Delegates shall judge just, and equitable, and as shall be agreed to on the part of the State of Pensylvania, having a strict regard to principles of reciprocity therein and that they make report of their doings to this assembly.1
[Note 1: 1 These instructions are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 66, II, folio 200.]
And thereupon moved the following resolution:
That Congress postpone the appointment of commissioners to hear and determine the cause respecting the lands in
Page 356 | Page image
controversy between the State of Pensylvania and the State of Connecticut, until after the determination of the present war.
Because sundry original papers of importance and material in the trial of said cause are in the hands of Counsel, in England and can not be procured during the war, not is it convenient for the States to divert their attention from the great objects of the war to private controversies.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Benjamin Huntington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 331.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell, to postpone the consideration of this motion,
And on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John Morin] Scott,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Page 357 | Page image
A motion was then made by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell,
"That the sense of the house be taken, whether the reasons for the non-attendance of the agents from Connecticut yesterday assigned by the Hon. E[liphalet] Dyer, be sufficient."
The Committee [Mr. Theodorick Bland, Mr. Arthur Middleton, Mr. John Lowell,] to whom were referred the motion of Mr. [William] Ellery respecting the stoppages of loans subsidies and grants together with sundry papers therewith committed,
Report, that on the strictest enquiry they do not find that the State of Virginia had applied to the Court of France or any other person whatever for any supplies or monies for their own use to be charged to the account of the U. States; but that the articles for which the stoppage from the Loan or donation of the Court of France to these U. S. as mentioned in the letter of the Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles were engaged for under special contract with the State of Virginia individually and the terms of payment were specified in the said Contract, by no means prejudicial to or having connection with the funds of the U. S. and your Committee recommend that the Superintendant of Finance be directed to give information to the Count de Vergennes through the Chevalier de la Luzerne and the Minister Plenipotentiary of these U. S. at the Court of Versailles, that these U. S. do not wish to hold themselves accountable for Contracts made by any particular State and therefore request that stoppages may not be made from loans, subsidies or grants obtained in Europe on acct. of these U. S. for articles furnished on particular contract to any individual State, as such stoppages would greatly embarrass the U. States under the present difficult situation of their finances.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 117. It was read this day, according to the indorsement.
Also, a letter from General Washington, dated Newburgh, June 24. It is in No. 152, X, folio 589.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |