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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 --MONDAY, MAY 12, 1783
The committee, consisting of Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, and Mr. [James] Wilson, to whom was referred a letter of the 3 from the Commander in Chief, having
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brought in a report, and the same having been debated and amended on Friday last, and the determination thereof postponed by the State of Virginia, a question was now taken; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be directed whenever the frontier posts in these United States shall be evacuated pursuant to the articles of peace, to place therein, of the troops under his command, [who have inlisted for three years, and] whose term of service may not then have expired, such force as he may judge necessary to secure and hold the same, until further measures can be taken for the security of them, or such of them as it may be necessary to continue to support, [provided it does not exceed the term of nine months]; and that he take measures for [exchanging with the British,] or transporting [artillery] stores and provisions, that he may judge necessary for that purpose; [and the Superintendant of finance is directed to afford all the assistance in his department which circumstances will permit]:
[Resolved, That the expence of such garrisons shall be charged to the particular State to whom the property of the posts so garrisoned shall be finally adjudged.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, except the portions in brackets which are in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folios 431--433. The vote is indorsed on the report. A draft of the resolution, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in No. 38, folio 303.]
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John Francis] Mercer,
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So it passed in the affirmative.
On motion,
Resolved, (by nine states) That the Superintendant of finance be directed to pay to the officers who were deputed by the army to present their memorial to Congress, and also to Major Judd, attending Congress on his last memorial, presented the 8 of January last, in behalf of the deranged officers, whatever may have been their reasonable expences during their stay in town, until the commutation for half pay was agreed to by Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 117. The indorsement states that it was by Clark seconded by [John] Rutledge.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, and Mr. [John [Francis] Mercer, to whom was referred a memorial of Erasmus Gill:
Resolved, (by nine states) That the accounts of Captain Erasmus Gill be liquidated and adjusted, and that the Superintendant of finance take order to replace the money which Captain Gill may prove to have been necessarily expended by him for the support of himself and officers, on his march from Savannah to Lancaster.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Francis Mercer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 411. According to the indorsement, it was delivered May 9, entered and read.]
The committee [Mr, Oliver Ellsworth, Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. John Lewis Gervais] to whom was referred a motion from the Delegates
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of the State of Rhode Island with the accounts and claims therein referred to, report,
That the accounts of Maj. Josiah Flagg and Josiah Flagg Junr. Passed. for their services in the department of the Commissary of Military Stores be examined and liquidated by the Secretary at War, and the ballances that shall be found due thereon secured in the same manner as in the case of other liquidated debts of the United States referred to the Secretary at War to report thereon.
That the accounts of Doctr. Jonathan Arnold be liquidated and settled by the commissioner for settling the accounts of the hospital department, who is hereby authorised to allow him pay and rations Recommitted May 14. as an Assistant Deputy Director General in the said department from the 7th day of Jany. 1778, the time to which his accounts were settled by the State of Rhode Island, to the 9th of May 1779 when he was discharged, charging him with the monies advanced him for the use of that department by the State of Rhode Island and crediting the said State for the same in Account with the United States.
That the claim of the officers of a Brigade raised in the State of Passed. Rhode Island in Feby., 1779, for one year, with the approbation of Congress, for depreciation of their pay, is inadmissible, no allowance of that kind having been made or approved by Congress to any officers or soldiers discharged from service before the 10th of April 1780.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 179. The indorsement states that it was reported this day, and on "September, 9, 1785, Arnold's accounts referred to committee for settling hospital accounts. This to be filed". According to the record in Committee Book No. 186, on May 16, "So much of their report on the request of the Delegates of Rhode Island as relates to the accounts of J. Arnold" was recommitted to Ellsworth Williamson and Gervais. See post, May 15 and June 10.
On this day, as the indorsement indicates, was read a letter, of May 12, from the Secretary at War, transmitting copies of letters between Major General Greene and the Governor of South Carolina on the subject of flags. It is in No. 149, II, folio 497.
Also, a letter of May 8, from General Washington enclosing copies of his correspondence of Sir Guy Carleton and "The Substance of the Conference" between them May 6. It is in No. 152, XI, folio 253. It was referred to Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [James] Wilson; and, later, according to Committee Book No. 186, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton was appointed on the committee, in place of Wilson.]
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