| 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 --FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1782
Mr. [Jonathan] Elmer, a delegate for New Jersey, attended, and took his seat.
War Office, December 12, 1782.
Sir,
The case of Lieutenant Vadeir is one of those which may be provided for should Congress think proper to pass the draught of a resolve reported by the Secretary at War the 4th instant.3
[Note 3: 3 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 203. The indorsement says it was delivered December 13, and that the resolution therein referred to was passed.]
Page 795 | Page image
On a report from the Secretary at War,
War Office, December 4th, 1782.
Sir,
The resolve of Congress which allows a compensation to officers (whose duty requires them to be on horseback) for horses killed or wounded in battle, provides that when a home shall be wounded, he must be brought off, and delivered to the Quarter Master General to entitle the officer to a compensation.
This is often impracticable. There are cases in which horses may be lost that should equally entitle the officers to compensation, which are not provided for in this resolve. To remedy this, and comprehend the contingencies of service--The propriety of passing the enclosed draught into a resolve is submitted to the Consideration of Congress.
Resolved, That every officer whose duty requires his being on horse-back, who shall have his horse killed or wounded and disabled by the enemy, or whose horse shall fall into the enemy's hands without his own manifest fault or misconduct, shall be entitled to receive of the quartermaster general or his deputy, the just value of such horse, to be appraised on oath, or on the honor of the appraisers, if commissioned officers, provided the same does not exceed one hundred and twenty dollars; provided also, that if the wounded or disabled horse be brought off, he shall be delivered to some officer in the quartermaster's department, whose certificate shall be necessary to entitle the owner to compensation; provided also, that before any compensation shall be made for horses lost in manner before-mentioned, the necessary facts shall be proved to the satisfaction of the quartermaster general or his deputy, to whom application shall be made relative to any such losses as have already happened, and in future, by the certificate upon honor of at least one commissioned officer, or the oath of a non-commissioned officer or soldier not interested therein, countersigned by the commanding officer of the army, brigade, corps or detachment, to which the claimant did at the time belong, unless he be the general commanding where the loss accrued,
Page 796 | Page image
in which case his own certificate upon honor shall entitle him to compensation in manner aforesaid. This resolution to have a retrospect to the first day of January, 1779: this resolution not to extend to officers who have already received compensation for horses lost since that day.1
[Note 1: 1 This report and the draft on which the resolution is based are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folios 153. 155.]
The Secretary at War, to whom was referred so much of a petition of Belamy Crawford, as relates to cloathing, rations, subsistence and extraordinary expences, while a prisoner at Charlestown, having reported thereon:
War Office, December 11th, 1782.
Sir,
On the memorial of Bellamy Crawford referred to me, I beg leave to report, and to request the particular attention of Congress--as he has endeavoured to impress on their minds a design in me to deprive him of certain benefits which, as he expresses it, the goodness of Congress intended him.
By the resolves of Congress of the 15th of May 1781, when officers were appointed to the Hospital in the Southern Department, Mr Crawford and others then in Charlestown, being omitted in the new arrangement, were continued in their respective offices as heretofore and entitled to the same privileges and emoluments as they had enjoyed before their captivity; but this indulgence seems to have been limited by Congress to the officers while acting in the hospital in South Carolina. Since Mr Crawford has been in Philadelphia, the same indulgences have been continued, and he has drawn four rations per day, and pay as officers in full service. His complaint is that in addition to this allowance, he does not enjoy all the emoluments of officers of his rank, who are now in service. Were these accorded him it would be granting the complete emoluments of two different resolves, to the latter of which, as a deranged officer, he can have no pretensions, and it would be giving a double allowance to one officer, which is incompatible with our present system, and would give just grounds of complaint to every other officer.
With respect to his complaint, that he has not been supplied with clothing, he stands in this relation on the same ground with all other officers. The sum of one hundred and twenty dollars being two months pay was advanced him last spring for this purpose.
Page 797 | Page image
I am directed by Congress to report an allowance for the officers of the Hospital Department who continued with the sick in Charlestown.
I have written to the Deputy Director Doctor Oliphant, who was some time there himself, for information on this subject, when I receive his answer I will report to Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 191.]
Ordered, That the said petition, so far as referred to the Secretary at War, be dismissed.
Congress proceeded by ballot to settle the rank of the two judges of the court of appeals, elected on the 5, and the lots being drawn, the precedence was decided in favor of Mr. Read.
The Committee on the letter from Col. Stewart to the Secretary at War, report the following resolution--
Resolved, That the Secretary at War have a power of discharging soldiers from the Army of the United States similar to that given to the Commander in Chief.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 413. The indorsement shows that it was postponed, and the letter of Colonel Stewart, of December 11, referred to the Secretary at War to take order. The committee was [Alexander] Hamilton, [James] Madison and [Samuel] Osgood.]
The Committee on the letter of the Secy at War of the 30th Octr submit the following report.
Resolved, That it be and hereby is recommended to the several States to settle with and satisfy the Officers of their respective lines States for the half pay, promised them, in a manner which shall be mutually agreed on between the State and such officers.
Resolved, That the Secretary of War make out a return of all the Officers to whom half pay is promised, and the States to which they respectively belong, and if it shall appear thereupon that the amount of half pay for one year shall exceed the due proportion upon the principle of the 8th Article of Confederation which such State would be required to pay, the amount of such excess shall be credited to such State provided they really pay the same, or such part thereof as they may shall pay.
Resolved, That every State that shall agree settle with and satisfy their respective Officers for the half pay promised, shall not be
Page 798 | Page image
responsible for the half pay that may be due to the Officers of any other State, except as is above excepted.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 211. A copy of the second and third resolves in substance, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is on folio 215, and on folio 217 is the following, in the writing of Richard Peters:
That the Secretary of War be also directed to make return &c. of all officers not belonging to any State.
That the United States in Congress assembled so soon as the state of their finances will admit will take measures for establishing proper funds for the payment of the half pay becoming due to officers not belonging to any State.
From the indorsement of the report it appears that it was delivered December 12; read the 13th; Tuesday next assigned for its consideration; December 17, recommitted and Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [James] Madison added to the original committee. The original committee was: Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Richard] Peters.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of the same day, from the Agent of Marine enclosing an extract of a letter from Captain Barry. It is in No. 137, II, folio 99.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |