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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, OCTOBER 14, 1783
On motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, seconded by Mr. B[enjamin] Huntington,
Resolved, That in consideration of the services and sufferings of John Halstead, while employed in the service of the United States in Canada, the Superintendant of finance take order for paying him four hundred dollars, in part of his account.
Congress took into consideration the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. Richard] Peters, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins and Mr. A[rthur] Lee, to whom was referred a number of letters and papers relative to Indian affairs, and the following paragraph being under debate, viz.
Your committee therefore submit it to consideration, whether it is not wise and necessary that a committee be appointed to report to Congress on the expediency of laying out a suitable district within the said territory, and of erecting it into a distinct government, as well for doing justice to the army of the United States, who are entitled to lands as a bounty, or in reward for their services, as for the accommodation of such as may incline to become purchasers and inhabitants, with instructions to such committee to devise a plan for the temporary government of the inhabitants and the due administration of justice, until their number and circumstances shall entitle them to a place among the states in the Union, when they shall be at liberty to form
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a constitution for themselves, not incompatible with the republican principles which are the basis of the constitutions of the respective states in the Union.
A motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, to amend the said paragraph, so that it may read as follows:
Your committee therefore submit it to consideration, whether it will not be wise and necessary, when the State of Virginia shall close with the conditions of Congress in the Western Territory as soon as circumstances part thereof of district of the western shall permit, to erect a territory into a distinct government, as well for doing justice to the army of the United States, who are entitled to lands as a bounty, or in reward of their services, as for the accommodation of such as may incline to become purchasers and inhabitants, and in the interim to appoint a committee to report a plan, consistent with the principles of the Confederation, for connecting with the Union by a temporary government, the purchasers and inhabitants of the said district, until their number and circumstances shall entitle them to form a permanent ,constitution for themselves, and as citizens of a free, sovereign and independent State, to be admitted to a representation in the Union; [provided such constitution shall not be incompatible with the republican principles, which are the basis of the constitutions of the respective states in the Union.]1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, undated, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Samuel Huntington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 343. It was seconded by Samuel Holten.]
A motion was made by Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [William] Ellery, to postpone that amendment, in order to admit an amendment, to make the paragraph read as follows:
[Your committee recommend it; as necessary and expedient, as soon as circumstances will admit, to lay out a suitable district within the said territory, and to erect it into a distinct government, as well for doing justice to the army of
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the United States, who are entitled to lands as a bounty, or in reward of their services, as for the accommodation of such as may incline to become purchasers and inhabitants, and for this purpose, that a committee be appointed] to devise and report a plan for the government of the inhabitants and the due administration of justice, which, if agreeable to the settlers, shall be their temporary government until their number and circumstances shall entitle them to a place among the states in the Union, when they shall be at liberty to form a constitution [for themselves, not inconsistent incompatible with the republican principles, which are the basis of the constitutions of the respective states in the Union.]1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, undated, in the writing of James McHenry, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Abraham Clark, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 421. In the margin the names of McHenry and [Daniel] Carroll have been struck out and those of Howell and Ellery added.]
And on the question to postpone for the purpose above-mentioned, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
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On the question, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry's amendment was agreed to.
The Committee [Mr. Richard Peters, Mr. James McHenry, and Mr. Theodorick Bland] to whom was referred the report of the Secretary at War and the papers accompanying the same relating to the Invalid Regiment report,
That it be recommended to the Legislatures of the respective States to take such measures in addition to those already taken or recommended and not exceeding in any case whole pay for life for the comfortable subsistence and support of such of the officers and soldiers of their respective lines as have been disabled in the service during the late War, as to those shall seem most adequate to their wants and circumstances; having regard to any examinations which have been or may be made by directions of the Commander in Chief or Secretary at War into the disabilities and situation of the said officers and soldiers respectively.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 243. The indorsement states that it was delivered this day, entered and read.]
War Office Princeton 12 Octo. 1783.
Sir,
On General Armand's letter referred to me by Congress I can only observe, that his request for the promotion of a number of officers of his corps is not founded on any particular claim those officers have to promotion which exceeds the claim of many others--but that a door has been opened to it by the promotion of many foreign officers who were leaving our service and are returning to Europe.
The same motives which induced the promotion of Captains Second and Depontiere, and Lieut. Beaulieu, will operate in favor of the gentlemen recommended by General Armand.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, III, folio 245. The indorsement states that it was delivered on this day, and refers to action taken February 6, 1784. The entry in Committee Book No. 191 states that the matter was acted upon, October 29, 1783.]
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