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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, APRIL 1, 1783
Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, a delegate for the State of Connecticut, attended, and took his seat in Congress.
On motion of Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Osgood,
Resolved, That the motion made on the 28th of March last, to strike out a part of the report of the committee on the means of restoring and supporting public credit, and of obtaining from the states substantial funds for funding the whole debt of the United States, be re-considered.
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The paragraph being then amended to read as follows:
That as a more convenient and certain rule of ascertaining the proportions to be supplied by the states respectively to the common treasury, the following alteration in the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between these states be, and the same is hereby agreed to in Congress, and the several states are advised to authorise their respective delegates to subscribe and ratify the same, as part of the said instrument of union, in the words following, to wit:
So much of the eighth of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual union between the thirteen states of America, as is contained in the words following, to wit:
All charges of war and all other expences that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the value of all land within each state granted to or surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon shall be estimated, according to such mode as the United States in Congress assembled shall, from time to time, direct and appoint, is hereby revoked and made void; and in place thereof it is declared and concluded, the same having been agreed to in a Congress of the United States, that "all charges of war and all other expences that have been or shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, except so far as shall be otherwise provided for, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several states in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and three-fifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians, not paying taxes, in each state; which
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numbers shall be triennially taken and transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, in such mode as they shall direct and appoint:
And on the question, shall the clause, as amended, stand part of the report? the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, and Mr. [John] Rutledge, to whom was referred the report of the Secretary at War, on a memorial from Colonel Broadhead:
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance take order for payment to Colonel Broadhead of ninety eight dollars and fifteen ninetieths of a dollar, being the amount of money expended by him in defending several suits brought against him for certain transactions during his command at Fort Pitt:
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That the legislature of Pensylvania be requested to order Superintendant of finance also take order for payment to Colonel Broadhead of one hundred and fifty dollars, being the value of the presents made by him whilst on command at Fort Pitt, to the chiefs and other friendly Indians of the Delaware tribe:
Congress conceiving that such expense should expence should be defrayed by the State That the legislature of Pensylvania be requested to take the necessary measures for indemnifying Colonel Broadhead against the actions depending against him in the County of Westmoreland, or for putting a stop to those actions, the same having been brought on account of certain orders and acts issued and done by him during such command, in which orders and acts, Congress, on the 18 day of April, 1780, engaged to support him.
With respect to Colonel Broadhead's charge for expences on his trial by a court Martial the committee submit to Negatived. Congress whether they should or should not be paid by the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 417. According to the indorsement, it was delivered on March 26.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Ralph] Izard, Mr. A[rthur] Lee, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, and Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, to whom were referred a letter of the 15th December, from the honorable H. Laurens, one of the 13 March, from the honorable T. Jefferson, and one of the 28 of September, from the honorable F. Dana:
The Committee to whom were referred the letters of Mr Adams of theof Mr Laurensof theday ofof Mr Jefferson of theday ofand of Mr Dana of the daySubmit the following Report,
Resolved, That the Honorable John Adams have leave to return to America, and that Congress do accept of his resignation.
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Resolved, That the Honorable Henry Laurens have leave to resign his commission as one ministers plenipotentiary for negotiating a peace, and return to America [agreeable to his request].
Resolved, That the Secretary for Foreign affairs be directed to inform the Honorable Mr Jefferson that they do not think it necessary for him to pursue his voyage to Europe, [in answer to his letter of thethat Congress consider the object of his appointment so far accomplished as to render his services no longer necessary].
Resolved, That Mr Dana having intimated his intention of returning to America--Congress do approve of the same, provided he should not be engaged in a negociation with the Court of St. Petersburg at the time of receiving this Resolution, in which case it is the desire of Congress that he should finish such negociation before he returns.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, except the words in brackets, which are in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 187.]
Resolved, That the Honorable Henry Laurens have leave to return to America, agreeably to his request.
Resolved, That the Secretary for foreign affairs inform the Honorable T. Jefferson, in answer to his letter of the 13 of March, that Congress consider the object of his appointment so far advanced, as to render it unnecessary for him to pursue his voyage; and that Congress are well satisfied with the readiness he has expressed shewn in undertaking a service, which, from the present situation of affairs, they apprehend can be dispensed with.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph, in Charles Thomson's writing, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 191. The vote is there given as follows:
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The following undated motion, in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in No. 26, folio 429:
"R. That the Secretary inform Mr. Jefferson that by the late advices from Europe it appears that his services can be no longer necessary there, and therefore Congress do not think it proper that he should pursue his voyage to Europe, but that he may return home wherefore he is at liberty to return home; and that Congress retain a high sense of the merit of Mr. Jefferson in so readily undertaking that arduous and important office."
The following, also undated, is on folio 431:
"inform Mr. Jefferson that they consider the object of his mission so far accomplished as to render his services no longer necessary and that they retain a high sense of"]
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Resolved, That Mr. Dana, having intimated [his intention of returning to America, Congress do approve of the same, provided he should not be engaged in a negotiation with the Court of St. Petersburg at the time of receiving this resolution, in which case it is the desire of Congress that he should finish such negotiation before he returns.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
Ordered, That Mr. [John] Montgomery have leave of absence.]2
[Note 2: 2 The part in brackets was entered in the public Journal by George Bond. On this day, according to the indorsement, a letter, of March 31, from the Secretary at War, respecting the claim of Morgan Lewis, was read and referred to Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [William] Floyd and Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 427.]
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