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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, AUGUST 19, 1783
A motion was made by Mr. A[rthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell,
That the Superintendant of finance lay before Congress, an account of the annual interest that was payable in Europe on loan-office certificates, together with an account of the bills drawn for the payment of such interest, for the year 1782, and the sums retained in France for that purpose.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 215. The vote is indorsed on it. It was also entered in No. 12, Book of Estimates. See post, September 16, and October 22.]
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On which the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Arthur] Lee,
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So it passed in the affirmative.]1
[Note 1: 1 The part in brackets was entered in the Journal by George Bond.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [Abraham] Clark, Mr [Hugh] Williamson and Mr [Samuel] Holten to whom was referred a memorial of Mr Stacy Potts respecting a large Manufactory of Steel in which he is concerned, report,
That they have examined many certificates from Mechanics who have made a thorough trial of Mr Potts's Steel in edged tools and other instruments and declare that it is at least equal to the best British Steel. The Committee however considering that there are at this time many important manufactures in the different States and that others may be attempted which by proper attention and encouragement may be carried to great perfection by which our own Citizens may be employed and supported and large sums of money be saved which must otherwise be expended in foreign Countries, circumstances which deserve the most serious consideration at a Period when the United States are labouring under heavy debts both foreign and domestic; Wherefore the following Resolution is submitted:
That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the several States to countenance and encourage the establishment of useful manufactures
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either by premiums or by such other means as they may find most effectual which are consistent with the Confederation and the Treaties subsisting between the United States and foreign powers.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 211. According to the indorsement, it was delivered and read on this day, and the note in Committee Book No. 191 states that it was filed.]
[Motion of Mr. Samuel Huntington, respect/rag office of foreign affairs. Referred to Mr. Stephen Higginson, Mr. Arthur Lee, Mr. Samuel Huntington.]
Resolved, That Congress proceed immediately to ballot for a Committee to execute the office of Secretary for Foreign affairs till a Secretary shall be chosen.
Resolved, That the Committee for executing the office for Secretary for foreign affairs, have a list made forthwith of the papers in the office of Secretary for foreign affairs and lay the same before Congress.
Provided, That before the foreign papers which are now under seal shall be opened, a clerk of the foreign papers shall be appointed by Congress and qualified on oath for the faithful execution of his trust, the nature of which shall be expressly ascertained by instructions to be reported by the Committee for the approbation of Congress2
[Note 2: 2 The first two paragraphs of this motion, in the writing of Arthur Lee, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 2.5, Il, folio 245. The proviso, in the writing of James Duane, is on folio 249. According to the indorsement, the motions were made on this day; and according to the record in Committee Book No. 186. the committee was appointed August 22, and report delivered August 26.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [Abraham] Clark Mr [John Francis] Mercer and Mr [William] Ellery to whom was referred the Memorial of the officers of the Navy, report the following resolution:
That in settling the accounts of Officers of the Navy of the United States, the deficiency of their original pay occasioned by depreciation of the Continental bills of credit be allowed to all who were in actual service on, or at any time after the 10th day of April, 1780, for the time they respectively were entitled to pay conformably to an act of Congress of the 25th of January 1750.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 28, folio 185. According to the indorsement it was delivered on this day and read. Action was had on a similar case August 1, 1787.]
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Ordered, That so much of President Weare's Letter of 30th June as relates to the Liquidation of Loan Office Certificates be referred to the Superintendant of Finance to report.1
[Note 1: 1 This order was entered only in the journal kept by the Secretary of Congress for the Superintendant of Finance: Morris Papers: Congressional Proceedings. See ante, July 26.
On this day, as the indorsement indicates, a letter of August 19 from the Assistant Secretary at War, transmitting a report dated August 18, from Ephraim Douglas, messenger to the Indian tribes, was read, and referred to Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr, [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins and Mr. A[rthur] Lee. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, III, folio 171. Douglass's report with enclosures is on folios 135--169. According to Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, a report on this and other letters and papers relative to Indian affairs referred to the same committee was deleted September 19 and acted upon October 14.
Also, a letter of August 17 from General Sir Guy Carleton. It is in No. 52, folio 217. It was referred to Mr. [Ralph] Izard, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Stephen] Higginson.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a petition, dated August 15, of Christian Nagel, sergeant in the 3rd regiment of Pennsylvania, praying for mercy. It is in No. 38, folio 189.]
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