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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 17, 1783
Mr. Jacob Read, a delegate for the State of South Carolina, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read.
In the House of Representatives February 12th. 1783
State of South Carolina
The Honorable The Senate attended and together with this House Voted for Three Delegates to represent this State in Congress.
On casting up the Ballots it appeared that the following Gentlemen had a Majority of the Votes of the Members present--Viz: Ralph Izard & Jacob Read Esquires.
M[r. Speaker thereupon declared Ralph Izard & Jacob Read Esquires to be duly Elected.
I do hereby Certify that the above is a true Extract taken from the Journals of the House of Representatives.
John Sandford Dart, C. H. R.2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee appointed to enquire fully into the proceedings of the office of finance; and the same being read:
Ordered, That it be entered on the journal, as follows:
"The committee appointed to examine into the transactions of the office of finance, having cornpleated that enquiry to the I January, 1783, report,
"That it appears to them the business of that office has been conducted with great ability and assiduity, in a manner highly advantageous to the United States, and in conformity with the system laid down by Congress.
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"In the course of this enquiry, the committee have found, that since the appointment of the Superintendant of finance, the public accounts of receipts and expenditures have been regularly and punctually kept; that many of the accounts which preceded this institution have already been settled, and most of the others put into a train of adjustment.
"That all the persons who have been intrusted with public money, under the present appointment, have been regularly called upon for an account of its expenditure, and that their accounts have all been furnished, excepting only the quartermaster general, the purveyor of the hospitals, the late commissary general of prisoners, and the account of issues of cloathing from the cloathier general. The reasons which have prevented the settlement of their accounts will appear in their correspondence with the Superintendant on that subject.
"The committee find, by the correspondence of the office, that the states have all been called upon for an account of the specifics by them respectively supplied for the use of the continent, but that no answers have yet been given nor any accounts furnished; and that a number of people who have heretofore been intrusted with public money do still neglect or refuse to settle their accounts, and that for want of laws in the several states, the Superintendant has it not in his power to compel them to a proper settlement.
"In examining the reforms which have been made in the public expenditures, the attention of the committee was necessarily called to the expenditures of former years, for the particulars of which they refer to the papers C, No. 1 to 7. In comparing these expenditures with the present, and making every allowance for the difference of times and circumstances, the committee are of opinion, that the order and economy which has been introduced1 since the establishment
[Note 1: 1 From this point to the end of the day the entries in the Journal are in the handwriting of George Bond.]
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of this office, has been attended with great savings of public money, as well as many other beneficial consequences.
"Among other reforms they find, that in the department of commissary of issues, no less than 250 persons were discharged, whose pay (exclusive of rations for themselves and their horses) amounted to 126,300 dollars per annum. That in one instance, a demand was made for two one thousand tons of hay for the post of Philadelphia, of which ten tons only were granted, the residue being rendered unnecessary by the new arrangement.
"Upon comparing the accounts of the public receipts and expenditures (exhibited to Congress) with the books of the treasury, they found that they had been fairly and regularly stated; and it appears to them that the business of that office is conducted with great diligence and accuracy, and in conformity with the rules laid down by Congress.
"With respect to the foreign money transactions, the committee confined their enquiry principally to what respected
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the Superintendent of finance, and find that the bills of exchange which he has drawn are duly credited at the treasury."1
[Note 1: 1 This report in the writing of Thomas FitzSimons, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 405. According to the indorsement and the record in the Committee Books, it was delivered June 10, read, and entered in No. 188, the record of reports on the executive departments; and Tuesday, 17, assigned for consideration. See ante January 6 and June 10.]
On motion of Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland,
Ordered, That a committee be appointed to consider what further powers are necessary to be given to the Superintendant of Finance to enable him measures may be necessary to compel persons who have received public monies to account.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Nathaniel Gorham, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 159. A copy as an extract from the minutes is in No. 26, folio 469, with this addition:
"The members, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth and Mr. [Gunning] Bedford."
According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons was appointed July 3, in place of Bedford, and on August 18 the committee was renewed, Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons and Mr. [William] Ellery being appointed on that day. A report was delivered October 9, but does not appear to have been acted upon.]
War Office June 13, 1783
Sir
On the representation of Lieutenant Colonel Fleury, referred to the Secretary at War, I beg leave to observe that he was deranged by a resolve of Congress of the 31st December 1781, at which time all officers, who were not of the line of any particular State, nor annexed to any corps were deranged, excepting such as were reported by the Secretary at War as necessary to be retained.
Although Lieutenant Colonel Fleury was not included in this return, yet, in consideration of his eminent services, which have merited and met the most honorary marks of the approbation of Congress, and on recurring to the furlough granted to him by their resolves, which is unlimited, I am induced to recommend to the consideration of Congress the propriety of settling his accounts of arrears,
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and allowing him the emoluments of his commission in like manner as if the resolves of December 31, 1781, had not passed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, III, folio 13. According to the indorsement it was read on this day and referred to Mr. [Thomas] Mifflin, Mr. [John Francis] Mercer, and Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton. On July 16 Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [Richard] Peters were added in the place of Mifflin and Mercer and on August 5 Mr. [Theodorick] Bland in place of Hamilton.]
War Office June 17th, 1783.
Dear Sir,
In my report to Congress on the subject of Lieutenant Colonel Ternant's situation, which is become peculiar by the promotion of General Armand, with the right of retaining the command of his corps, I was not so explicit as it is now become necessary I should be.
If Congress found this an expedient measure, I think it should not operate to the injury of Lieutenant Colonel Ternant, neither as it relates to promotion and emoluments of office, nor should it be so conducted as that it would admit of a construction derogatory to him.
I am also clearly in opinion, that Lieutenant Colonel Ternant has an unequivocal right, in common justice and agreeably to the former usage in the army, to the same promotion and emoluments, as he would have been entitled to had General Armand been promoted without the indulgence of retaining the command of his corps; otherwise the honor intended him, will be conferred at the expence of Colonel Ternant, which I am persuaded was not the intention of Congress, and I think they will be disposed to place the matter on the most honorary footing in all respects, as it relates to Lieut. Col. Ternant.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 535. It was read on this or an approximate date. See ante, May 15.]
[Report of the Superintendent of Finance and Secretary at Wax on the letter, of 22 May, from the non-commissioned officers of Baylor's regiment who have mutinied.]
Philadelphia, June 16th, 1783.
Sir,
On the letter addressed by the non-commissioned officers of Colonel Baylor's Regiment to the Governor of Virginia, referred to the Superintendant of Finance and Secretary at War, we beg leave to report the following draught of a resolve.
That the Secretary at War be empowered to issue a proclamation offering pardon to those soldiers of the first regiment of Dragoons,
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who shall deliver up their horses, and surrender themselves on or before theday ofand informing those, who shall disregard the pardon proffered them, that they will be dealt with in such manner as the articles of war prescribe.
We have the honor to be with perfect respect
Your Excellency's most obedient servants
Robt. Morris
B. Lincoln1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, II, folio 557. It is indorsed: "Delivered. Read. June 17, 1783 Entd.--to be filed among Obsolete reports."
According to the indorsement and the record in Committee Book No. 186, a letter of June 16, from Benjamin Stelle, Commissioner for settling accounts between Pennsylvania and the United States, with queries relative to the duties of his appointment, was read and referred to the Superintendent of finance, who delivered a report August 15. It is in No. 137, II, folio 799. A letter of June 18, with further queries, is on folio 795, and was also referred to the Superintendent.
Also on this day was read a letter of June 16 from the Secretary at War, transmit. ting certain papers respecting the officers of the Invalid Corps, which he submits to Congress at the request of the Commander in Chief. The letter of transmittal is in No. 149, III, folio 45, the enclosures being on folios 33--41. They were referred this day, as the indorsement states, to Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton and Mr. [Richard] Peters, and on July 23 Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Richard] Peters and Mr. [James] Duane became the committee. The record in Committee Book No. 186 shows, however, that Bland was added to this committee, in place of Hamilton, and Duane to the committee on the Secretary's report of June 13. See post, October 14.]
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