| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1783
The committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford, Mr.[Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, and Mr. [James] Wilson, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, for accepting the cession of territory made by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the 2 January, 1781, report, that in their opinion, it will be proper for Congress to proceed to a determination on the report of the 3 of November, 1781, and which is entered on the journal of the 1 May, 1782, respecting the cession from the State of Virginia, and that a decision upon the said motion be postponed until that report shall be taken into consideration.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 577. According to the record in Committee Books, No. 186 and No. 191, Bland's motion was made April 23 and the committee report delivered April 25.]
Whereupon,
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee of the 3d of November, 1781, and after debate,
Ordered, That so much thereof as relates to the cession made by the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the 2 day of January, 1781, be referred to a committee of five members.2
[Note 2: 2 According to the record in Committee Book, No. 186, this matter was referred to Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford, Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham and Mr. [James] Madison, who delivered a report June 6. See post, June 20 and September 13.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [Jonathan] Arnold, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, and Mr. [Ralph] Izard, to whom were referred the acts of the legislatures of New York and Maryland, with the papers accompanying them:
Resolved, That copies of the act of the legislature of Maryland, relative to the cession of the city of Annapolis to Congress for their permanent residence; and also copies of the act of the legislature of New York, relative to the cession of the
Page 382 | Page image
town of Kingston, for the same purpose, together with the papers which accompanied both acts, be transmitted to the executives of the respective states, and that they be informed by the President, that Congress have assigned the first Monday in October next, for taking the said offers into consideration.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Ralph Izard, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 389. The acts were referred to committee June 2. A copy of Elias Boudinot's circular letter to the States, dated June 10, 1783, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Miscellaneous.]
On motion of Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, seconded by Mr. [Abraham] Clark.
Mr. Livingston having signified to Congress his desire of relinquishing the exercise of the office of foreign affairs, and his intention of returning to the State of New York:
Resolved, That the secretary of Congress be directed to receive the papers of the said office into his care, till a successor to Mr. Livingston can be appointed; and that next Wednesday be assigned for the election of a Secretary for the department of foreign affairs:
Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of Congress be presented to Mr. Livingston for his services during his continuance in office; and that he be assured Congress entertain a high sense of the ability, zeal and fidelity with which he hath discharged the important trust reposed in him.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folios 147--149. It was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. Theodorick Bland, Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Nathaniel Gorham] to whom was referred the letter from the Cr. in Chief of the 21st. of May 1783, together with the Petition of the Serjeants of the Connecticut Line report.
That the Sergeants enlisted for the war who shall continue in the army untill the signature of the definitive treaty shall be entitled to receive 125 acres of Laud as a Bounty in Lieu of the one hundred promised them by the Resolution of the 16th. of Septr. 1776.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 351. The indorsement states that it was delivered this day and read.]
Page 383 | Page image
The Committee [Mr. Samuel Holten, Mr. Jonathan Arnold, Mr. Oliver Ellsworth, Mr. Alexander Hamilton, Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. James Wilson, Mr. Gunning Bedford, Mr. John Francis Mercer, Mr. Benjamin Hawkins and Mr. John Rutledge] appointed to consider of the best manner of carrying into execution the engagements of the United States for certain allowances of land to the army at the conclusion of the war submit the following resolution:
Congress having by their resolution of thepromised certain allowances of land to all officers, and to such soldiers of the United States engaged to serve during the war, who should continue in service to the end thereof.
Resolved, That till provision can be made by the United States for locating and surveying to the officers and soldiers aforesaid the portions of land to which they are respectively intitled certificates be given to them when furloughed or discharged as evidences of their claim upon the United States, specifying the name of each person, the regiment or corps to which he belongs, his rank therein, and the quantity of land to which he is is entitled, the certificates to be signed by the Pay master General and to be in the form following:
(Name and station)in the(Regiment or corps)is intitled to(insert the quantity)acres of land as a gratuity for his services during the war, agreeable to the resolutions oftheday of1783.
[and that certificates issue in like manner to the legal representatives of such officers and soldiers as have been slain by the Enemy on producing proper proof of their titles.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, except the part in brackets, which is in Elias Boudinot's writing, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 353. The indorsement says: "Report of the Grand Committee of 30 May, 1783." It was delivered on this day and read. See July 1, 1783, note.]
The Committee [Mr. Eliphalet Dyer, Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. Hugh Williamson] to whom was referred the motion of Mr. [Eliphalet] Dyer of the 26th. of May, 1783, report the following resolution.
That all promotions hereafter to be made of officers in the Army of the U. S. during the present cessation of Hostilities, shall be considered as honorary and giving rank to the officers who may be promoted, but shall not entitle them to any additional pay or emoluments.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 361. According to the indorsement it was delivered this day, read, and referred to the Secretary at War to report.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |