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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 --TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1783
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, and Mr. [James] Madison, to whom was referred so much of the letter of 5 December, from the governor of New Orleans, and a letter of 2 March, from the governor of Havannah, as relates to the violation of the laws of nations and rights of neutrality, alleged to have been committed by Church and Heydon, together with a note from the honorable the minister of France, accompanied with a letter of 25 March, from Don Antonio Argote.
The Committee on the letter of April 3d. from the Secretary of foreign affairs, and on the papers inclosed therein report the following Resolve. viz.
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Resolved, That copies of the papers enclosed in the letter of the--from the Secretary of foreign affairs be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, and that he be requested to cause proper inquiry to be made into the criminal charge against Messrs. Haydon & Church, and such measures taken as may be most effectual for procuring satisfaction for the injury done (as is alledged) to the flag of his Catholic Majesty, and that Copies of this report and of the decree of the Court of Appeals, in the case of the Brig San Antonio be transmitted to the Governor of Massachusetts, the Minister of France, and Governor of New Orleans.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 219.]
Resolved, That copies of the papers above-mentioned, together with a copy of the decree of the court of appeals, in the case of the brig San Antonio, be transmitted to the governor of the State of Massachusetts, and that he be requested to cause proper enquiry to be made into the criminal charge against Messrs. Church and Heydon, and such measures taken as may be most effectual for procuring satisfaction for the injury done, as is alleged, to the flag of his Catholic Majesty; and that copies of this resolution and of the decree of the court of appeals aforesaid, be transmitted to the honorable the minister of France, and to the governor of New Orleans.2
[Note 2: 2 This resolution and the preamble were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The committee, consisting of Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [William] Hemsley, Mr. A[rthur] Lee and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, appointed pursuant to the resolution of 17 June, 1782, to enquire fully into the proceedings of the office of finance, including the several branches of the same, reported the result of their enquiries.
The Committee [Mr. Eliphalet Dyer, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. Richard Peters] to whom was referred a letter from Genl. Washington of the 12th of May 1783 enclosing a letter from Dr. Craike are fully persuaded that the complaints of the chiefPhysician of the army is well founded whose half pay is reduced to that of a Hospital or Regimental Surgeon, for though many of these Surgeons may be
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supposed to have entered into the service merely to obtain experience by which they may be enabled to extend their practice in private life on a future day to in private life to physic to greater advantage such motives are not supposed to have operated with any gentleman whose standing and abilities might have entitled him to the rank of chief Physician of the army, the reward then of such officer at the end of the war should be greater. Wherefore your Committee submit the following report,
That the chief Physician of the main army shall receive in commutation half pay or a commutation for the same equal to the half pay of a Major.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 609. The indorsement states that it was delivered June 10, 1783, entered and read; "debated April 16, 1784; negatived."]
The Committee [Mr. Oliver Ellsworth, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. John Lewis Gervais] to whom was recommitted part of a report on a motion of the Delegates for the State of Rhode Island and referred a motion of Mr. Arnold, report that it be
Resolved, That the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the hospital department audit and settle the accounts of Docr. Jonathan Arnold, as assistant deputy director in said department from the 7th day of Jany: 1778 to the 9th day of May 1779, as well for all supplies and expenditures as for pay and rations charging him with the monies advanced him for the use of said department by the State of Rhode Island and crediting the said State for the same in account with the U States. And that he also settle the accounts of all those who were necessarily employed in hospital service by the said Doctor Arnold within the term aforesaid, and that their pay and other allowances be the same as by the resolutions of Congress are allowed to those of similar stations in the said department.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 181. The indorsement states that it was delivered this day, read and entered; and according to the entry in Committee Book No. 191, it was filed November 1.]
The Committee [Mr. Oliver Ellsworth, Mr. Benjamin Hawkins and Mr. Abraham Clark] to whom was referred a letter from Major General Greene, report,
That the pay and subsistence engaged by Major General Greene to sundry persons employed in the quarter master general's department with the army under his command, as referred to in his letter to the Secretary at War of the 17th of March, be allowed and continued.
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to them during the time of their actual service in the Southern Department.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 503. The indorsement states that it was delivered this day, entered and read. Greene's letter is in No. 155, II, folio 607. See ante, May 7, note.]
The Committee [Mr. John Rutledge, Mr. James Madison and Mr. Alexander Hamilton] on the Letter of May 5, from the Secretary of foreign affairs, Report,
That they have perused and considered the Instructions to Mr. Jay and are of opinion that it is unnecessary to make any alteration in them or to give Mr. Jay any further Instructions at present.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 217. The indorsement states that it was delivered on this day. According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the committee was appointed May 6, their report was delivered June 10, and filed November 1. See post August 5.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of May 22, from noncommissioned officers of Baylor's regiment to the Governor of Virginia, asking for relief, and referred to the Superintendent of Finance and the Secretary at War to report. It is in No. 78, XVII, folio 357. A copy is on folio 159.
Also, a letter of February 23, 1783, to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs from Wilhelm Jan Willink, Nicholas and Jacob Van Staphorst, de la Lande and Fynje. It is in No. 145, folio 189.]
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