| 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 --SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 17822
[Note 2: 2 The proceedings of this day were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Arthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland,
That the several ministers of the United States, in Europe be instructed to conform strictly to the resolutions of Congress of 27 November and 3 December, 1781, by which the care and management of all monies which have been or may be obtained in Europe, by loans or otherwise, have been committed to the Superintendant of finance, to be disposed of by him according to appropriations of the United States in Congress assembled.
Page 576 | Page image
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Arthur] Lee,
{table}
So the question was lost.
On motion of Mr. [James] Madison, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane,
Resolved, That the several public ministers of the United States, in Europe, be informed that the care and management of all monies which have been or may be obtained in Europe, by loans or otherwise, having been committed to the Superintendant of finance, to be disposed of by him according to appropriations of the United States in Congress assembled, it is the instruction of Congress that they conform in the strictest manner to this arrangement1
[Note 1: 1 This motion was also entered in Secret Journal, No. 4.]
Page 577 | Page image
and prevent so far as may depend on them the disposition or expenditure of any moneys belonging to the United States by any other terms or in any other manner than may be expressly authorised by the said Superintendant of Finance or be specially directed by Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, undated, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 369.]
The committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery and Mr. [James] Madison, to whom was referred a letter of the 9, from the Superintendant of finance, having reported that it be
Resolved, That the sum of five millions of dollars be borrowed on the faith of these United States, for the service of the year 1783, on such terms as the same can be obtained; and the same being postponed,
A motion was made by Mr. [John] Rutledge, seconded by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,
That a sum not exceeding five millions of dollars, including the money which Mr. Adams may obtain by the loan now negotiating in Holland, be borrowed in Europe, on the faith of the United States, and applied towards defraying the expences which shall be incurred, and of those which during the present year have been incurred for carrying on the war.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, undated, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 365.]
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [James] Madison, to strike out the word "including," and insert "exclusive of."
And on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Duane,
{table}
Page 578 | Page image
So the amendment was lost.
A motion was then made by Mr. [John] Rutledge, seconded by Mr. [James] Duane, to strike out "five," and insert "four;" and instead of "including," to read "exclusive of."
Question put, passed in the affirmative.
On the question to agree to the resolution, it was resolved in the affirmative as follows:
[Resolved, That a sum not exceeding four millions of dollars, exclusive of the money which Mr. Adams may obtain by the loan now negotiating in Holland, be borrowed in Europe on the faith of the United States of America, and applied towards defraying the expences which shall be incurred, and of those which during the present year have been incurred, for carrying on the war.
The Committee consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery and Mr. [James] Madison, to whom was referred a letter from the Superintendant of Finance of the 9th instant, submit the following resolutions;
Resolved, That the sum of five millions of Dollars be borrowed on the faith of these United States for the service of the Postponed year 1783, on such terms as the same can be obtained,
Page 579 | Page image
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance and Secretary for foreign affairs take order for carrying the above resolution into effect, transmitting the same without delay to the ministers plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Versailles and at the Hague.
Resolved, That the minister plenipotentiary of these United States at the Court of Versailles, be, and he is hereby instructed to communicate the foregoing resolution to his Most Christian Majesty, and to assure his Majesty of the high sense which the United States in Congress assembled, entertain of his friendship and generous exertions; their reliance on a continuance of them, and the necessity of applying to his Majesty on the present occasion; and the said minister is further instructed to co-operate with the Superintendant of finance and Secretary for foreign affairs in the most effectual means for giving success to the said loan.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 367.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Jonathan] Jackson, Mr. [Thomas] McKean, Mr. [John] Rutledge, to whom were referred a letter of the 5 of July from the Hon. J. Adams, and a letter of the 11 July, 1782, from Wilhelm and Jan Willink, and Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and de la Lande and Fynje, together with five several contracts or engagements entered into by the Hon. J. Adams, in behalf of the United States of America:
Resolved, That the following ratification be endorsed on the contracts, and the five translations of them into the English language, and signed by the President of Congress; and that the Secretary for foreign affairs transmit the said five contracts, with their translations so indorsed and signed, by the several safe conveyances that shall first offer for Holland or France.
Page 580 | Page image
The indorsement to be as follows:1
[Note 1: 1 From this point the entries in the Journal are by George Bond.]
Be it remembered, that the five several contracts or engagements entered into by the Honorable John Adams, esq. minister plenipotentiary' of the United States of America to their High Mightinesses the Lords the States General of the United Netherlands, in behalf of the said United States, bearing date the 11th day of June, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and purporting to be securities each of them for the payment of a million of guilders, Dutch current money, by the United States, to certain money lenders, under the negotiation of Messrs. Wilhelm and Jan Willink, Nicholaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and de la Lande and Fynje, merchants in Amsterdam, were read in Congress, approved and ratified, and the same are hereby ratified and declared obligatory on the said United States.]2
[Note 2: 2 The part in brackets was also entered in Secret Journal, No. 4.]
Done in the State-house, at Philadelphia, by the United States of America, in Congress assembled, the 14th day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, and in the 7th year of our sovereignty and independence.
John Hanson, President3
[Note 3: 3 The report of the committee, in substantially the same language as the resolution, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 21. The first paragraph providing for the indorsement on the contracts is in the writing of Jonathan Jackson; the indorsement is in Thomas McKean's writing.]
On a report of the Secretary for foreign affairs, to whom was referred a letter of the 19th April, 1782, from the Honorable J. Adams:
Ordered, That the letter of the 19th of April, 1782, from the Honorable John Adams to the Secretary for foreign affairs, containing extracts from the registers of their High Mightinesses the States General of the United Provinces, expressive of their resolution to receive and acknowledge the said Mr. Adams in quality of minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, be published, together with the resolutions of the states of each respective province relative to the same object.
Resolved, That an account of this event be given by the Secretary for foreign affairs to the executive of each respective
Page 581 | Page image
State, requesting them severally to cause the same to bemade public.1
[Note 1: 1 At this point Charles Thomson resumes the entries in the Journal.
On this day, according to the indorsement, a letter of September 13 from the Superintendant of Finance was read announcing the arrival of the ship Heer Adams with clothing. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, I, folio 757.
Also, a letter from General Washington, dated Head Quarters, September 11, 1782, and enclosing a return of recruits. It is in No. 152, X, folio 723.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |