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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 --WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 1782.
On motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, seconded by Mr. [James] Madison,
Resolved, That the post office be continued on the old establishment until the first day of February next.
On report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, Mr. [James] Lovell, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, to whom was referred a letter of 18 November, 1781, from the Secretary of foreign affairs:
The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the 18th. day of November 1781 from the Secretary of foreign affairs concerning the reduction of the number of the foreign Ministers of the United States, and of their salaries, and concerning the case of Mr J. Temple, Report,
That whatsoever future circumstances may require, it does not seem expedient at present, to reduce the number of Ministers.--
That Congress cannot decide, what reduction of salary may be necessary, until a calculation shall be laid before them of the probable expence at the different courts.--
Ordered, That the Secretary of foreign affairs lay before Congress an estimate of the expences which will probably be incurred by the foreign ministers of the United States respectively, and their secretaries.
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Ordered, That the Superintendant of finance take order for supplying the foreign ministers of the United States, their secretaries and the public agents, with their respective salaries.1
[Note 1: 1 The two orders in regard to foreign ministers were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Your Committee beg leave farther to report,
That it appears that Mr J. Temple, left the United States, some time in the year 1780 and went to great Britain according to his own confession.
Resolved, That a copy of the letter of Mr J. Adams respecting the said Mr Temple ought not to be granted to him, until he shall explain his motives for going to Great Britain as aforesaid, and shall shew that he had obtained permission for that purpose from the Government of Massachusetts.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Edmund Randolph, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, I, folio 469. On folio 472 is the following, which was referred to this committee:
Salaries of the Several officers of the United States in Foreign Countries.
- ... Sterling.
- Doctor Franklin ... £.2500
- allowance for his present
Secretary not fixed- Mr Jay ... 2500
- Secretary ... 1000
- Mr Adams ... 2500
- Private Secretary salary not fixed
- Mr Dana ... 1000
- Secretary ... 500
- Mr Laurens ... 1500
- Mr Dumas ... 262 ... 10
- Consul in France ... 337 ... 10
- Private Secretaries to Dr Franklin to Mr Jay in the absence of Mr Carmichael to Mr Adams in the absence of Mr Dana--about £ Sterling 500 each ... 1500
- Total £. Sterling ... 13099
Query: Whether Mr Laurens's salary as a Commissioner does not commence from the time of his appointment and whether the salaries to all Commissioners are not in addition to those they now receive? If so, £6000 must be added to the above sum. Philadelphia Nov. 20, 1781.]
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On report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edmund] Randolph, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Richard] Law, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. J[oseph] Jones, Congress came to the following resolution:
To render more effectual the provision contained in the Ordinance, ascertaining what captures on water shall be lawful, for the capture and condemnation of goods, wares and merchandizes of the growth, produce or manufacture of Great Britain, or the territories depending thereon, in certain cases:
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the legislature of each State to provide by law pass acts to be in force during the continuance of the present war, for the capture seizure and condemnation of all goods, wares and merchandizes of the growth, produce or manufacture of Great Britain, or of any territory depending thereon, which shall be found on land within their respective jurisdictions, unless the same shall have been imported before the first day of March, 1782, or shall have been captured from the enemy.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edmund Randolph, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 243. It was entered in the Journal by George Bond. The motion, in the writing of Joseph Jones, is in No. 36, I, folio 249, and is as follows:
To render more effectual the regulation contained in the ordinance of the fourth day of this month for suppressing the importation into the United States of goods, wares and merchandizes of the growth produce or manufacture of Great Britain or the Territories depending thereon,
Resolved, That it be earnestly recommended to the Legislatures of the several States to pass laws providing for the seizure and forfeiture of all goods wares and merchandizes of the growth, produce or manufacture of Great Britain or of any territory depending thereon, imported within their respective jurisdictions, in any ship or vessel belonging to Citizens of the United States or to the subjects of any neutral power.
On this day, according to the indorsement, a letter of December 31, from the Secretary at War was read. It is in No. 149, I, folio 77.
Also, a letter of November 26, 1781, from General St. Clair. It is in No. 161, folio 529.
Also, a letter, dated Fort Pitt, Dec. 15, 1781, from William Connor. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Miscellaneous; and, according to the indorsement, was referred to the Commander in Chief to take order.]
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