| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1783
Mr. William Hemsley, a delegate for the State of Maryland, attended, and produced his credentials, by which it appears, that he is chosen a delegate to Congress for that State for the present year.
Sir
By Direction of the general Assembly, we have the Pleasure to inform you that you are chosen a Delegate to Congress for the ensuing Year. We have the Honor to be
Sr Yr most obt. hble Servts
Geo. Plater Presidt of the Senate
Thos. Cockey Deye Speaker H. D.
Annapolis, Decr. 6th 1782
Hon: Mr. Hemsley2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Maryland, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
The committee consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton and Mr. [James] Wilson, to whom
Page 146 | Page image
were referred two paragraphs of the report of the grand committee, on a memorial from the officers of the army, having reported,
"That such officers as are now in service, and continue therein to the end of the war, shall be entitled to receive the sumof years full pay, in money or securities on interest at six per cent. per annum, instead of the half-pay promised for life, by the resolution of the 21 October, 1780, provided that it be at the option of the lines of the respective states, to be determined by a majority of the officers ofthe army, and not of officers individually in those lines, to accept or refuse the same: that all officers who have retired from service upon a promise of half-pay for life, shall be entitled to the benefits of the above resolution; provided also, that those of the line of each State, collectively, agree thereto: that the same commutation shall extend to the corps not belonging to the lines of particular states, the acceptance or refusal to be determined by corps: that all officers entitled to half-pay for life, not included in the above resolutions, may collectively agree to accept or refuse the commutation: that with respect to the general officers, it shall be at their option, individually, to accept the commutation, or retain their right to the half-pay: that the half-pay for life extend to the widows of such officers as shall die in the service, during their continuance as windows, and in case of an intermarriage, to the orphans of such officers."1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 333.]
When this report was under debate, a motion was made [Silas] by Mr. [John Taylor] Gilman, seconded by Mr. Welcott Condict, that the consideration of the report be postponed, in order to take into consideration the following motion:
"Whereas in consequence of the faithful services of the officers in the army of the United States, and of their great
Page 147 | Page image
sufferings, not only on account of the deficiency of their pay, but on other accounts, Congress have, by divers resolutions, promised them half-pay for life; and it being represented that it would be more agreeable to some of the states and the officers thereto belonging, that a commutation of the said half-pay should now be made,
Resolved, That it be, and hereby is recommended to the several states to settle with the officers who now belong or heretofore have belonged to their respective lines, and are entitled to half-pay by the resolutions of Congress, either by giving them security for the payment of the same as it may become due, or by commutation for such sum, in gross, as may be mutually agreed on by each State, and the officers to them respectively belonging:
That each and every State, which shall make compensation to their officers, agreeably to the foregoing resolution, shall be exonerated and fully and finally discharged from their respective proportions of all taxes and all other payments of monies whatsoever, on account of half-pay to the officers belonging to the United States or any of them; provided always, that nothing in this resolution shall extend to discharge any State from paying their just proportion of the half-pay which may be due to such officers as have not heretofore or do not now belong to the line of any particular State, or to the officers belonging to any particular State, which may by the events of the war be rendered unable to make such compensation:
That the Secretary at War be directed to report to Congress the names and rank of all such officers as are entitled to half-pay, and not included in the first of the foregoing resolutions."1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, undated, in the writing of John Taylor Gilman, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 409.]
Page 148 | Page image
On the question for postponing the report, in order to take up the above recited motion, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Silas] Condict,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
Ordered, That the farther consideration of the report be postponed till to-morrow.
On motion of Mr. [Arthur] Lee, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten,
Ordered, That the Secretary at War lay before Congress monthly returns of the officers and men who were actually in service and pay of the United States during the year 1782.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Arthur Lee, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 39.]
[Motion of Mr. Richard Peters and Mr. Alexander Hamilton.]
Resolved, That Lieut. Col., Morris, Aid de Camp to Major General Greene be allowed the Pay and Emoluments of a Lieut. Colonel
Page 149 | Page image
while in actual service and that his accounts be adjusted accordingly and the certificate Greene be the evidence to adcertain the Period of his service.
Feby. 25, 1783, negatived.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, II, folio 224a.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read the resolves of February 21, of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania respecting the seizure of clothing imported for British Prisoners. They are in No. 69, II, folio 421.
Also, on this day, a letter from Oliver Pollock, relative to his accounts and dated Philadelphia, February 24, was read and referred to Mr. [William] Hemsley, Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais, and Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons. It is in No. 50, folio 389.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |