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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 --WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1782
Mr. Jonathan Jackson, a delegate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, attended, and produced his commission under the seal of the Commonwealth, and signed by his Excellency J. Hancock, governor, whereby it appears, that at a general court of the said Commonwealth, on the 2d day of May, 1782, the said Jonathan Jackson was elected a delegate, to hold his office until the 5th day of November next.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
By His Excellency John Hancock Esqr Governor & [Seal] Commander in Chief in & over the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To all unto whom these Presents shall come Greeting
Whereas the General Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid did on the second day of May 1782 agreeable to the Constitution of said Commonwealth appoint the Honble Jonathan Jackson Esq.r a Delegate to represent the said Commonwealth in the General Congress of the United States
Now therefore Know ye That I do by these Presents & in pursuance of the said Appointment, Commission the said Jonathan Jackson Esqr to represent this Commonwealth in Congress & vest him with all & Singular the Powers & Authorities to the said Office or place of Delegate belonging by Virtue of the Constitution of this Commonwealth & the Appointment aforesaid And to hold said Office until the fifth day of November 1782 And the said Jonathan Jackson
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son Esqr is hereby required to observe the Instructions which from time to time shall be given to him by the General Court of this Commonwealth.
In Testimony whereof I have caused the Public Seal of this Commonwealth aforesaid to be hereto affixed.
Witness John Hancock Esqr Governor & Commander in chief of the said Commonwealth.
Dated at Boston the sixth day of June in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty two And the Sixth Year of the Independence of the United States of America.
John Hancock
By His Excellency's Command
John Avery Secy 1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Massachusetts, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
A letter, of this day, from the Secretary at War, was read, together with an extract of a letter from Brigadier General Hazen, informing that the commissaries of prisoners at Lancaster, York and Reading, appear assiduous in supporting an independent, uncontrollable power, at least not subject to his restraint; and that notwithstanding orders to the contrary, the practice of allowing prisoners of war to work in the boroughs, towns and country, on the commissary's pass, is still continued at Lancaster, York and Reading, which has been a means of a very considerable loss of them; Whereupon,2
[Note 2: 2 The letter of the Secretary at War is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 485, and the extract from Brigadier General Hazen's letter on folio 481.]
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief Secretary at War be, and he is hereby directed authorised and empowered to cause courts-martial to be forthwith holden, on the several commissaries and assistant commissaries of prisoners, at York, Reading and Lancaster, for disobedience of orders and neglect of duty, in suffering the escape of prisoners at those posts:3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 477.]
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And that the Secretary at Wax be, and he is hereby authorised to appoint proper persons to take charge of the prisoners of war at the said places, until the said commissaries shall be discharged from their arrests, or Congress shall otherwise direct.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149. I, folio 480.]
Resolved, That the Secretary at War, in the absence of the Commander in Chief, be, and he is hereby authorised to order all persons to be arrested and tried for disobedience of any orders which he is empowered to issue.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph, in Charles Thomson's writing, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 479.]
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [James] Madison,
Whereas it appears that the Spanish governors or military commanders in the West Indies continue to permit British prisoners captured by them to be sent to posts occupied by the British forces within these United States, and such prisoners may be employed to aid the common enemy and to annoy these states,
Resolved, therefore, That the Secretary for Foreign Affairs transmit a state of the facts to the minister plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Madrid, and the said minister is instructed to renew his representations to His Catholic Majesty on this subject.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal No. 4.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of July 2 from Blair McClenachan, John Ewing and others. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 303.]
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