| 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 --FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1783
On motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, seconded by Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons:
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance report to Congress the obstacles which have hitherto impeded the settlement of the accounts of the army; and that he report to Congress the most eligible means to obviate those obstacles.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 157,]
Congress took into consideration the report of the committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford, Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham and Mr [James] Madison, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Higginson and Mr. Wilson, to whom were referred the act of the legislature of Virginia, of the 2 January, 1781, and the reports thereon, and a motion of Mr. [Theodorick] Bland for accepting the cession made in the said act.
And the following paragraph being under debate, viz.
"That the second condition, (namely, that Virginia should be allowed and fully reimbursed by the United States, her actual expences in reducing the British post, at the Kaskaskies and St. Vincents; the expence of maintaining garrisons and supporting civil government there since the reduction of the said posts, and in general all the charge she has incurred on account of the country on the northwest side of the Ohio river, since the commencement of the present war,) is substantially comprehended in the engagement made by Congress in the said act, (viz. the act of 10 October, 1780) and that one commissioner should be appointed by Congress, one by the State of Virginia, and another by those two commissioners, who, or a majority of whom, should be authorised
Page 407 | Page image
and empowered to adjust and liquidate the account of the necessary and reasonable expences incurred by the said State, for the purpose mentioned in the said condition."
A motion was made by Mr. [James] McHenry, seconded by Mr. [Abraham] Clark, to strike out the words, "that the second condition is substantially comprehended in the engagement made by Congress in the said act," and in lieu thereof to insert, "that all reasonable and necessary expences, incurred in subduing the British posts at the Kaskaskies and St. Vincents, and the expence of maintaining garrisons there, or to the northwest of the river Ohio, since the reduction of the said posts, ought to be allowed, being agreeable to the aforesaid act."
And on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] McHenry,
{table}
So the question was lost.
The report being farther debated, and some amendments made, the delegates for New Jersey laid before Congress a representation and remonstrance of the legislative council and general assembly of the State of New Jersey, which was
Page 408 | Page image
read, and at the request of the said delegate, was ordered to be entered on the Journal, and is as follows:
To The United States in Congress Assembled.
The representation and remonstrance of the legislative council and general assembly of the State of New Jersey, sheweth,
That the legislature of this State is informed, that the important subject of the western, or what is commonly called crown lands, is soon to be re-considered and finally determined by Congress, especially as far as relates to the cession made by the legislature of the State of Virginia, in January, 1781, of a part of the western country or vacant territory.
The legislature cannot but express their surprise on hearing that the consideration of the subject is resumed by Congress so speedily after its last discussion, as appears by an act of Congress of the eighteenth of April last past, which is contained in the following words:
"That as a further mean, as well of hastening the extinguishment of the debts, as establishing the harmony of the United States, it be recommended to the States, which have passed no acts towards complying with the resolutions of Congress of the sixth of September and tenth of October, 1780, relative to the cession of the territorial claims to make the liberal cessions therein recommended, and to the States which may have passed acts complying with the said resolutions, in part only, to revise and compleat such compliance;" which said act has been officially laid before us during the present sitting, and appears designed by Congress to be transmitted to every State in the union, not only to the legislatures thereof, but to the people at large: the legislature of this State must be of opinion, that the latter part of the said recommendation of Congress was expressly applicable to the act of the legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as the cession thereby made has heretofore been deemed by Congress a partial one, and by this State, partial, unjust and illiberal.
The legislature, to avoid unnecessary repetition, beg leave in the most earnest manner, to call the attention of Congress to the records in their possession of the proceedings of the legislature of this State with regard to the present subject, beginning with their representation of the 16 of June, 1778, and at different periods since, in which are
Page 409 | Page image
fully contained the just and uncontrovertible claims of this State to its full proportion of all vacant territory.
It is particularly disagreeable to have occasion to trouble Congress with so many applications on this head, but the importance of the subject, the danger of so much property being unjustly wrested from us, together with its being our indispensable duty, in justification and defence of the rights of the people we represent, must be our apology: we cannot be silent, while viewing one State aggrandizing herself by the unjust detention of that property, which has been procured by the common blood and treasure of the whole, and which on every principle of reason and justice, is vested in Congress for the use and general benefit of the Union they represent.
They doubt not the disposition of Congress to redress every grievance that may be laid before them, and are of opinion there can be no greater cause for complaint, nor more just reasons for redress, than in the present case.
They do therefore express their dissatisfaction with the cession of western territory made by the State of Virginia, in January, 1781, as being far short of affording that justice which is equally due to the United States at large, and request that Congress will not accept of the said cession, but that they will press upon the said State to make a more liberal surrender of that territory of which they claim so boundless a proportion.
The legislature place the utmost confidence in the wisdom and justice of Congress, and assure themselves that as far as it lies in the power of that august body, the union will be strictly maintained.
Council Chamber, June 14, 1783.
By order of Council, Wil. Livingston, President.
House of Assembly, June 14, 1783.
By order of the House,
Ephraim Harris, Speaker.1
[Note 1: 1 This act is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 68, folio 607.
According to the indorsement and to entry in Committee Book No. 186, a letter of June 20, from Thomas Paine was read on this day and referred to the committee appointed June 18, to consider his letter of June 7,--Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Richard] Peters and Mr. [Benjamin] Hawking. This letter is in No. 55, folio 79, and enclosed a letter from W. Collins, Salisbury (in Wiltshire) England. The committee was discharged August 18. A second letter of June 20, from Paine, relating to his own services, and giving additional information to be put before the committee of June 18, is en folio 81. See post August 18.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |