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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 --TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1782
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [David] Ramsay, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, and Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, to whom was referred a letter of the 9, from the Superintendant of finance, touching a proposal of his Excellency the Governor of Virginia, that sundry articles of cloathing now in France, belonging to that State, should be taken for the use of the United States:
The Committee consisting of Mr. [David] Ramsay, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, and Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, to whom was referred a letter of the Superintendant of Finance of the 9th. of Octr. 1782, have conferred with the Secretary at War on the subject referred to them, and are informed that the goods which are the subject of the Superintendant's letter are wanted; they therefore recommend that Congress resolve--
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance take order on the subject of his letter of the 9 of October, 1782 relative to some goods proposed to be transferred by the State of Virginia to Continental account.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of David Ramsay, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 287.]
On a report from the Secretary at War, to whom was referred a memorial of Major D. S. Franks:
War Office Sept. 13, 1782.
Sir,
When I reported to Congress the officers necessary to be retained: in service not annexed to the line of any State, the particular situation of Major Franks was unknown to me, otherwise I must in justice have named him as one necessary to be retained, for it appears by Mr.
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Morris' certificate that assurance that he should retain his commission and pay, was the motive of his going to Europe, and was the only emolument for his services.
I beg leave to submit to the consideration of Congress the following resolve,
Resolved, That Major David S. Franks hold the rank and receive the pay of a major in the line of the army of the United States, until the new arrangement shall take place the 1st day of January next; and that he then be considered as retiring from service under the same emoluments as those who retired under the resolution of the 31 day of December last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, I, folio 683.]
The committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, to whom was referred a letter of 18 September, from Oliver Pollock, report,
That your Committee have duly considered the memorial and case of Mr. Oliver Pollock submitted to them. That to obtain in a full idea of the transaction they applied Superintendent of Finance who was acquainted with it from commencement. That the Superintendant furnished them with his report contained in the paper marked A and with a collection of evidence to elucidate the same being the papers marked No. 1, No. 2, No.3 and number 4, all which are herewith submitted the consideration of Congress.
That your Committee [are of the opinion on that Mr. Pollock's accounts with the United States and those with the State of Virginia are in some cases complicated in such a manner that the settlement of the former must necessarily be deferred till that of the latter is perfected.]
[That having examined sundry letters and papers, which they submit to the consideration of Congress, they are of opinion that Mr. Pollock's accounts with the United States, and those with the State of Virginia, are in some cases complicated in such manner that the settlement of the former must necessarily be deferred till that of the latter is perfected, wherefore] having examined sundry letters and papers which are herewith referred to Congress as well as from the
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want of some necessary information from Governor Galvez, Mr. Pollock's accounts with the United States must for the present be left open until those with the State of Virginia are closed; that Mr. Pollock appears to have exerted himself with much zeal and industry as commercial agent of the United States at New Orleans; that he also appears to have advanced large sums out of his private fortune, and to have contracted large debts with the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, partly for the service of the United States, and partly for the service of the State of Virginia; that public faith, justice and humanity require that the sundry accounts should be liquidated and the balances paid, or at least security given for payment of the same, whenever the state of our public funds shall render it practicable; that therefore it be recommended to the State of Virginia to cause the accounts of Mr. Pollock with that State to be adjusted with as much despatch as may be practicable, in order that Mr. Pollock's accounts with the United States may also be adjusted; Whereupon:
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, except the part in brackets, which is in that of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 50, folio 21. A copy is on folio 25.]
A memorial of Lieutenant Colonel Silas Talbot being read, setting forth that he is embarrassed in the settlement of his accounts by his promotion as a captain of the navy of the United States, for which service he however never received any commission; Whereupon:
Resolved, That it be an instruction to the Superintendant of finance, to cause the account of the said Silas Talbot to be adjusted and settled as a lieutenant colonel in the army of the United States, notwithstanding the resolution of Congress of the 17 September, 1779, appointing him a captain in the navy.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 173. Talbot's memorial, dated September 17, is in No. 41, X, folio 169.]
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On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll and Mr. [Samuel] Osgood; to whom was referred a letter of 18 August; from the honourable J. Adams, with several other papers,
Resolved, That Mr. J. Adams be informed, that Congress approve of the reason assigned in his letter of the 9th day of June last, for not then proposing a treaty of alliance with the United Provinces; but that the accomplishment of such a coalition among the parties at war with Great Britain, as will extinguish all possibility and hope in the latter of disuniting her enemies by negotiation, being viewed by Congress as a very important object, it is their wish, that no opportunity may be lost of accelerating the said treaty whenever the concurrence of his Most Christian Majesty's minister and other circumstances shall have prepared the way for the proposition.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal, No. 4. The report, in the same language as the resolution, is in the writing of James Madison and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 23. Adams's letter of June 9 is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton), V, 482; and his letter of August 18 on page 665.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of the same date from Joseph Carleton, in the absence of the Secretary at War, inclosing a general return of the recruits that have joined the main army since the commencement of the present year. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 63.]
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