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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 --FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1783
On the report of the agent of marine, to whom were referred a letter of the 5 December, 1782, from the governor of New Orleans, and a letter of the 2d of March last, from the governor of Havannah, respecting a criminal contempt of public faith and a violation of the law of nations, alleged to have been committed by Messrs. Church and Haydon, inhabitants of Boston, in the capture of a Spanish brig, the property of Don Antonio Argote, and in firing upon a boat carrying the flag of his Catholic Majesty:3
[Note 3: 3 This paragraph, and the resolutions and order following it, were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
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Resolved, That the proper mode for Don Antonio Argote to obtain redress of any injuries he may have sustained from Messrs. Church and Haydon, is by prosecution in due course of law; and that a letter be written by the President to the supreme executive of the State of Massachusetts, enclosing a copy of the said letters, and recommending to the said executive to give all such countenance, protection and assistance to the said Don Antonio Argote, in his attempts to obtain legal satisfaction for the injuries alleged to have been done to him by the said Messrs. Church and Haydon, as becomes the United States to give to the subjects of powers in amity, who shall complain of a violation of their rights.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, II, folio 257.]
Ordered, That so much of the foregoing letters as relates to the violation of the laws of nations and rights of neutrality, together with a note from the honorable the minister of France, accompanied with the copy of a letter of 5 December, from the governor of New Orleans, and a letter of 25 March, from Don Antonio Argote, stating the violation of the laws of nations and rights of neutrality, alleged to have been committed by Church and Haydon, aforesaid, be referred to a committee of three.2
[Note 2: 2 According to Committee Book No. 186, the committee consisted of Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons and Mr. T[homas] S[im] Lee; and Mr. [James] Madison was afterward appointed in place of Lee. A report was delivered June 10.]
On motion of Mr. [John] Rutledge, seconded by Mr. [John Francis] Mercer,
Resolved, That the several states be required to suspend all enlistments for any regiment or corps in the army of the United States, until the further order of Congress.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 53.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer, Mr. [Silas] Condict, and
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Mr. [John] Montgomery, to whom was referred a letter of March 5, from the post-master general:
Congress being informed by the Postmaster General that Mr. Durham Alvey late postmaster in the main army has resigned
Resolved, That the postmaster general be, and he is hereby authorised, from time to time, to appoint a deputy to attend the main army, who shall be entitled to draw provisions not exceeding two rations a day, and to such other salary reward as may be stipulated by the pay postmaster general, to be paid as heretofore by the paymaster general, upon a warrant from the Commander in Chief, it being provided that the amount of such rations and pay shall not exceed the allowance which was made to such officer by an act of Congress, dated the 11th of March, 1782; such pay to commence from the 10th of March last, when Mr. Alvey, late postmaster with the main army, resigned.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 523. The indorsement shows that it was delivered April 1, read and entered. The Postmaster General's letter is on folio 145.]
The committee [Mr. John Lewis Gervais, Mr. William Hemsley, and Mr. Nathaniel Gorham] to whom was referred the letter of the Superintendant of finance of the 31st March, submit the following resolve:
That the Superintendant of Finance take order for the payment of four hundred dollars to James McCall Secretary to the Office of Finance for extra service.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Lewis Gervais, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 5. It was read on April 1, and passed in the negative on April 4, as the indorsement shows. The letter of the Superintendent of Finance is in No. 137, II, folio 253.
On this day, according to the indorsement, a letter of George Gilmer dated June 22, 1781, to Mr. Theodorick Bland, relative to his accounts, was referred to Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, and Mr. [Abraham] Clark. It is in No. 78, X, folio 405.
On this day, as the indorsement states, a letter of March 20, from the Governor of New York, transmitting au act of the corporation of Kingston and joint resolution of the legislature respecting a fixed residence for Congress, was referred to Mr. [John] April 1. ledge, Mr. [William] Hemsley, and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson. It was read April 1. It is in No. 46, folio 1. According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the committee delivered a report May 30, which was filed, the matter being acted upon June 4, in connection with the offer made by Maryland.]
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