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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 --WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1783
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, to whom was referred a memorial of Brigadier-General Hazen, in behalf of himself, officers and others, Canadian refugees:
The Committee to whom was referred the memorial of General Hazen in behalf of himself, officers and others Canadian Refugees, setting forth that there are now serving in the Regiment under his command officers and men chiefly Refugees from Canada, and not of the proportionate part of any State in the Union.
That exclusive of the aforementioned, there are a considerable number of men women and children refugees from Canada, that receive provisions from the public.
That Congress by their proclamation in the month of January 1776 did invite the people of Canada to join in Arms to oppose the measures of Great Britain pledging the faith of the United States for their protection.
That the said Canadian officers and men have faithfully served seven hard campaigns under less advantageous circumstances on account of pay and cloathing, not being under the patronage of any particular State, than other parts of the army--and praying for a certain tract of land bounded on the Lakes Huron and Erie, as well for a compensation for their losses in Canada as for the services they have rendered the United States.
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And also that order may be given for the payment of the Interests due on the certificates of the officers and men in said Regiment.
Your Committee submit the following report:
Resolved, That the memorialist be informed, that Congress retain a lively sense of the services the Canadian officers and men have rendered the United States, and that they are seriously disposed to reward them for their virtuous sufferings in the cause of liberty:
That they be farther informed, that however, the tract of country prayed for in their memorial be claimed by some of the states in the Union Congress cannot interfere present with those claims but that whenever Congress can consistently make grants of land, they will reward in this way, as far as may be consistent, the officers, men and others, refugees from Canada.
That so much of the memorial as relates to the payment of interest on the certificates of the officers and men, be referred to the Superintendant of finance, to take order.1
[Note 1: 1 This report in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 99. A copy of the resolutions passed, as an extract from the minutes, is in No. 35, folio 67. Hazen's memorial is in No. 42, III, folio 451; a duplicate is in No. 35, folio 63.]
On the report of a committee consisting of Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Gorham to whom was referred a letter of 22 from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, with a letter, of 14, to him, from Sir Carleton,
Whereas, his Excellency, Sir Guy Carleton has proposed to Congress to "empower one or more persons on behalf of the United States toreconsidered
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [James] Madison, and Mr. [Richard] Peters, to whom was referred a letter of the 18, from the Commander in Chief:
Resolved, That in the opinion of Congress, the time of the men engaged to serve during the war, does not expire until the ratification of the definitive treaty of peace:
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That such of the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers of the above description, as continue in service to that period, shall be allowed their fire arms and accoutrements, as an extra reward for their long and faithful services:
That Congress, nevertheless, leave it to the discretion of the Commander in Chief, if circumstances shall require it, to grant furloughs or discharges to those men, as he may judge most convenient expedient.
The committee request that the sense of Congress be taken whether a committee shall be appointed to proceed to Head Quarters.
The committee farther report that it is the expectation of the army to receive three months' full pay at the time when they are disbanded, or that such permanent effectual provision may be made for that purpose as to insure in a short time afterwards the discharge payment thereof.
That to comply with the expectations of the army will be a work of system and arrangement, and will require a considerable length of time to secure the credit of a paper anticipation.
That the last mentioned is the only plan that can be adopted in present circumstances as the engagements of the Superintendant of Finance have greatly anticipated the funds of the United States.
That as the expectations of the army are reasonable and very moderate and it is the ardent wish of Congress to make them as happy at the time of their retirement as possible, your committee are of opinion that the continuance of the Financier in his office until this shall be effected is necessary as he can at this period render the most important services to the United States.
Upon a consideration of the many embarrassments that must unavoidably ensue in case the Superintendant of Finance leaves the office at the time he has specified, your committee submit the following resolution;
Resolved, That Congress being strongly impressed with a sense of the important services the Superintendant of Finance has rendered the United States, he be requested to continue to exercise the duties of his office until he shall have made proper arrangements for advancing to the army three months' pay at the time when they shall be disbanded, or at such short periods afterwards as to satisfy their expectation.
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[to Congress the propriety of appointing a committee to confer with him on his continuance in office 'till proper arrangements can be carried into effect for advancing to the army three months' pay at the time of its dissolution or at such short subsequent periods as will satisfy their expectations.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, the paragraph in brackets being in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 391. According to the indorsement it was referred back to the committee to confer with the Superintendent of Finance respecting his continuance in office.]
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be recommitted.
The committee [Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. James Madison] to whom was referred the memorial of John Blake and others merchants and traders formerly inhabitants of the Province of Quebec, in behalf of themselves and the other suffering inhabitants from that Province, submit the following report:
Resolved, That the memorialist be informed that Congress entertain a proper sense of the zeal and readiness they have discovered to support the important cause in which the United States were engaged, and of the losses and hardships they must have unavoidably experienced, but that in the present crisis of affairs Congress cannot enter into a particular consideration of the provision to be made for them;
In case they are not fully provided for in the definitive treaty of peace Whenever circumstances admit Congress will give proper attention to their representations and endeavour to procure them such provision for their future comfort as may evidence to them fully the sincere disposition Congress have to comply with all their reasonable expectations.2
[Note 2: 2 This report in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 389. According to the indorsement it was delivered this day, entered and read; and filed September 9, 1785.]
[Motion of Mr. Theodorick Bland April 23, 1783, referred to Mr. John Rutledge, Mr. Gunning Bedford, Mr. Daniel Carroll, Mr. Stephen Higginson, Mr. James Wilson.]
The United States in Congress Assembled, will, and they do hereby accept the cession of territory, made to them in the act of cession of the legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia, bearing date thedayon the terms and stipulations therein mentioned, except so much thereof as stipulates that the U. S. in Congress
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assembled shall guarantee to the said Commonwealth the remaining territory contained within the bounds therein described.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 579. The indorsement shows that it was presented on this day, and referred as above indicated.]
The Superintendant of Finance to whom was referred the memorial of James Alexander, begs leave to report.
That the claim of the memorialist appears to be just, and that in common with all others having such claims on the United States he ought to be paid, but that there are no funds for that purpose.
That any partial payment would be attended with dangerous consequences because the demands of all are equally just altho they are not all in the same necessitous situation, and therefore,
That altho the memorialist appears to be in very distressing circumstances, which is unfortunately the case with many others, yet no relief can be afforded to him at present.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folio 347. The indorsement states that it was entered and read on this day.]
The committee [Mr. Theodorick Bland, Mr. Hugh Williamson, and Mr. Benjamin Hawkins] to whom was referred the report from the War Office dated March 3rd, 1783, beg leave to report.
That they have had the said reference under consideration and are of opinion that the recommendation suggested to Congress in the said report will be attended with some advantage to the United States, as well as an accommodation to such officers not belonging to the lines of any State or annexed to a seperate corps, and therefore submit the following resolution in lieu of the resolution proposed by the Secretary at War:
Resolved, That all these officers of the line of the army who do not belong to the line of any State or separate corps, who may obtain the Commander in Chief's permission and the assent of Congress thereto, to retire from the service, shall be entitled to all the emoluments granted to officers retiring under the resolves of Congress of the 21st October, 1780.
That all those officers of the line of the army below the rank of Brigadier who are entitled as such to receive from the U. S. any benefit, salary, fee or emolument of any kind, and who do not belong to the line of any State or separate corps, who may obtain the Commander in Chief's permission to retire from service shall be entitled to all the emoluments granted to officers retiring under the resolves of Congress of the 21 October, 1780.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland for the first two paragraphs and of Hugh Williamson for the third, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 449. According to the indorsement it was read on this day.]
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Resolved, That the Secretary at War in conjunction with the Commander of the Southern Army take order preparatory arrangements for conveying removing the lines of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania now with the Southern Army to such places within their respective states as they shall think proper till the further order of Congress as soon as circumstances will permit.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 59. It is undated, but the indorsement shows that it was the motion of Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, and that it was referred, on April 23, to Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth and Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton.]
The committee [Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. Alexander Hamilton and Mr. Abraham Clark] to whom was referred the Representations of Maurice Desdevens setting forth that no provision is made in the preliminary articles signed the 30th of November by the Commissioners of the United States of America, and Mr. Oswald on the part of his Britannick Majesty for the Canadians who have left their country and are in the service of the United States, &c., report as their opinion that it is not possible Congress are not yet in possession of sufficient documents to enter into a consideration of the matters contained in the representation.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 35, folio 217. It is undated, but refers to the representation of Desdevens of March 18, which, according to Committee Book No. 186, was committed March 25 and reported April 23.]
Office of Finance, 23rd April, 1783.
Sir,
On the twenty first of February 1782 Congress were pleased to approve of the Establishment of a Mint and to direct the Superintendent of Finance to prepare and report a Plan for conducting it. This matter has been delayed by various Circumstances until the present Moment. I now enclose Specimens of a Coin with a view that if Congress should think proper to appoint a Committee on the Subject, I may have the Honor of conferring with them, and explaining my Ideas of the Plan for establishing and conducting a Mint. Such Plan when reported by a Committee will more probably meet the Ideas of Congress than any which I might prepare.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, as the indorsement indicates, was read on this day and referred to Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons, Mr. [William] Hemsley and Mr. [Ralph] Izard. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, II, folio 355. The committee of December 19, 1782, on the report of December 12 from the Superintendent of finance for settling the rate of foreign coin was discharged, and the business referred to the committee on his letter of April 23, 1783. On July 23, according to Committee Book No. 186, the committee was renewed, and both reports committed to Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons, Mr. [Ralph] Izard, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [James] Madison.]
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