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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 --THURSDAY, MAY 22, I783
Congress resumed the consideration of the subject under debate yesterday; and the report of the committee being again postponed,
A motion was made by Mr. [James] Madison, seconded by Mr. [Daniel] Carroll,
That Mr. Dana be informed, that the treaties lately entered into for restoring peace have caused such an alteration in the affairs of these states, as to have removed the primary object of his mission to the Court of Russia, the acquisition of new supports to their independence; that he be instructed, in case he shall have made no propositions to the Court of Russia on the subject of a treaty of commerce, to decline making such until he shall receive further instructions from Congress; that in case he shall have made such propositions, he be instructed informed, that it is the desire of Congress, that as far as will consist with the tenor thereof honour of the United States he insist on a limitation of the treaty to the period of fifteen years; and that the same be subject to the revisal and approbation of Congress, before they shall be obliged to accept or ratify it. That a committee be appointed to prepare and report instructions the plan of a treaty proper to be transmitted to Mr. Dana.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of James Madison, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 121.]
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A motion was made by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, seconded by Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, to postpone the consideration of the foregoing motion, in order to consider the following:
That Mr. Dana be instructed, in case he has not already proceeded too far in the commercial treaty between these United States and the Court of Russia, to insist as far as may be done consistent with the honor of these states stipulate, that the treaty be limited to the term of fifteen years; and that the same be subject to the revisal and approbation of Congress, before they shall be under obligations to accept or ratify it.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 119. The three votes are indorsed on it.]
And on the question for postponing for the purpose abovementioned, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Samuel] Holten--
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So it passed in the negative.
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On the question to agree to the motion of Mr. [James] Madison, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Daniel] Carroll--
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So the question was lost.
The motion proposed by Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth was then made; and on the question to agree thereto, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham--
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So it was
Resolved, That Mr. Dana be instructed, in case he has not already proceeded too far in the commercial treaty between the United States of America and the Court of Russia, to stipulate, that the treaty be limited to the term of fifteen years; and that the same be subject to the revisal and approbation of Congress, before they shall be under obligations to accept or ratify it.
On motion of Mr. [Stephen] Higginson,
Ordered, That a committee be appointed to prepare and report a plan of a commercial treaty proper to be transmitted to Mr. Dana.
The members chosen--Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson and Mr. [John] Rutledge.
[Motion of Mr. Nathaniel Gorham, seconded by Mr. Stephen Higginson.]
Whereas the resolutions of Congress of the 18th of March 1780 for calling in the old continental money has by some of the States been wholly neglected and by others in part only complied with, by means whereof some of the States have been are greatly injured.
Therefore, Resolved, That the superintendent of finance be directed forthwith to take measures for calling in the old emission bills, that yet remain out of the Treasury of the United States, and to give certificates to the possessors for the amount thereof in specie at the rate of one silver dollar for seventy five continental dollars, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the date.
And it is further Resolved, That the several States in the union shall be allowed interest on the amount of such bills reduced into specie at the rate aforesaid, as by them has heretofore been paid to
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the loan officers in their respective States, the interest to commence at the time when the money was paid into said offices.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Nathaniel Gorham, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 457. The indorsement states that it was presented this day and Monday, May 26, assigned for its consideration.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. Thomas FitzSimons, Mr. Ralph Izard and Mr. Eliphalet Dyer] report,
That the memorial of John Lucas be referred to a special committee.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Thomas FitzSimons, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, V, folio 302, being indorsed upon Lucas's memorial, which is dated May 19, and is on folio 299. According to the indorsement, and to Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the memorial was referred, on May 22, to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Abraham] Clark and Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, and a report was delivered June 10 and also on October 22. They do not appear to have been acted upon.]
Ordered, That a memorial of John Lochman to have his accounts finally settled and balance paid or secured, be referred to the Superintendant of finance to report.3
[Note 3: 3 This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendent of Finance: Morris Papers; Congressional Proceedings.]
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