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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, JULY 25, 1782
On motion of Mr. [Arthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Abraham] Clark,
Resolved, That the postmaster general be, and he is hereby, directed to use his discretion in so varying the time of setting out of the post-riders and their routes, from time to time, as to elude the attempts of the enemy to take the mail.
On motion of Mr. [Arthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Osgood,
Ordered, That the report of the Superintendant of finance, as entered on the Journal the 24 May last, stating the application of the moneys of the United States in France, be referred to a committee to be examined and reported on:1
[Note 1: 1 In the Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings, the committee is named, as follows: Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Ralph Izard, Mr. [Samuel] Wharton.]
Ordered, That the instructions given to Captain Harding, of the Confederacy, by the late Board of Admiralty, be referred to the same committee.
Ordered, That Tuesday next be assigned for electing a commissioner to liquidate and finally settle the accounts of all the servants of the United States, who have been entrusted with the expenditure of public moneys in Europe, and that Monday next be assigned for settling the salary to be allowed to the said commissioner.2
[Note 2: 2 This order was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
On motion of Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, seconded by Mr. [Arthur] Lee,
Resolved, That the resolution of the 28th of May last, for the appointment of a commissioner to liquidate and finally settle the accounts of all the publick servants of the United States, who have been intrusted with the expenditure of publick money, be reconsidered.
On motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, seconded by Mr. [John] Witherspoon,
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Ordered, That the said resolution be committed.1
[Note 1: 1 These two motions were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
A report of the Secretary at War on a letter of 15 July, from Cornet Middleton, of Lee's legionary corps, being read:
War Office, July 23, 1782.
Sir,
On the letter from Mr Middleton to your Excellency requesting a reimbursement of the monies he has expended on public account referred to me, I beg leave to observe, that I am not officially informed of the business which Mr Middleton was sent by General Greene to execute. Mr Middleton is a Cornet in Colonel Lee's legion, he is not know to me in any other character, and although I consider him as a Gentleman of the strictest honor and integrity, yet in my official capacity, I conceive it improper to report in favor of an Individual request which is not corroborated by General Greene's instructions which Mr Middleton has not brought on with him.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 523. It was read this day, the indorsement states.]
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance furnish three hundred dollars to the paymaster general, to enable him to pay a warrant to be drawn on him for that sum by the Secretary at War, in faver of Cornet Middleton, of Lieutenant Colonel Lee's legionary corps, to defray his expences on the business in which he is employed by Major General Greene, and for which sum he is to be accountable.
On a report from the Superintendant of Finance as Agent of Marine, to whom was referred a report of the Secretary at War on a memorial of Musco Livingston,
Resolved, That the Agent of Marine be and he is hereby directed to grant letters of passport and safe conduct to such vessel as may be employed by Musco Livingston to sail from some port of the United States in ballast to the island of Jamaica, and to bring from thence the family and effects of the said Musco Livingston, provided that nothing in such passport contained shall authorise the importation into these
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United States or any of them of any goods wares or merchandizes, excepting money, plate, household furniture and wearing apparel for the use of his family, and that the said Musco Livingston give bond with sufficient sureties, to be lodged in the office of finance, in such a sum as the Superintendant of Finance shall think proper, not to contravene in any respect the true intent and meaning of this resolution.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was also entered in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal.]
War Office, July 23, 1782.
Sir,
On the memorial of Messrs. Webster and Judd in behalf of the deranged Officers of the Connecticut Line, referred to me, I beg leave to observe that by the resolves of Congress of the 3rd and 21st of October, 1780, the number of their regiments was reduced, by which many officers were deranged, to whom Congress promised half pay for life.
The enclosed list describes the Officers of the Connecticut Line who were deranged in pursuance of this resolve.
I would do myself the honor to lay a general list of the deranged Officers before Congress, but returns from the different Lines have not been made to the War Office.2
[Note 2: 2 This report was presented as the indorsement shows and referred on this day to Messrs. [Ezekiel] Cornell, [Joseph] Montgomery and [Thomas] McKean. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress. No. 19, VI, folio 495, and the list of deranged officers of the Connecticut line is on folio 499.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. George Clymer] on the subject of a letter from Ephraim Blaine C. G. P., to the President of Congress, in which he complains that many of his assistants and deputies are sued and some of them under execution for public debts and that himself has lately been sued and apprehends many more suits on the same account, he also prays that £600 being a part of more than £9,000 due him, be immediately paid him in cash or bills of exchange till his accounts are finally settled and that one or two additional clerks be allowed him till those accounts are settled, beg leave to report it is their opinion that the said letter should be referred to the Superintendant of Finance to report.
On the subject of a petition from Edward Keran, lately clerk to the Commissary General of Military Stores in which he alledges that in an account he formerly delivered he made a mistake to his own
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loss and that the sum of £34.. 12.. 6. is now justly due him which he requests may be paid, they beg leave to report it is their opinion that Mr. Keran's petition be returned him and referred to the controller to settle the accounts Superintendant of Finance.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 387. It was accepted on this day, the Committee Book No. 186 indicates.]
War Office, July 25th, 1782.
Sir,
Upon Examining the resolves of Congress I find the resolve of February the 18th 1779 allowing Baron Steuben the Inspector General eighty four dollars per month was repealed by a resolve of the 25th September 1780, and the resolve of that date provided that the travelling and other incidental expences of the Inspectors Department should be settled by the Auditors of the Army, which resolve was repealed by a subsequent resolve of January the 10th 1782 and no provision made for the travelling and other incidental expenses incurred by the Baron in the execution of the duties of his office, which is of great importance to the Discipline and regular returns of the Army. In travelling to the different parts of the Army his expences are unavoidably great and unless they axe provided for it will be impossible for him to discharge his duty.2
[Note 2: 2 this report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 529. It was referred on this day, the indorsement states, to Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, Mr. [John] Lowell.]
Whereas it appears, that by a resolve of the tenth day of January A. D. 1782, by which a plan for conducting the Inspector's Department is formed Major Genl. Baron Steuben is continued in the office of Inspector Genl. of the Armies of the United States but no provision is thereby made for his travelling or other necessary expences probably from an Idea that the allowance for that purpose to the Inspector General of eighty four dollars per month made by the resolve of eighteenth day of February A D. 1779 was to continue.
Resolved, that Major General Baron Steuben be entitled to receive the said sum of eighty four dollars per month from the said tenth day of January until the further order of Congress.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 527. It is undated.]
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