| 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 --WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1782
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [George] Clymer, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood and Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, to whom were referred two letters from the Superintendant of finance, dated February 26, and April 3, 1782,
Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the legislature of the several states, where excise laws subsist, that they exempt from any charge of excise all such spirituous liquors as may be purchased by contractors for the use of the army of the United States, guarding such exemption from abuse and imposition by the provisions which to them may seem proper and effectual.1
[Note 1: 1 This report in the writing of George Clymer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 353. The Superintendent of Finance's letter of February 26 is in No. 137, I, folio 383; that of April 3 on folio 387.]
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Philemon] Dickinson, Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell and Mr. [Samuel John] Atlee, appointed to examine the powers vested in the late Board of War, and to report such of them as appear necessary to be vested in the Secretary at War:
Resolved, That the following instructions and additional powers be given to, and vested in the Secretary at War:
That the Commander in Chief be furnished with returns of ordnance and ordnance stores, when he shall request them from the war office:
That the cloathier general receive his instructions the war office, and that the distributions of cloathing for the army be made under the Secretary at War's directions:
That the Secretary at War shall, in the absence of the Commander in Chief, be empowered to order the holding of
Page 178 | Page image
general courts-martial in the places where Congress may be assembled: and to approve or disapprove of the decisions of such courts martial.
That the commissary general of prisoners, so far as respects the securing of military prisoners and making returns of them, take his directions from the Secretary at War:
That estimates and returns from the different departments be lodged at the war office, to be examined and approved of by the Secretary at War:
That the Secretary at War grant passports to such persons as he shall think proper, going within the enemy's lines.
That the Secretary at War take the necessary measures for obtaining, from time to time, the best information possible of the enemy's situation, movements and designs.
That the Secretary at War superintend direct the building and management of laboratories, arsenals, foundries, magazines, barracks, and other public buildings, the necessity of which he is, from time to time, to report, and the same is to be approved of by Congress:
That the Secretary at War be empowered to send off expresses, and to provide guards for the safe conveyance of despatches, money and any articles necessary for the use of the army whenever it shall appear to him to be necessary:
That the care and direction of prisoners of war be vested in the Secretary at War, so far as respects their safe keeping:
That the Secretary at War execute all such matters as he shall be directed by Congress, and give his opinion on all such subjects as shall be referred to him by Congress; and if at any time he shall think a measure necessary to which his powers are incompetent, he shall communicate the same to Congress for their direction therein:
That all military and other officers attending upon or connected with the army of the United States be, and they are hereby required and enjoined to observe the directions of the Secretary at War, in making and transmitting proper
Page 179 | Page image
returns, and such other matters as may tend to facilitate the business of his department.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Philemon Dickinson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 157.]
On motion of Mr. [Arthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Abraham] Clark,
Ordered, That the under secretary of the office for foreign affairs, lay before Congress copies of Dr. Franklin's letters of the following dates, March 31, 1778, July 22, 1778, December 21, 1778, and October 17, 1779.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 275.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. Joseph Montgomery, Mr. Jonathan Elmer, Mr. Oliver Wolcott] beg leave to report,
That the petition of Aaron Stratton praying for his depreciation of pay and rations as also a recompense for his losses whilst in captivity be referred to the Secy at War, with the papers accompanying the same.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Joseph Montgomery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 343. The indorsement states that it was agreed to this day. Stratton's petition, dated March 5, is in No. 42, VII, folio 149.]
The Committee of the Week beg leave to report,
That the petition of John Buhler be read in Congress.
That the petition of Lt. Morris praying for a settlement of his accounts, incurred by his being ordered to take the charge of an hospital in Litchfield in Connecticut, be referred to the Superintendant of Finance.4
[Note 4: 4 This report, in the writing of Joseph Montgomery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 347. It is undated but belongs to this period.]
Ordered, That a letter of T. Bond to the Superintendant of Finance be referred to Mr. N[oble] W[imberly] Jones, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Jonathan] Elmer.5
[Note 5: 5 This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings.
On this, or an approximate date, a letter of the 10th, from the Secretary at War was read. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 223.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |