| 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 --MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1782
The Chevalier de la Luzerne, minister plenipotentiary of France, informed Congress in a note, that he has received orders to communicate to them a detail of circumstances relative to the negotiations for peace, and is desirous that Congress would be pleased to appoint a committee to receive the communications; and that he would at the same time inform Congress of sundry matters interesting to the common cause, and relating to the present state of affairs in Europe: Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph and the resolution following it were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. The rest of the proceedings for this day were entered both in the manuscript Secret Journal. Foreign Affairs, and in the Public Journal.]
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the minister of France, and report the communications he shall make to them.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, and Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, to whom was referred a letter of the 19th, from the Superintendant of finance:
The Committee to whom was referred a letter from the Superintendant of Finance of the 19th of September submit the following report:
That by an Act of Congress of the 27th of November last the Superintendant of finance is authorised and directed to take under his care and management all loans or other monies obtained in Europe or elsewhere for the use of the United States subject to the approbation of Congress.
That by another Act of the 3d of December the Superintendent of the finances of the United States is authorised and directed to apply and dispose of all monies which have been or may be obtained in Europe by subsidy loan or otherwise.
That by another Act of the 14th of September instant the several Ministers in Europe are instructed to conform strictly to the before recited resolutions.
Page 595 | Page image
That that part of the instructions of the 10th of July, 1781, to Thomas Barclay Esq. which constitutes him commercial Agent of the United States and describes his office and authority is repugnant to the system adopted by Congress for arranging and conducting the Finances of these United States and particularly to the preceding resolutions, inasmuch as he is thereby left at liberty in certain cases to draw for public money in Europe, and has in fact exercised that power to a considerable amount. That if this practice should be continued it must greatly embarrass the publick Finances, it being essential that the expenditure of all the publick monies should be under the direction of the Superintendant.
Your Committee therefore axe of opinion that additional instructions ought to be given to the said Consul, and beg leave to offer the following draft.
Congress agreed to the following additional instructions to Thomas Barclay, esq. consul-general of the United States of America in France:
Whereas by several acts of the United States in Congress assembled, all moneys which have been and may be obtained in Europe, by subsidy, loan, or otherwise, are placed under the direction and management of the Superintendant of the finances of the United States, and it is essential that the strictest regard should be paid to the said arrangement: you are therefore hereby instructed to desist from making any draughts of public money, or any purchase of cloathing or effects, for the use of the United States, without the special direction of Congress or the Superintendant of finance. In other respects, you are to conform to the instructions of the 10 July, 1781.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 205. The letter of the Superintendent of Finance is in No. 137, I, folio 765.]
On motion of Mr. [John] Rutledge, seconded by Mr. [Arthur] Lee,
Resolved, That the minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of Versailles, be informed that his letters to the Superintendant of finance and Secretary for foreign
Page 596 | Page image
affairs, bearing date respectively the 25 day of June last, have been laid before Congress, and that notwithstanding the information contained in those letters, it is the direction of Congress that he use his utmost endeavours to effect the loan which by the resolve of the 14th instant is ordered to be negotiated.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 391.]
Ordered, That a letter of Count de Vergennes "respecting a capture of a Danish Vessel" be referred to the Agent of Marine to enquire and report.2
[Note 2: 2 This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings.
A letter of 16 from the Governor of New York to the delegates in Congress from that State, relative to disturbances in Vermont, was read on this day, as the indorsement states, and referred to Mr. [Arthur] Middleton, Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery and Mr. [Theodorick] Bland. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, II, folio 323. Committee Book No. 186 shows that a deposition of Joel Bigalow, on the same subject, was referred to the committee with the Governor's letter, and that the committee was renewed October 10. Bigalow's deposition, dated September 15, is in No. 40, II, folio 297. See post, October 10, note; and October 17, report.
Also a letter of 18 September from Oliver Pollock, which is in No. 50, folio 1, was read and referred to Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |