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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 --TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1782
The Secretary at War, to whom was referred a memorial of Lieutenant Power, late of the regiment of artillery artificers, delivered in a report; Whereupon,
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Ordered, That the comptroller adjust the account of Lieutenant Alexander Power, late of the regiment of artillery artificers, for pay up to the 31st of May last, it appearing from a certificate of the commanding officer of the regiment that he did duty therein, and was not officially notified of his dismission from the service until that time.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 153.]
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, and Mr. [John Morin] Scott, appointed to prepare a recommendation to the several states, to set apart a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer Congress agreed to the following
Proclamation:
The goodness of the Supreme Being to all his rational creatures, demands their acknowledgments of gratitude and love; his absolute government of this world dictates, that it is the interest of every nation and people ardently to supplicate his mercy favor and implore his protection.
When the lust of dominion or lawless ambition excites arbitrary power to invade the rights, or endeavor to wrench wrest from a people their sacred and unalienable invaluable privileges, and compels them, in defence of the same, to encounter all the horrors and calamities of a bloody and vindictive war; then is that people loudly called upon to fly unto that God for protection, who hears the eries of the distressed, and will not turn a deaf ear to the supplication of the oppressed.
Great Britain, hitherto left to infatuated councils, and to pursue measures repugnant to their her own interest, and distressing to this country, still persists in the chimerical idea design of subjugating these United States; which will compel us into another active and perhaps bloody campaign.
The United States in Congress assembled, therefore, taking into consideration our present situation, our multiplied transgressions of the holy laws of our God, and his past acts of kindness and goodness exercised towards us, which we would ought to record with the liveliest gratitude, think it their indispensable duty to call upon the different several states, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, that our joint
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supplications may then ascend to the throne of the Ruler of the Universe, beseeching Him that he would to diffuse a spirit of universal reformation among all ranks and degrees of our citizens; and make us a holy, that so we may be an happy people; that it would please Him to impart wisdom, integrity and unanimity to our counsellors; to bless and prosper the reign of our illustrious ally, and give success to his arms employed in the defence of the rights of human nature; that He would smile upon our military arrangements by land and sea; administer comfort and consolation to our prisoners in a cruel captivity; that he would protect the health and life of our Commander in Chief; give grant us victory over our enemies; establish peace in all our borders, and give happiness to all our inhabitants; that he would prosper the labor of the husbandman, making the earth yield its increase in abundance, and give a proper season for the in gathering of the fruits thereof; that He would grant success to all engaged in lawful trade and commerce, and take under his guardianship all schools and seminaries of learning, and make them nurseries of virtue and piety; that He would incline the hearts of all men to peace, and fill them with universal charity and benevolence, and that the religion of our Divine Redeemer, with all its benign influences, may cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.
∥Done by the United States in Congress assembled, &c. &c.∥1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of a clerk, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 467.]
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Livermore, Mr. [James] Madison, and Mr. [Abraham] Clark, to whom was committed a report on a letter of 25 February from Colonel T. Pickering, quartermaster general:
It being represented to Congress, that in consequence of an opinion entertained by individuals, with whom debts have been contracted by officers and servants of the United States, for supplies furnished and services rendered to the said states, that the said officers and servants were personally liable therefor, divers suits have been, and others probably will be, instituted, whereby such officers and servants may be exposed to great trouble and expence, in cases where the failure to discharge their contracts hath proceeded from the deficiency of the advances received by
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them, from the public treasury; and Congress having by their resolution of the 2 November last, provided for the redemption of certificates for supplies and services afforded to the United States, by resolving to accept the same from the states producing them, in payment of balances due on former requisitions; and by subsequent resolutions having directed the appointment of commissioners for liquidating and settling all such certificates, and other demands against the United States, as also commissioners for settling finally the accounts of the aforesaid officers and servants, whereby it will appear in what cases nonpayment of the debts contracted by them hath proceeded from misapplication of public moneys advanced to them; and Congress having moreover recommended to the several legislatures to make the necessary provision for the speedy and effectual recovery in behalf of the United States, of all balances which shall be found due from such officers and servants:
Resolved, That it be, and hereby is, recommended to the legislatures of the several states, to make suitable provision for staying all suits which have been brought, and preventing future suits by individuals against the aforesaid officers and servants, for debts contracted by them for supplies furnished or services rendered to the United States:
Provided always, that nothing in this resolution contained, shall be construed to imply an opinion in Congress, that the aforesaid officers and servants of these United States, are personally liable for any debts contracted by them for the use and benefit of the said states.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Madison, except the last paragraph, which is in that of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folios 171, 175.]
On a report from the Secretary at War,
War Office March 19th 1782.
Sir,
By the late establishment for the Surgeons of Regiments and their mates they are each confined to one ration per day on which they
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are unable to live with any degree of decency, it is their wish to have the number of rations increased; as this can be done without augmenting the expense by deducting the value of the additional rations from their monthly pay, I have no doubt but it will be agreeable to Congress. I therefore submit to their consideration the following resolves:
Resolved, That so much of the Act of Congress of the 30 September, 1780, as establishes the pay and rations of the regimental surgeons and their mates, be, and hereby is, repealed:
That in future the pay of a regimental surgeon shall be fifty-nine dollars per month, and that he be entitled to draw three rations per day, and forage as heretofore; and that the pay of a regimental surgeon's mate be in future forty-two dollars per month, and he be entitled to two rations per day.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 159.]
Ordered, That Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins have leave of absence.
The committee of the week [Mr. Ezekiel Cornell, Mr. Daniel Carroll, Mr. Abraham Clark] report that this memorial [of Jesse Grant] be referred to the Secretary at War as its contents are altogether of a military nature.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Ezekiel Cornell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 196. The indorsement shows that it was agreed to on this day. The memorial, dated March 8, is on folio 191. See post March 27.]
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