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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 --FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1783
An address from the magistrates, militia officers, and citizens of the town of Newark, signed by W. Burnet, esq. chairman, having been read:
The Committee, consisting of Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, to whom was referred the address to Congress from the Magistrates Militia officers and Citizens of the town of Newark in the State of New Jersey, signed by William Burnet Esq. Chairman and presented by William P. Smith and Elisha Boudinot Esqrs. their Committee.
Resolved, That the President inform Mr. Burnet, that Congress entertain an high sense of the spirit and patriotism of the magistrates, militia officers; and citizens of the town of Newark, applaud their zeal for good order and the security and honour of the federal government, and are obliged by their disposition to render the residence of Congress in the State, as agreeable as possible.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 293. The address of the inhabitants of Newark, dated July 7, is in No. 43, folio 333. It was read and referred July 16.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Jacob] Read. Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [James] McHenry, to whom was referred a letter of 23 June, from the Commander in Chief, enclosing the copy of a letter from Mr. Reuben Harvey, merchant in Cork, in the kingdom of Ireland, and other papers;
The Committee consisting of Mr [Jacob] Read, Mr [William] Ellery and Mr [James] McHenry, to whom was referred the letter from his Excellency the Commander in Chief, dated Newburgh 23rd June 1783, inclosing the Copy of a letter from Mr Reuben Harvey merchant in Cork in the Kingdom of Ireland, dated 12th. February, 1783, and directed to the Commander in Chief, and other enclosures, recommend the following Resolve:
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Resolved, That his Excellency the Commander in Chief, be requested to transmit the thanks of Congress to Mr. Reuben Harvey, merchant in Cork, in the kingdom of Ireland, and express thehighjust sense Congress entertain of the services he has rendered during the late war, to American prisoners.
by supplying them with clothing money and other necessaries, by promoting an inquiry into the treatment of these confined at Kingsale and in affording them every relief in his power. And to assure Mr. Harvey that his exemplary conduct and liberality of sentiment has given him a distinguishing claim to the gratitude of his country.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 71.]
The Committee of the Week, consisting [of Mr. James Duane Mr. Arthur Lee and Mr. Jacob Read] beg leave to report.
That in their opinion the memorial of Joseph Tascaud praying for the office of Consul for the United States in the Port of Cape François be laid on the table until the appointment of Cosuls for the West India Islands shall be taken into consideration.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 511. From the indorsement it is dated this day. Tascaud's petition is in No. 42, VII, folio 447, and the indorsement shows that it was ordered to be filed with other applications to the same purpose.]
The Committee of the Week consisting of [Mr. James Duane, Mr. Arthur Lee, and Mr. Jacob Read] beg leave to report.
That they have considered the petition of Dr. Dirck Van Ingen and are of opinion that it ought to be referred to a special committee.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 515. By the indorsement it is dated this day. Dr. Dirk Van Ingen's petition for depreciation, dated Schenectady, July 1, is in No. 42, VIII, folio 43. According to the indorsement, and the record in Committee Books 186 and 191, it was referred on this day to Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Abraham] Clark; a report was delivered July 23, and acted on, August 12.]
On motion of Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton "That it be recommended to the several states to liquidate and settle the accounts of the depreciation of the officers employed in the mustering Department, on the same principles as have been observed in liquidating and settling those of other officers of the Army."
By the United States in Congress Assembled July 18th. 1783,
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Secy. at War to report.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion and order, in the writing of a clerk, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 187. The original motion in Alexander Hamilton's writing is on folio 191. According to the indorsements, and to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, it was on this day referred to the Secretary at War to report. His report, delivered July 26, was debated August 12, and Hamilton's motion negatived. See post August 12.]
The Superintendant of Finance to whom was referred on the eleventh Instant the Extract of a Report with order to report thereon and also to report what Measures he has taken relative to the Pay of the Army, begs Leave to report,
That the receivers in the several States have long since been instructed to take all notes signed by the Superintendant of Finance in Payment of the Taxes, and also to take up all such notes whenever tendered if they have public Money in their Hands.
That when it was in Contemplation to make a Payment to the Army the Committee who conferred with the Superintendant on that Subject were informed that it could only be done in notes and that in order to support the credit of such notes it would not be sufficient that they should only be receivable in Taxes in some particular State but that the Receivers throughout the States must receive and exchange them in like manner with other Notes issued from the office of finance.
That the Instruction to the Receivers is generally known to all those who are concerned in the Business they relate to and in Consequence thereof the Receivers are in the constant practice of receiving and exchanging Notes signed by the Superintendant of Finance which they duly remit to the Treasury.
That whenever they shall find it difficult to obtain such Notes for the purpose of making their Remittances (which is not likely to be the Case in any Short Period) they will naturally advertise to obtain them; wherefore, any general Notification such as is contained in the Extract committed will be unnecessary. That if such Publication as is recommended were confined (as seems to have been the Idea) to those notes which have been issued for Payment of the Army it would destroy what little Credit is at present reposed in the public Servants, and by bringing home immediately all other Notes which have been issued render it impracticable to discharge them, in which Case the Notes issued to the Army could be of no use because no Body would take them. The Importance of preserving Credit in this Respect will appear from the Preamble to an act of Congress of the second of May last.
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That if (as is most probable) the Publication were intended to relate alike to all notes it is a thing which is already well known and therefore the Expence of Printing may be spared.
With Respect to the Measures taken relative to Paying the Army, He begs Leave to report that upon an Estimate from the War office he signed Warrants for four Months' Pay of the Present Year, whereof one Month's Pay has been made to the Non Commissioned Officers and Privates in Specie and to the Officers in Notes, and three Months' Pay to both Officers and Soldiers in Notes. That the Paymaster has not yet received all the notes necessary for the Purpose but has in his Hands as many as he wants for the present.
Office of Finance 15th July, 1783.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, II, folio 643. The indorsement states that it was read this day and referred to Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson and Mr. [James] McHenry.]
Adjourned to 10 o'Clock on Tuesday.2
[Note 2: 2 On this day, according to the indorsement, a letter of July 14 from John Dickinson, President, and the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania was read and referred to Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [Hugh]Williamson, together with all the letters received from them since 21 June, and the letters from Major General Robert Howe. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 38, folio 151. According to the record in Committee Books 186 and 191, a report was delivered July 23, but does not appear to have been acted upon.]
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