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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 --THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1782
Mr. Jonathan Arnold, a delegate for the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, attended, produced the credentials of his appointment, and took his seat.
State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
This certifies that at the Anniversary Election of Officers, Civil and Military, for the State aforesd. held at Newport on the First Wednesday in May, A. D. 1782 the Honorable Jonathan Arnold Esq. was chosen a Delegate to represent the said State in the Congress of the United States of America, for One Year and until another should appear to take his Seat.
Witness Henry Ward Secry.2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Rhode Island, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
The grand committee, consisting of a member from each State, to whom was referred a motion that a requisition be made to each State to provide ways and means for the payment of interest due on the liquidated debts, report,
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That they have considered the motion referred to them, and are of opinion that it is not at present expedient for Congress to make such a requisition as is proposed by the said motion:
They have also reconsidered that part of their report which was recommitted to them and are of opinion that 391,362 Postponed. dollars for one year's half pay of reduced officers be inserted in the estimate for the next year.
On the question to agree to this part of the report, resolved in the affirmative.
The committee having farther reported a resolution, which being amended to read,
That Congress call upon the states of Rhode Island and Georgia for an immediate definitive answer whether they will comply with the recommendation of Congress to vest them with power to levy a duty of five per cent. on all goods imported, and on prizes and prize goods.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 357. Another report also in Rutledge's writing is on folio 359 and is as follows:
The Grand Committee report that they have considered the motion referred to them on theand are of opinion that it is not expedient for Congress at present to make such requisitions on the several States as are mentioned in the said motion and they recommend that the State of Rhode Island be called on for an immediate categorical answer whether they will comply with the recommendation of Congress to vest 'em with a power of levying a duty of 5 p cent on all imported goods and on all prizes and prize goods.--The Come have also considered that part of their report which was recommitted to them and are of opinion that as one year's half pay for reduced officers be inserted in the estimate of the next year's expence.
The following amendment, in the writing of Arthur Lee except the parts in brackets which are in that of John Rutledge, is on folio 363 and is marked No:
That this Committee upon considering the requisition [motion] referred to them, are of opinion that it is not [at present] expedient for Congress to make a requisition till the issue of the requisition for 1,000,000 dollars and that of the recommendation for a duty of 5 p cent on imports shall be known [on the States to provide ways and means for the payment of the interest due on the unliquidated debt.]
The following amendment, in the writing of John Witherspoon, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of John Rutledge, is on folio 364.
That Congress call upon the State of Rhode Island for an immediate and categorical answer whether they will lay the impost [comply with the recommendation of laying a] duty of five per cent on imported articles agreeably to the recommendation of
The following, in the writing of Joseph Montgomery, is on folio 365:
That a requisition be made to each State to provide ways and means for the payment of the interest due on public liquidated debts, as also the half pay due or that may be due to retiring officers.]
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A motion was made by Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, to amend the proposition by adding, "and that it be recommended to those states who have passed acts adopting the said recommendation on certain conditions, to revise and amend said acts."
And on the question to agree to the amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
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So the amendment was lost.
On the question to agree to the proposition of the grand committee, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, according to the indorsement, was presented a memorial, from Charles Phelps, of Cumberland Co., in the New Hampshire Grants, relative to disturbances in Vermont. It was referred to Mr. [Joseph] Montgomery, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, Mr. [John] Witherspoon. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 40, II, folio 339. Committee Book No. 186 shows that the letter of September 16 from the Governor of New York to the delegates of that State, and a deposition of Joel Bigalow relative to the same subject, were also referred to this committee. See ante, September 23, note.
Also, a letter of October 9 from the Superintendent of Finance, relative to an offer of the Governor of Virginia to transfer to the Continent clothing purchased for that State and now in France. It is in No. 137, I, folio 803, and, according to the indorsement, was referred on this day to Mr. [David] Ramsay, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood and Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman.
Also, a letter from General Washington, dated Head Quarters September 30, enclosing copies of correspondence with Sir Guy Carleton. It is in No. 152, X, folio 753.]
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