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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 --FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1783
On the report of the committee, consisting of Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [Theodorick] Bland, to whom was referred a letter of the 5th, from the War
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Office, relative to furloughing the Pensylvania line, and subsistence to officers.
Resolved, That in the opinion of the committee Congress, the resolves of the 26th of May and 11th of June last, authorising the Commander in Chief and Secretary at War to grant furloughs, are fully sufficient to enable them to take order in the business respecting the Pensylvania line, and Captain Second and Lieutenant Beaulieu, mentioned in the letter from the assistant secretary at war of the 5th instant.
Resolved, That the Commander in Chief be authorised and directed to grant furloughs to such of the general, medical and staff officers, and the officers of the engineers, whose services are not, in his opinion, necessary for the troops remaining in actual service.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 239. According to the indorsement, it was delivered September 9, read and entered.]
Congress took into consideration the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [John] Rutledge, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson, appointed to consider the late despatches from the ministers of these United States at foreign courts, and to report what measures are necessary to be taken thereon: And the following paragraph being under debate, viz. "Your committee beg leave further to observe, that in those despatches, and particularly in Mr. Adams's letter of the 18th of July, a sentiment is earnestly inculcated--which is indeed obvious in itself--that the union requires additional support from its members, and that if the United States become respectable, it must be by means of more energy in government: for as some of the nations of Europe do not yet perceive this important truth, that the sphere of their own commerce will be eventually enlarged by the growth of America, but on the contrary, manifest a
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jealousy of our future prosperity, it becomes the United States seriously to consider their own interests, and to devise such general systems and arrangements, commercial or political, as our own peculiar circumstances may, from time to time, require. Your committee, therefore, propose, that a special committee be appointed, to take this important subject under deliberation, and to report the result to Congress." 1
[Note 1: 1 This report, and the vote upon it, were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. See post, September 29, and October 9.]
And on the question to agree to the foregoing paragraph, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.2
[Note 2: 2 On this day, as the indorsement indicates, was read a letter of September 20 from the Agent of Marine, relative to the Washington packet. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folio 131.
Also, a letter of September 20 from the Superintendent of Finance, enclosing copies of correspondence with Joseph Pennell, relative to the settlement of marine accounts. It was referred to Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Thomas] FitzSimons and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson. It is in No. 137, III, folio 135. According to Committee Book, No. 186, it was renewed December 18, and the correspondence referred on that date to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Cadwalader] Morris and Mr. [David] Howell; and on January 21, 1784, to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase and Mr. [Arthur] Lee.
Also, a letter of September 24 from the Superintendent of Finance, enclosing a letter from George Morgan, dated Princeton, September 20, respecting three Indian boys under his case. It was referred to Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [John Francis] Mercer. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folio 145. According to Committee Book, No. 186, the committee reported October 13, but the entry in Committee Book No. 191 indicates that it was delivered on the 8th. See post, October 8.]
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