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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 --FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1782
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee relative to a cartel; and after debate, the farther consideration thereof was postponed till Monday next.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the grand committee, and the following paragraph being read:
That it is their opinion that the western lands, if ceded to the United States, might contribute towards a fund for paying the debts of these states.
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Rutledge, seconded by Mr. [Arthur] Lee, to amend it, by inserting after "United States," the following words, "by the several states to which they belong."
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A motion was made by Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] McKean, to amend the amendment, by striking out the words "to which they belong," and in lieu thereof, inserting "claiming the same."
A motion was then made by Mr. [John] Witherspoon, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell, to postpone the consideration of the paragraph with the amendments, and to take into consideration the following set of resolutions:
That if the several states claiming the exclusive property of the western lands, would make cessions of them to the United States, agreeably to the recommendation of Congress of the 6 September and the resolution of the 10 of October, 1780, it would be an important fund for the discharge of the national debt:
That, therefore, it be recommended to those states which have made no cessions, as soon as possible to take the above recommendation into consideration and determine thereon:
That it be recommended to those states which have made cessions not entirely agreeable to the above recommendation to reconsider them, and send the result to the United States in Congress assembled:
That in case of a compliance with the above recommendation, no alteration shall be made in the determinations of the particular states relating to private property of lands within those cessions, shall be reversed or altered without their consent, unless in such cases as the 9th Article of the Confederation shall render it necessary.
On the question to agree to this last motion, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Rutledge,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The resolutions being then read: on motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, seconded by
Ordered, That they be referred to a committee of five.1
[Note 1: 1 According to Papers of the Continental Congress, Committee Book No. 186, the resolutions were referred to Mr. [John] Witherspoon, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood and Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of the same date from the Secretary at War. It was "Referred to Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, together with all the papers relative to promotions which on the 25 June and at sundry times since were referred to a committee of 5, which is discharged from so much of the business referred to them." It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 671.
Another letter of this date from the Secretary at War was also read on this day. It related to the employment of troops in the southern department, and was referred, as the indorsement shows, to Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Ezekiel] Cornell. It is in No. 149, I, folio 629. See post, September 9.]
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