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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 --MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1783
On motion of Mr. A[rthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell,
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance lay before Congress, an estimate of the foreign and domestic debt due from the United States, together with the interest on the same to become due in 1784.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 217. It was also entered in No. 12, Book of Estimates. See post September 16, and October 22.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [Abraham] Clark, Mr [Richard] Peters and Mr [Benjamin] Hawkins, to whom was referred a letter from thos. Paine beg leave to Report,
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That it is indispensably necessary, a just and impartial Account of our Contest for public freedom and happiness should be handed down to posterity. That this can be best done by a historiographer to the United States of great industry and abilities; by one too, who has been and is governed by the most disinterested principle of public good, totally uninfluenced by party of every kind. That Thomas Paine Esqr has rendered very essential services to the cause of America, from the commencement of the War to the conclusion thereof, without having sought, received or stipulated for any honors, advantages, or emoluments for himself. That a history of the American Revolution compiled by Mr Paine is certainly to be desired, Whereupon, the Committee recommend the following Resolution.
That Thomas Paine Esqr. be appointed Historiographer to the United States. That his salary bedollars per annum.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Hawkins, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 1. According to the indorsement it was delivered August 15, read on this day, and on October 31, 1783, was referred to Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr. [William] Ellery, but there is no entry of this reference in the Committee Book.]
[Report of Mr. Theodorick Bland, Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Richard Beresford, on Representation of Superintendent of Finance, on letter 30 June, 1783, from the President of New Hampshire.]
That the appointment of a Continental loan officer in the State of New Hampshire is unnecessary.
That the act of the legislature of New Hampshire; desiring such continental loan officer if approved and appointed by Congress to issue certificates for the interest on loan office certificates is inadmissible as it will necessarily tend to a depreciation of the continental securities and induce a speculation on such depreciation highly prejudicial to public credit and defeat if generally adopted throughout the U. S. that system of Finance on which depends the well being if not the existence of the Federal Union which, is necessary to administering equal justice, and as it will tend to multiplying and confusing the public accounts, and of course occasion a multiplicity of officers in the department of finance already too numerous and expensive,
Resolved, That an adoption of the mode of paying the Continental Quota of the requisition proposed by New Hampshire would if admitted by Congress necessarily induce a similar mode of conduct
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in every State in the Union and thereby deprive the U. S. Treasury of solid coin on which alone solid credit can be founded.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, I, folio 35. The indorsement states that it was delivered August 15, read and recommitted August 18. See post, September 23.]
Resolved, That the Keepers of the Loan offices in the respective States be directed to issue certificates for one year's intrest due on the Loan Office certificates issued from their respective offices and that said Loan officers also issue certificates for one year's intrest on all liquidated debts in their respective States--to the end that said certificates may be receivable, by the Continental receiver in said States respectively in payment of their quotas on the requisition of the 4th of last September.
It is further Resolved, That the keepers of the Loan offices in the respective States be directed to take in and liquidate, agreeably to the resolve of theday ofall the certificates issued from their respective offices, and to issue new specie certificates agreeably to such Liquidation.
Seconded by Mr [Stephen] Higginson.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 97. It is undated, but. according to the indorsement. and the record in Committee Book No. 186, it was referred on this day, with their report on the Superintendent's report on President Weare's letter, to Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Richard] Beresford.
Also, a petition of John Morrison, a sergeant in the 3rd Pennsylvania regiment, praying for mercy. It is in No. 38, folios 185--187.]
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