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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 26, 1783
According to order, General Washington attended, and being introduced by two members, the President addressed him as follows:
Sir, Congress feel particular pleasure in seeing your Excellency, and in congratulating you on the success of a war, in which you have acted so conspicuous a part.
The Services which you have rendered to your Country have been extensive, laborious and difficult. Those Parts of them which have been the least known have not been the least entitled to applause. In many Periods of War your Success depended as much on the wise Caution, with which you concealed, as on the persevering Fortitude with which you surmounted, the Obstacles that lay before you. Your Retreats have been marked with Circumstances not less honourable to your honourable to your military. Character than those which have distinguished your Victories.
It has been the singular happiness of the United States, that during a wax so long, so dangerous, and so important, Providence
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has been graciously pleased to preserve the life of a general, who has merited and possessed the uninterrupted confidence and affection of his fellow-citizens. Others have deserved and received the tanks of free nations for eminent services performed in their Defense. In other nations many have performed services, for which they have deserved and received the thanks of their fellow citizens the public. But to you, sir, peculiar praise is due. Your services have been essential in acquiring and establishing the freedom and independence of the United States your country. They deserve the grateful acknowledgments of a free and independent nation. Such Those acknowledgments, Congress have now the satisfaction of expressing to your Excellency.
Hostilities have now ceased, but your country still needs your services. She wishes to avail herself of your talents in forming the arrangements which will be necessary for her in the time of peace. For this reason your attendance at Congress has been requested. A committee is appointed to confer with your Excellency, and to receive your assistance in preparing and digesting plans relative to those important objects.1
[Note 1: 1 This address, in the writing of James Wilson. is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 445. According to the indorsement, it was reported by the committee, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [James] Wilson, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll. Mr. [Samuel] Huntington and Mr. [James] Duane, and agreed to, August 9. The following note is in Elias Boudinot's writing:
"There should not any copy of this be given out to any Person whatever untill it is executed. E.B."
A fair copy of the address is on folio 449.
The following, without date, is in James Duane's writing, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Elias Boudinot. It is on folio 443:
"That the General on receiving his audience shall be introduced by two members and placed in a chair near to, and on the right hand of the President. The President to be covered and to speak to the General in his seat, and to receive his address sitting. The members of each State during the conference to sit together and keep their seats, uncovered, as usual, and to sit together in the order of their states (two members present of Committee to introduce the General]."]
To which his Excellency made the following reply:
Mr. President, I am too sensible of the honorable reception I have now experienced, not to be penetrated with the deepest feelings of gratitude.
Notwithstanding Congress appear to estimate the value of my life beyond any services I have been able to render the United States, yet I must be permitted to consider the wisdom and unanimity
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of our national councils, the firmness of our citizens and the patience and bravery of our troops, which have produced so happy a termination of the war, as the most conspicuous effect of the divine interposition, and the surest presage of our future happiness.
Highly gratified by the favourable sentiments which Congress are pleased to express of my past conduct, and amply rewarded by the confidence and affection of my fellow-citizens, I cannot hesitate to contribute my best endeavours towards the establishment of the national security in whatever manner the sovereign power may think proper to direct, until the ratification of the definitive treaty of peace, or the final evacuation of our country by the British forces; after either of which events, I shall ask permission to retire to the peaceful shade of private life.
Perhaps, sir, no occasion may offer more suitable than the present to express my humble thanks to God, and my grateful acknowledgments to my country, for the great and uniform support I have received in every vicissitude of fortune, and for the many distinguished honors which Congress have been pleased to confer upon me in the course of the war.1
[Note 1: 1 A copy of this reply is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 453.]
Office Of Finance, 26th August, 1783.
Sir
In Compliance with the Resolution of Congress of the eleventh Instant I do myself the Honor to inform your Excellency that my Report on the Letters therein mentioned had been forwarded before I received the Resolution referred to. In Obedience to the latter Part of that Resolution I have the Honor to enclose Copies of the Instructions given as well from this Office as from that of the Comptrollers to the Commissioners for settling the Accounts between the United States and each particular State. I have also taken the Liberty to add the Instruction given to the Commissioners for settling the Accounts of the Departments.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, with its enclosures, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folios 1--27. See ante August 15.]
The Committee [Mr. Stephen Higginson, Mr. Arthur Lee and Mr. Samuel Huntington] to whom were committed the motions of Mr. [James] Duane and of Mr. S[amuel] Huntington, relative to the Office for foreign affairs, are of opinion that it is of the highest importance
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that a Secretary for that office should be elated, and that in the mean time the papers belonging thereto should be so disposed of as that Congress may have recourse to them when occasion shall require it; the following Resolutions are submitted:
That Thursday next be assigned the order of the Day for electing a Secretary for foreign affairs be called for on Thursday next.
That a Committee be appointed forthwith, to take a list of the papers belonging to the Office for foreign affairs, and to deliver them when listed to the Secretary of Congress, who shall arrange and take care of them untill a Secretary for foreign affairs shall be elected and ready to enter upon the Business of that Office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Stephen Higginson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 247. The indorsement states that it was delivered on this day and read, and: "March 2, 1784, Mr. Remsen elected under secretary to take charge of papers."
The first draft of this report, also in the writing of Stephen Higginson, is on folio 245, as follows:
"The committee to whom were committed the motions of Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. S[amuel] Huntington, relative to the Office for foreign affairs, are of opinion that it is of the highest importance that a Secretary for that office be immediately appointed, and that the papers of that office should be so disposed of as that recourse to them may be had by the members of Congress as occasion shall require; wherefore the following resolution is submitted:
That Thursday next be assigned for electing a Secretary for the office for foreign affairs, and that a committee be appointed to take a list of the papers belonging to that office, and to dispose of them in such manner as that members of Congress may have recourse to them when they please."]
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