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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, MARCH 21, 1782
The Commander in Chief being introduced by two members to his audience the President addressed him as follows
Sir, Congress have been informed by your letter of the 18th that you judge it necessary to set out for the army on the North River. They have nothing particular to give you in charge and have appointed this audience only to assure you of their esteem and confidence, to recommend you to the protection of Divine Providence, and to wish you happiness and success.
The General in a short reply having testified the deep sense he had of this repeated assurance of the esteem and confidence of Congress and declared that nothing in his power should be wanting to promote
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their views and insure success in the operations of the ensuing campaign took his leave and withdrew.1
[Note 1: 1 The proceedings for this day are entered only in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 12 (estimates).]
[Motion of Mr. James Madison seconded by Mr. Joseph Jones, That Congress approve of the conduct of the Minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Madrid]
Resolved, That the Secretary of Foreign Affairs be directed to inform the Minister Plenipo. of the U.S. at the Court of Madrid be informed that Congress entirely approve of his conduct as detailed in his letter of the 3d of Octr. last; That the limitation affixed by him to the proposed surrender of the navigation of the Mississippi in particular corresponds with the views of Congress; that they observe with much not without surprise and concern that a proposition so liberal in itself and which removed the only avowed obstacle to a connection between the U.S. and His C.M. should have produced so little effect not have produced greater effects on the Councils of the latter; that the surrender of the navigation of the Mississippi was meant as the price of the advantages promised by an early and intimate alliance with the Spanish monarchy, and that if this alliance is to be procrastinated till the Conclusion of the War, during a continuance of which only it can be necessary, the reason of the sacrifice will no longer exist.
That as every day which the proposed Treaty is delayed detracts from the obligation and inducement of the U.S. to adhere to their overture, it is the instruction of Congress that he urge to the Ministers of his C. M. the obligation it imposes on Spain to make the Treaty the more liberal on her part; and that in particular he use his endeavors to obtain in consideration of such delay, either an enlargement of her pecuniary aids to the U.S., a facilitating of the use of the navigation of the Mississippi to the Citizens thereof, or some peculiar indulgences in the commerce of the Spanish Colonies in America.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No, 36, IV, folio 7. It is undated.
"The conduct of the Spanish Court subsequent to the date of the letter received the day preceding your departure, corresponds entirely with the tenor of it as therein related. Mr. Jones will inform you of the act of Congress which that letter produced." Madison to Edmund Randolph May --, 1782. Writings of Madison (Hunt) I, 190. Randolph is recorded as voting the last time March 14, and must have left Philadelphia soon after. This motion, therefore, should have been presented during the latter part of March.
On this day a letter of the same day, from the Superintendent of Finance was read. It is in No. 137, I, folio 359.]
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