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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 22, 1783
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Samuel] Holten,, to whom was referred a letter of 15, from Thomas Edison:
The committee to whom was referred the letter of The. Edison, having considered the several acts of Congress respecting him, are of opinion
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance take order for the discharge of the balance, if any, of the five hundred dollars ordered to Thomas Edison on the 3d of September, 1782, including what he has received since the 23 day of April, 1782.1
[Note 1: 1 This report in the writing of Daniel Carroll, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 207. According to the indorsement, it was read in Congress April 18. Edison's letter is in No. 78, VIII, folio 405.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Abraham] Clark, to whom was referred a letter of 22 June, 1781, from Dr. George Gilmer:
Resolved, That the account of Dr. G. Gilmer for pay and rations, be settled on the same principles as the accounts of other hospital surgeons of the same rank, according to the time he shall appear to have been employed in the public service; and that the purveyor general return to Dr. George Gilmer a quantity of medicine equal to what he expended out of his private stores, for the use of the continental hospital under his care.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 417. According to the indorsement, it was delivered April 17.]
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On motion of Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, seconded by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,
Ordered, That the secretary lay before Congress on every Monday, a list of all the committees which have been appointed at any time before the preceding week, and have not reported; and that such committees be then called on to state the reasons why they have not reported.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, undated, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 303.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee, on the letter from Mr. Pollock:
And on the question, for allowing him a salary of 2000 dollars per annum, as continental agent for five years, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth,
{table}
So the question was lost.
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed.]2
[Note 2: 2 The part in brackets was entered in the Journal by George Bond.]
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The committee [Mr. James Madison, Mr. Nathaniel Gorham and Mr. Thomas FitzSimons] to whom was referred the letter of the 21st inst, from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs with the letters from Mr. Dana of the 16 and 19 December, Recommend;
That Mr. Dana be instructed to decline entering into any commercial treaty [with the Court of Russia] until the further order of Congress, unless he should have already engaged the faith and honor of the United States for that purpose, and in case negotiations should have proceeded too far to admit of his declining a treaty altogether, and will admit of his limiting the duration of it, that he be informed it is the desire of Congress, that its duration may not exceed the term of 15 years, at the expiration of which both parties will be better judges of the regulations which will be permanently suited to their mutual interests and respective circumstances, [and to stipulate expressly that the same shall be subject to the revisal and approbation of Congress previous to its final conclusion, and that in all matters he insist upon exact reciprocity;]
And that Mr. Dana be permitted to return to America so soon as he can with propriety leave his present situation.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas FitzSimons, except the portion in brackets, which is in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 1. It was entered and read on this day, and on Monday, May 19, assigned for consideration on the following day, as the indorsement indicates.]
The committee [Mr. Alexander Hamilton, Mr. Oliver Ellsworth, Mr. James Wilson] to whom was referred the letter of his Excellency the President of Pennsylvania, to the delegates of that State of the 18th instant,
Report, That in their opinion it is inexpedient for Congress to come to any formal decision on the subject of that letter.2
[Note 2: 2 This report in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 152. The indorsement shows that it was delivered this day, read and ordered to be flied. The letter of President Dickinson is on folio 151.]
The committee of the week [Mr. William Hemsley, Mr. Samuel Osgood, and Mr. Stephen Higginson] report,
That the petition of James Alexander setting forth the distressed condition he is in, from not being paid for the pasturage of public homes and horned cattle and a large quantity of hay which he sold the Quarter Master General when he occupied State Island in the year 1780 and 1781, and praying Congress to order such relief as to that Honourable body may appear just and reasonable, be referred to the Superintendant of finance to report.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of William Hemsley, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 471. By the indorsement it is dated this day. James Alexander's petition, dated Philadelphia, April 18, 1783, is in No. 42, I, folio 51.]
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Ordered, That a Committee of five be appointed to confer with the Superintendant of finance relative to his continuance in office.
The members, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [James] Madison and Mr. [Richard] Peters.
Ordered, That a petition of James Alexander and a memorial of John Kirk be referred to the Superintendant of Finance to report.1
[Note 1: 1 These 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, as the indorsement states, the letter, dated April 17, 1783, from John Collins and Jonathan Arnold, delegates from Rhode Island, was read and referred to Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, and Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 469. See post, May 15.]
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