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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 30, 1783
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Wilson, seconded by Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, as follows:
Whereas it is of importance in every free country, that the conduct and sentiments of those to whom the direction of public affairs is committed, should be publicly known;
Resolved, That in future the doors of Congress shall be open, unless otherwise ordered by a vote or by the rules of the house. subject to such rules as shall be hereafter determined for that purpose
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report a draught of rules upon the subject of opening the doors.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of James Wilson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 67.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, seconded by Mr. [Phillips] White, to postpone the foregoing motion, in order to consider the following:
That as soon as Congress shall have fixed on some place where they may propose to continue their residence, and where they may have some kind of jurisdiction without being exposed to the influence of any particular State, it may be proper to determine whether the doors of Congress shall be open:
And on the question for postponing for the purpose above-mentioned, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,
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So it passed in the negative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [James] Wilson, seconded by Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, to amend the original motion by striking out the words "unless otherwise ordered by a vote, or by the rules of the house," and inserting in lieu thereof, the words "subject to such rules as shall be hereafter determined for that purpose:"
And on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton,
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So it passed in the negative.
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On the question to agree to the main question, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Wilson,
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So it passed in the negative.
On a report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [William] Floyd and Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, to whom was referred a letter of 24, from Colonel T. Tilghman:
Ordered, That the letter of Mr. Tilghman be referred to the Superintendant of finance to take order thereon.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 41.]
[On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer and Mr. [Silas] Condict, to whom was referred a letter of the 22d from the Superintendant of finance, together with a memorial of J. D. Alvey:
Resolved, That the Comptroller be directed to settle the accounts of Mr. John Durham Alvey, for money he is engaged to pay to certain post-riders whom he was authorised to hire at headquarters; and that the Postmaster General be
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directed immediately to pay Mr. Alvey the balance due on those accounts:
That the Postmaster General be also directed to pay to Mr. Alvey the balance due him for pay, as Postmaster at Headquarters, as soon as the revenue of the Post Office will admit of such disbursements, with the interest of six per cent. from the time when this account shall be settled.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folios 71, 73. The letter of the Superintendent of Finance is in No. 137, II, folio 343.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Hemsley, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins and Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, to whom was referred an account of John Sandford Dart:
The committee to whom was referred the account of John Sandford Dart, with the letter from William Geddes, report,
That it is evident John Sandford Dart continued longer in service as Auditor to the Southern Army than the period fixed for his commission to cease and determine agreeable to the ordinance for regulating the Treasury &c., owing to his want of information, as appears by his letter, and thereupon they recommend the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Comptroller be, and he is hereby authorised and directed to adjust the account of John Sandford Dart up to the 23d of August last, as auditor to the southern army, as he continued in service till that period.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Hawkins, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 9.]
On a report from the Superintendant of finance, to whom was referred a letter of the 17th from Darius Stoddard:
Ordered, That the commissioner for settling the accounts of the hospital department, adjust and liquidate those of Dr. Darius Stoddard.]3
[Note 3: 3 The part in brackets was entered in the Journal by George Bond.
The Superintendent's report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, II, folio 387.
On this date, as the indorsement indicates, the petition of John C. Buhler, dated April 29, 1783, asking return of money lent, was read and referred to Mr. [Thomas] Mifflin, Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson. It is in No. 42, I, folio 274. According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, a report was delivered May 16, and filed.]
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