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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, MAY 29, 1782
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the letters from the Superintendant of finance and Secretary for foreign affairs; and thereupon,
Ordered, That the Superintendant of finance prepare and report to Congress, proper instructions for the commissioner to be appointed to liquidate and finally settle the accounts of all the servants of the United States, who have been entrusted with the expenditure of public monies in Europe.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph and the one following it were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Resolved, That the salaries and allowances to which the public servants of the United States are or shall be entitled, be in future paid by the Superintendant of finance, out of the monies which shall, from time to time, be in his hands; and that the said public servants be authorised to make quarterly draughts on him for that purpose.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [John Morin] Scott and Mr. [David] Ramsay, to whom was referred a letter of the 6th from Count Beniousky:
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Ordered, That the Secretary at War inform Count Beniousky, that the proposal for introducing a legionary corps into the service of the United States, which accompanied his letter of the 6th instant has been considered by Congress with the attention due to its importance. The zeal for the American cause which the author of it professes, and which the generous terms of the plan evince, have not failed to inspire a just esteem for his character and a disposition to favour his wishes. Considerations, however, which in no respect derogate from this esteem or this disposition, render it expedient for Congress to decline the offer which has been made to them.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 269.]
On motion of the delegates of South Carolina,
Ordered, That they be furnished with copies or extracts of all letters in the office for foreign affairs, or other offices of Congress, so far as they relate to Captain Gillon of the South Carolina packet frigate.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [John] Lowell, and Mr. [William] Ellery, to whom were referred sundry resolutions of the house of delegates of Virginia, respecting an agreement made between the secretary of Congress, the Superintendant of finance, and E. Coffin, and passports granted by the secretary, pursuant to the resolution of the 11 day of February last,
The Committee to whom were referred several Resolutions of the House of Delegates of Virginia Report, That they have conferred with the Superintendant of Finance on the subject referred to your Committee, and it appears that in pursuance of the power vested (by a Resolve passed unanimously on the 11 Day of February last) in the Secretary of Congress, and the Superintendant of Finance, they with the approbation of his Excellency the Commander in Chief, entered into a contract whereby the Superintendant engaged to furnish 685 Hhds of Tobacco in Virginia, and Passports for carrying it to New York. The value of that quantity of Tobacco in Virginia
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being part of the amount of the price of the goods sold by the traders, capitulants at York Town, to Individuals in that State.
That in the opinion of your Committee, the said contract ought to be executed, and your comee cannot but conceive that the Resolves of the Honorable the House of Delegates of Virginia (referred to your Comee are founded on misapprehension, wherefore altho it may be premature, and unnecessary for Congress to enter into any Resolutions relative to a matter which has undergone the consideration of only one branch of the Legislature.
Your Comee think it may not be improper, and they recommend,
Resolved, That the members who are to repair to Virginia, be instructed to make such representations to that State as may remove every obstacle to the execution of this measure.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 267.]
War Office, May 29, 1782.
Sir:
I do not think myself authorised to make the establishments asked for by Mr. De Witt. I therefore beg leave to lay his letter before Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, II, folio 493. The indorsement shows that it was read on this day and referred to Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, Mr. [John Morin] Scott and Mr. [Philemon] Dickinson. According to Committee Book, No. 186, this committee was discharged on June 25.]
Ordered, That so much of a letter of the 28th from the Superintendant of finance as relates to the mode to be adopted for appointing a court martial for offences in the navy be referred to the Superintendant of finance as Agent of Marine to report.3
[Note 3: 3 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 date, according to the indorsement, a letter dated Lancaster, May 27, from Major James Gordon was read. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, X, folio 389.]
War Office April 26, 1782.
Sir,
On the petition of Jordan Hopson conductor of Military Stores referred to me--I beg leave to observe that it appears to me, his appointment from the ranks was consequent on his merit as a soldier and that his Warrant from the Board of War implied his discharge
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from the duties of a private sentinel, and I conceive his appointment and subsequent services entitle him to an honorable discharge from the service, as he is no longer neceessary in the capacity of a conductor.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 283. According to the indorsement it was referred to the Governor of New Jersey on this day.]
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