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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 --WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1783
A motion was made by Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [William] Ellery,
That the resolution passed yesterday, in answer to the address of the inhabitants of New Brunswick and its vicinity, be re-considered, in order to strike out the word "government" following the word federal, and to insert in its stead, the word "union." 2 And on the question for re-considering the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 207.]
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So it passed in the negative.
The committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Ralph] Izard, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, reported the draught of "An Ordinance prohibiting the settlement and purchase of certain lands," which was read a first time:
The Committee [Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. James Wilson, Mr. Ralph Izard, Mr. James Duane and Mr. Daniel Carroll] to whom was referred the motion of Mr [Hugh] Williamson of the 12th of this month beg leave to report the following form of an Ordinance:
AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE SETTLEMENT AND PURCHASE
OF CERTAIN LANDS.
Whereas it has been represented that sundry persons are preparing to settle upon lands within the U. S. which have not been purchased from thr Indian nations by which proceedings the present frontier Inhabitants must be greatly endangered and the U. S. may be involved in War.
Be it erdained by the United States in Congress assembled and it is hereby ordained by the authority of the same that all persons be and they are hereby prohibited from making settlements on lands
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within the United States and without the boundaries of any particular State and from purchasing or receiving any gift or cession of such lands from the Indians.
And be it further ordained by the authority aforesaid that every such purchase, gift or cession shall be null and void and that no right or title shall accrue in consequence of any such settlement
The Committee beg leave further to report that a proclamation be issued conformably to the foregoing ordinance.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Wilson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 27. It was first read August 13, and Friday, August 15, assigned for a second reading. It was read again on Tuesday, August 19, and postponed till August 28, when it was referred to the following grand committee: Mr. [Abiel] Foster, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. S[amuel] Huntington, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Silas] Condict, Mr. [John] Montgomery, Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, and Mr. [Jacob] Read. A copy of the report is on folio 29, and a draft, written on Williamson's motion, is in No. 36, II, folio 205. The indomements indicate the facts concerning the reading and the reference. According to Committee Books 186 and 191, a report was delivered September 1. See post, September 22.]
Ordered, That Friday next be assigned for a second reading of the said Ordinance.
Agreeable to the order of the day, Congress took into consideration a motion made by Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, in the words following: "Resolved, That on the 15th instant the President adjourn Congress, to meet at Philadelphia, on the 21st instant." 2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 201. According to the indomement, this motion was made August 11, and "Wednesday, Augt. 13th assigned far consideration. Augt 14, 1783, Question taken. Passed in the negative."]
A motion was made by Mr. [Jacob] Read, seconded by Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, to postpone the consideration of the foregoing motion, in order to take up the following:
"Whereas the resolution of Saturday the 21st day of June last, enabling the President to summon Congress to meet at Trenton or Princeton, on Thursday then next following, had for its object, that further and more effectual measures might be taken for suppressing the then existing revolt of certain troops of the Pensylvania line, and maintaining the dignity and authority of the United States: And whereas it
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is no longer found necessary or expedient that Congress should continue at Princeton,
"Resolved, That on Friday the 15th instant, the President do adjourn Congress to meet on Monday next the 21st, at the city of Philadelphia; and that on the second Monday in October next, the President do in like manner adjourn Congress, to meet on the Monday following, at Annapolis, in the State of Maryland, unless Congress shall in the mean time order otherwise."1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 209.]
And on the question for postponing, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Wilson,
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So the question was lost.
On motion of the delegates of Pensylvania,
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the original motion be postponed, in order that the following declaration made by one of the delegates from Pensylvania this morning, in his place, be entered on the Journal, viz.
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The delegates of Pensylvania are authorised by the President and council of that State, to declare in the most respectful terms to Congress, that their return to Philadelphia is sincerely desired by the president and council, as an event which would give them the greatest satisfaction.1
[Note 1: 1 This declaration, in the writing of Richard Peters. is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 69, II, folio 455.]
The consideration of the original motion was again resumed, and after further debate, an adjournment was called for and agreed to.
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