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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, JULY 19, 1782
A motion was made by Mr. [Arthur] Middleton, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane,
That Major General Parsons and Brigadier General Glover, on account of their want of health, be considered as retiring, and put upon the half-pay establishment; and that the resolutions passed yesterday respecting Major General Parsons and Brigadier General Glover be repealed.
A division being called, and on the question to agree to the first part as far as establishment, inclusive, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Arthur] Middleton,
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So the question was lost.
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On the question to agree to the last clause, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
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So the question was lost.
Mr. Hugh Williamson, a delegate for North Carolina, attended, and produced a commission, with a seal of the State appendant, and signed by the governor, whereby it appears, that on the 13th day of May, 1782, Benjamin Hawkins, Abner Nash, Hugh Williamson, and William Blount, esqrs. were appointed delegates to represent that State in Congress for and during one year from that time.
State Of North Carolina.
To Benjamin Hawkins, Abner Nash, Hugh Williamson and William
Blount Esquires Greeting
We reposing especial Trust and confidence in your Patriotism abilities and Integrity, do by these presents constitute and appoint you the said Benjamin Hawkins, Abner Nash, Hugh Williamson and William Blount Delegates to represent us in the Honorable the
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Congress of the United States of America, for and during One Year after date hereof, being elected for that purpose by Joint Ballot of both Houses of our General Assembly held at Hillsborough on the thirteenth Day of May One thousand seven hundred and eighty two. To have, hold and possess all the powers authorities and priviledges which to your said appointment and Delegation may belong or of right appertain for and during the time aforesaid.
Witness Alexander Martin Esquire our Governor Captain General and Commander in Chief under our great Seal at Hillsborough the thirteenth Day of May Anne Dom One thousand seven hundred and eighty two and in the sixth year of our Independence.
Alex: Martin
[With the Great Seal appendant]
By His Excellency's Command
P. Henderson Pro. Sec.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, North Carolina, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
The committee, consisting of Mr. [John Morin] Scott, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, and Mr. [Samuel John] Atlee, to whom was referred an ordinance relative to the Post Office, reported the draught of an ordinance for regulating the Post Office of the United States of America, which was read the first time:
The Committee to whom were referred the letter of the Secretary at War of the 12th instant concerning the measures necessary to prevent future robberies of the Mail, and a motion of Mr. Condict on the same subject report that they are of opinion that the escorting of the Post Riders by Dragoons, and the posting of others in this city to serve as special expresses will not only be attended with too great an expence but will probably require the greatest part of a Regiment of horse who by being divided into small detachments and put out of the course of discipline and military duty will be greatly injured and disqualified for the proper service for which they were raised. They therefore are of opinion that instead of employing dragoons on that business the Postmaster General and his deputies should be authorized to hire occasional expresses for carrying the public despatches, and such private letters as may from time to time be in the post offices, which not being confined to fixed days, nor obliged to travel the usual post roads would more easily elude the vigilance of the enemy than the stated posts. They have therefore accordingly
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inserted a clause for that purpose in the draft of an ordinance for regulating the Post Office of the United States of America which they herewith Report.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Morin Scott, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 507. See ante, July 12, and post, October 18.]
Ordered, That Tuesday next be assigned for the second reading.
The Committee [Mr Thomas McKean, Mr Ezekiel Cornell, Mr Abraham Clark] to whom was referred the motion of Mr [Thomas] McKean, Report,
That on the 7th of June last Congress resolved, that the Secretary at War call in all the British Soldiers prisoners of war to the United States who have been permitted to go out to work for the Inhabitants, and that for the future no such permission be granted to such prisoners.
That by a subsequent resolution of the 11th Instant the Secretary at War is directed to take immediate order to have all the British Prisoners of war closely confined.
That since passing the above resolutions no satisfactory reasons have, in the opinion of your Committee, appeared in favor of granting permission to British Prisoners to go out to work, as every plan suggested for securing their return when called for, will be liable to great abuses, large numbers having already been lost to the United States by such indulgencies. Your Committee are therefore of opinion no permission be granted to British Prisoners on any conditions whatever to go out to work with the Inhabitants; but that the foregoing resolutions be strictly executed.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 87. The indorsement shows that it was delivered and read on this day, and Committee Book No. 191 states that it was filed August 8.]
The Committee of the week [Mr. Jesse Root, Mr. Thomas Smith and Mr. John Taylor Gilman] report,
That the letter from Capt. Hibert [Philip Liebert] asking payment for £ livres 3168. 8. 1, advanced by him for the use of his Company in A.D. 1776, be referred to the Superintendant of Finance.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Jesse Root, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, III, folio 434, indorsed on Liebert's memorial. The memorial, folio 433, is dated July 19, and a second indorsement shows that it was referred, the same day, to the Secretary at War. See post, July 22.]
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The Committee of the week report,
That the memorial of Dominique l,Eglise a refugee from Canada commissioned in the service of these States, asking compensation for past services be referred to the Secretary at War.
That the memorial of the deranged officers in the Connecticut line asking for their half pay be referred to the Superintendant of Finance.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jesse Root and undated, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 419. The memorial of l'Eglise (L'eglize), dated Philadelphia, July 15, 1782, is in No. 41, V, folio 285; and that of Pelatiah Webster and William Judd, dated Philadelphia, July 17, in behalf of the deranged officers of the Connecticut line, is in No. 19, VI, folio 491. According to Committee Book No. 186, both memorials were referred to the Secretary at War on this day.]
Ordered, That the report of Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [John] Lowell and Mr. [Arthur] Middleton on Mr. A. Lee's memorial, for the payment of the balance due for his salary as reported by the Board of Treasury, August 6, 1781, wherein they recommend that the Superintendant of Finance draw a bill on Doct. Franklin for the amount of the said balance with interest and that the certificate given to Mr. Lee for the said balance be canceled, be referred to the Superintendant of Finance to take order.2
[Note 2: 2 This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings.]
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