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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, 30 December.
The court met: present as before.
The agents attending, the court pronounced the following sentence or judgment:
This cause has been well argued by the learned counsel on both sides. The court are now to pronounce their sentence or judgment.
We are unanimously of opinion, that the State of Connecticut has no right to the lands in controversy.
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We are also unanimously of opinion, that the jurisdiction and pre-emption of all the territory lying within the charter boundary of Pensylvania, and now claimed by the State of Connecticut, do of right belong to the State of Pensylvania.
Trenton, 30 December, 1782.
Wm. Whipple,
Welcome Arnold,
Wm. C. Houston,
Cyrus Griffin,
David Brearley.1
[Note 1: 1 The signed judgment of the court is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 77, folio 81.]
The court adjourned without day.
Wm. Whipple, President.
Attest:
John Neilson, Clerk.2
[Note 2: 2 A copy of these proceedings is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 77, folios 246--285. The proofs and exhibits in the case are on folios 73--79. From this point to the end of the day, the proceedings of January 3 were entered only in the manuscript Secret (Domestic) Journal, and in Secret Journal, No. 8.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Jonathan] Arnold, seconded by Mr. [John] Collins,
That the Secretary for foreign affairs be directed to transmit to the executive of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, certified copies of the following extracts of public letters from Europe, viz.
Extract of a letter from the Minister of the United States at the Court of Versailles, directed to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated Passy, August 12, 1782.
"All ranks of this nation appear to be in good humor with us, and our reputation rises throughout Europe. Extract of a letter from the Minister at the Court of Versailles, to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated Passy, September 3, 1782.
"It affords me much satisfaction to find the conduct of Congress approved by all that hear, or speak of it; and to see all the marks of a constantly growing regard for us, and confidence in us, among those in whom such sentiments are most to be desired."
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Extract of a letter from the Minister at the Court of Versailles, to the Superintendant of Finance, dated Passy, April 8, 1782, read in Congress, December 27, 1782. "Our public affairs go on swimmingly in Holland."
Extract of a letter from the Minister at the Court of Versailles, to the Superintendant of Finance, dated Passy, August 12, 1782, read in Congress, December 27, 1782.
"Your conduct, activity and address as financier and provider for the exigencies of the state, is much admired and praised here, its good consequences being so evident, particularly with regard to the rising credit of our country, and the value of bills."
Extract of a Letter from the Minister of the United States at the Hague, to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated Hague, July 5, 1782.
"Although I was obliged to engage with them for five millions of guilders, I don't expect we shall obtain that sum for a long time. If we get a million and a half by Christmas it will be more than I expect."
Extract of Letter from the Marquis de la Fayette to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated Paris, October 5, 1782.
"In a letter from Mr. Adams to me, dated the Hague, September 29, I had the following intelligence: 'We have at length the consent of all the cities and provinces, and have adjusted and agreed upon every article, word, syllable, letter, and point, in the treaty of commerce; and clerks axe employed in making out fair copies for the signature, which will be done this week. Amidst the innumerable crowd of loans which are opened in this country, many of which have little success, I was afraid that ours would have failed. I have, however, the pleasure to inform you that I am at least one million and an half in cash, about three millions of livres, which will be an aid to the operations of our finances.' From this it appears that Mr. Adams has
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well employed his time in Holland, and I beg you will please to communicate this extract to Mr. Morris."
That the said secretary also transmit to the said executive certified copies of the several letters that have been received from Mr. Adams, the minister at the Hague, in the course of the last six months, as well as those from Mr. Dumas, and the sundry letters which have been received from the ministers at Versailles and Madrid, on the subject of loans, in the course of the year 1782, and of all other letters respecting applications for foreign loans, and the result thereof; and respecting which secrecy is not enjoined by Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Jonathan Arnold is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 1. The indorsement states that it was seconded by Mr, [David] Howell. According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the motions of Arnold, Rutledge, and Wolcott were committed on this day to Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, Mr. [John] Rutledge, and Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth; a report was delivered January 13 and passed on the 14th.]
A motion was made by Mr. [Oliver] Wolcott, seconded by Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, to amend by prefixing the following preamble:
Whereas the Delegates of the State of Rhode Island have frequently interrupted and delayed the important business of Congress, by their solicitations to obtain certain extracts from letters received by Congress from their ministers, to have them transmitted to the State of Rhode Island; and whereas although such extracts being taken without the connection which they bear to other parts of such letters will be very liable to misguide those to whom such extracts shall be sent; yet considering the interruption which such frequent motions occasion to the necessary business of the United States,2 Resolved--
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Oliver Wolcott, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 9.]
A motion made by Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, seconded by Mr. --, to amend the amendment, by
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inserting before the words "the delegates," the words "some of."
A motion was then made by Mr. [John] Rutledge, seconded by Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, as follows:
Congress having, on the 20th December last, directed the secretary for foreign affairs to transmit to the executive authority of Rhode Island, an authenticated state of the several applications for foreign loans, and the result thereof--
Resolved, That the foregoing motions be postponed.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of John Rutledge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 5. The vote is indorsed on it.]
A motion was then made by Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, seconded by Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, that the whole be committed. And on the question for commitment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell--
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The committee--Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, seconded by Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, that the entry of this proceeding be made on the secret journal; and on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell--
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Committee of the week [consisting of Mr. Oliver Wolcott, Mr. Benjamin Hawkins and Mr. Silas Condict, report,
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That the Application of the Chevalier de Segond, late Captain in Count du Pulaski's Legion relative to some honourable testimonial of his services, and also respecting his pay be referred to the Secretary of War.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Oliver Ellsworth, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 301. According to the indorsement it was referred to the Secretary at War on this day.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read the petition of proprietors of Loan Office Certificates in Connecticut, asking for payment of back interest, dated Norwich, December 18, 1782, and referred to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Jonathan] Arnold and Mr. [Oliver] Ellsworth. It is in No. 42, II, folio 164. According to Committee Book, NO. 186, the Committee was discharged April 28.]
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