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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 --SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1783
The grand committee, consisting of a member from each State, [Mr. Phillips White, Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. Jonathan Arnold, Mr. Oliver Wolcott, Mr. Alexander Hamilton, Mr. Silas Condict, Mr. Richard Peters, Mr. Philemon Dickinson, Mr. Daniel Carroll, Mr. James Madison, Mr. Abner Nash, Mr. John Rutledge] report,
"That they have considered the contents of a memorial presented by the army, and find that they comprehend five different articles.
Resolved, As to the first, that the Superintendant of finance be directed conformable to the measures already taken for that purpose, as soon as the state of public finances will permit, to make such payment and in such manner as he shall think proper, until the further order of Congress.
Resolved, With respect to the 2d article, so far as relates to the settlement of accounts, [that the several states be called upon to complete, without delay, the settlements with their respective lines of the army, up to the 31 December day of August, 1780, and] that the Superintendant of finance be also directed to take the most effectual, speedy and satisfactory means such measures as shall appear to him most proper for effecting the settlement from that period.
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On a question to substitute "the first day of August," for "the thirty-first day of December," the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman,
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So it passed in the affirmative.
As to what relates to the providing of security for what shall be found due on such settlement:
Resolved, That the troops of the United States in common with all the creditors of the same, have an undoubted right to expect such security; and that it is the duty of Congress, both from motives of just and policy to Congress make every effort in their power to obtain from the respective states substantial funds, adequate to the object of funding the whole debt of the United States, and will enter upon
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an immediate and full consideration of the nature of such funds, and the most likely mode of obtaining them.
With respect to the 3d article,
Resolved, That it be left to the option of all officers entitled to half pay either to preserve their claim to that provision as it now stands by the several resolutions upon that subject, or to accept in lieu thereof six years full pay, to be paid to them, in one year after the conclusion of the war, in money, or placed upon good funded security bearing an annual interest of six per cent, provided that the allowance to widows and orphans of such officers as have died or been killed, or may die or be killed in the service during the war, shall remain as established by the resolution of the
With respect to the 4th and 5th articles the Committee beg leave to delay their report, until they have obtained more precise information than they now possess upon the subject.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Alexander Hamilton, except the passage in brackets, which is in the writing of Elias Boudinot, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 319, and is indorsed: Report of Grand Committee, delivered January 22, 1783, read. To be considered 23. 23 debated; postponed till 24. Part agreed to, 25. The two last paragraphs referred to Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Thomas] Fitz Simons, Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton and Mr. [James] Wilson. According to Committee Book 186, this committee reported February 3. See post February 25, and April 29.
The memorial is in No. 42, VI, folios 59--64. According to Committee Book, No. 186, it was referred to the Grand Committee January 6, and the report was delivered January 22.]
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be referred to a committee of five: the members, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [James] Wilson.2
[Note 2: 2 The proceedings for this day, up to this point, were entered in the Journal by George Bond.]
Ordered, That it be an order of the day for Monday next, to take into consideration the means of obtaining from the several states substantial funds, for funding the whole debt of the United States.
The committee of the week [Mr. Theodorick Bland, Mr. Benjamin Hawkins and Mr. John Montgomery] report that the memorial of Captain Buchanan be referred to the Secretary at War to enquire into the facts stated therein and to report to Congress how far a
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compliance with the prayer of the memorial will correspond with or contravene the regulations of Congress in similar cases.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Theodorick Bland, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42.1, folio 297. Buchanan's memorial, dated December 13, 1782, is on folio 294.]
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