| 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 --SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1782.
On a report of the Secretary at War, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, seconded by Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell,
War Office Jany. 15, 1782.
Sir,
I have considered the motion for repealing so much of the resolution of Congress of the 25th May last as directs the forming the United States into Districts fixing the number of Brigadiers to each, that they shall be taken from the oldest Colonel therein and that Major
Page 39 | Page image
Generals shall be taken from the oldest Brigadier Generals, and am of opinion that so much of the said resolve as refers to the matters abovementioned should be repealed.
For the number of men in the field should determine the number of brigades, and consequently the number of Brigadiers, and not the number of men voted, otherwise the Commander in Chief may feel himself in future circumscribed as he has been the last campaign and keep up eight brigades to the North of the Delaware, while he has not men sufficient to fill more than four, as was then the case, by which an expence was incurred of thirty or forty thousand dollars, more than would have arisen if the troops had been thrown into four brigades, and while these resolves remain in force, little good may be expected from the resolve of the 19th of December last by which the Commander in Chief is to point out the number of general officers he shall judge necessary to be in the field.
Besides in the Articles of Confederation the power was wisely given to Congress of appointing all officers of the land forces saving only battalion officers, this power they have in a great measure given up by the above resolve having absolutely confined themselves to the appointment of the oldest Colonel in the District to the rank of Brigadier, and the oldest Brigadier in the United States to the rank of Major General, a limitation in my opinion inconsistent with the interest of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 113.]
Resolved, That so much of the resolution of the 25 of May, 1781, [as directs the forming the United States into districts, the number of brigadiers in each district, that brigadiers shall be appointed from the oldest colonels in such districts respectively, and that the major generals shall be appointed from the eldest brigadiers in the United States, be, and hereby is repealed.]2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution, in the writing of Ezekiel Cornell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 255.
The passage in brackets was entered in the Journal by George Bond.]
Resolved, That the powers vested in Thomas Barclay Esqr. so far as they relate to the settlement of the accounts of Silas Deane with the United States, be and they are hereby revoked, and if he has in virtue of the powers with which he was invested, entered upon
Page 40 | Page image
the examination of the said accounts, that he transmit his proceedings thereon to the Superintendant of Finance.
That the Superintendant of Finance direct Mr. S. Deane to repair to Philadelphia with his accounts and vouchers against the United States in order that they may be there liquidated and settled under the direction and inspection of the said Superintendant.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 251. The indorsement states that it was referred on this day to Mr [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [James] Madison.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was presented a memorial dated January 18, 1782, of James Wilson, in behalf of the owners of the ship Marquis de la Fayette. It was referred to Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Richard] Law. It is in No. 41, X, folio 589.
Also, a letter of October 15, 1781, from Oliver Pollock, which was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. It is in No. 50, folio 267. Also one of October 30 from Oliver Pollock which is on folio 271.
Also, a letter of 18 from Daniel Brodhead and S. Bayard, which was "ordered to lie." It is in No. 78, IV, folio 291.
Also, a letter of the same date from Captain Schreiber. It is in No. 78, XXI, folio 153.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |