| 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 --THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1782
A letter, of 17, from W. Paca, was read, informing, that the general assembly of Maryland having promoted him to the government of that State, he is obliged to resign his office of judge of the court of appeals in cases of capture.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 59, III, folio 55.]
The committee, consisting of Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais and Mr. [Ezra] L'Hommedieu, having reported on the letter of the 6 from the governor of Maryland, relative to the case of Colonel H. Hollingsworth:
The Committee to whom was referred the letter from the Governor of the State of Maryland of the 6th of November 1782 relative to Col. Henry Hollingsworth, report,
That in consequence of the Resolution of Congress of the 20th of July 1780 respecting the conduct of the said Henry Hollingsworth, the Deposition of Robert Anderson was by the Executive of the said State, laid before the Honorable Alexander Contee Hanson Esq. one of the Judges of the General Court of the said State, who having perused the papers relative to the case of the said Henry Hollingsworth (mentioned in the said Resolve of the 20th of July and in the Resolution of the 15th of August in the same year) in his letter to the Governor of Maryland of the 19th of December 1780, which letter is on the files of Congress, gave an official opinion, that there were no grounds for instituting a criminal prosecution against the said Henry Hollingsworth, that the said official opinion in the judgment of your Committee ought to be satisfactory and that the said Henry Hollingsworth be acquitted of the accusation of the supposed forgery mentioned in the aforesaid Resolution; if Congress agree with their Committee, they will be pleased so to resolve.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Ezra L'Hommedieu, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 151. A letter of Hollingsworth's dated November 9, is in No. 78, XII, folio 257.]
Resolved, That Congress are satisfied with the report of the Hon. Alexander Contee Hanson, esq. one of the judges of the general court of the State of Maryland, on the case of Henry Hollingsworth, referred to him by the executive of the said State, in pursuance of the act of Congress of the 20 July,
Page 747 | Page image
1780; and that the complaint against the said H. Hollingsworth be dismissed.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 153.]
[Report of Mr George Clymer, Mr Arthur Lee, Mr Jonathan Jackson, on a paper relative to the Trade between No. America and the West India Islands. Delivered Sept. 17, 1782. Read. Entd. Nov. 21, 1782, referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs.]
The Committee to whom was referred a paper on the mutual advantages of the Commerce between North America and the West Indies, report that the said paper is particularly calculated to shew the benefit that would result to the several nations in Europe, which have West India Colonies from a removal of the restraints imposed by colonial systems upon the No. American trade, and that in their opinion if the paper entitled Thoughts on the West India trade, being the substance of the one referred to the Committee, was transmitted to our several Ministers abroad it might serve as a useful material of information on this subject. Should Congress concur in sentiment, they will resolve,
That the Report of the Committee be approved of and that the Secretary for foreign affairs be directed to transmit the said paper to our Ministers Plenipotentiary abroad.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of George Clymer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 143. Two papers entitled Thoughts on the West India Trade are the one on folio 145, the other on folio 153.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [James] Duane, Mr [James] Madison and Mr [Abraham] Clark, to whom were referred the report of the Secretary at War on the Memorial of John Hall; and the report of the Agent of Marine on a Memorial of Samuel Nicholas, submit the following Report:
Resolved, That Congress will make good to the Officers of Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry who have from time to time been deranged or reduced in the line of the army and the independent corps thereof; and to the officers of the Marine of the United States; and to the Muster Masters General and their Deputies; and to the Commissaries and Artificers of the Department of Military Stores, respectively, the deficiency of their original pay occasioned by the depreciation of Continental bills of credit, in the same manner as it is allowed to the Line of the Army by Act of Congress of the 10th. of April 1780. That their several accounts be settled accordingly, and the balances placed
Page 748 | Page image
upon the books of the Treasury on interest at 6 pr. cent per annum, to be secured and paid in the same manner as the other debts of the United States are or shall be secured and paid.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 207. The indorsement states that it was read November 21, and November 26 was assigned for consideration. According to Committee Books 186 and 191 it was, on January 14, 1783, referred to the Grand Committee of January 6.]
Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislatures of the several states to settle with and satisfy the officers and men of such temporary Corps of Troops, as may have been raised by them respectively, with the approbation of Congress, for their pay and emoluments and the depreciation thereon, and charge the same to the United States.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Jonathan Arnold, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, I, folio 429. According to the indorsement it was Mr. [David] Howell's motion and was withdrawn on this day.]
The Committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [James] Madison and Mr. [Abraham] Clark, to whom were referred the Report of a Committee on the report of the Superintendent of Finance on the Memorial of the late issuing Commissioners beg leave to report. That in their opinion, it is at this time inexpedient to decide on the report of the Committee on the report of the Superintendent of Finance respecting the memorial of the late Commissaries of Issues.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 293. Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191 show that it was delivered November 21, 1782, and referred, on January 14, 1783, to the Grand Committee of January 6. The indorsement states that it was referred on January 14, 1783, to Mr. [Phillips] White, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Jonathan] Arnold, Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [Silas] Condict, Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [Philemon] Dickinson, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr [James] Madison, Mr. [Abner] Nash and Mr. [John] Rutledge; and that on March 6 it was "referred pursuant to a report of the grand committee to Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, and Mr. T[homas] S[im] Lee."]
Sundry members of the committees appointed on the 2d July last to enquire into the proceedings of the Departments of Finance and Marine being absent, the appointments were renewed as follows:
Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [Samuel] Wharton appointed to enquire fully into the proceedings of the Office of Finance, including the several branches of the same, and report the result of their enquiry.
Mr. [Samuel] Wharton, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, Mr. [Abner] Nash, Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, to enquire fully
Page 749 | Page image
into the proceedings of the Department of Marine, and report the result of their enquiry.
Ordered, That a memorial of Thomas Frink with the Vouchers enclosed be referred to the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the Hospital Department.
That a Memorial of Baron Hotzendorf with a report of a Committee thereon be referred to the Superintendant of Finance to report.1
[Note 1: 1 These committee appointments and orders were entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers, Congressional Proceedings.
On this day, according to the indorsement, a letter, of September 13, from the Secretary at War, relating to British prisoners of war, was referred back to him to report. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 171. See post, December 11.
On this day, a letter dated November 20, from the Secretary at War, was read, enclosing a letter, of November 5, from the Adjutant General, representing the necessity of a provision by the Post Office Department for franking letters passing to and from his office on public business. The Secretary's letter is in No. 149, II, folio 149, and the Adjutant General's on folio 147. According to the indorsements and the record in Committee Books Nos. 186 and 191, the letters were referred, on November 21, to Mr. [David] Ramsay, Mr. [Abner] Nash and Mr. [Richard] Peters; a report was delivered November 22, which, was, on November 25, "recommitted to bring in an ordinance." On December 6, the Adjutant General's letter was again referred to the same committee.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |