| 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 --[WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1783]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson to whom was referred a resolve of the General Assembly of the State of Virginia of the 17th. June 1783, Report,
That your committee are informed, That works erected in several of the United States, have been leveled and destroyed, without any instance of an application to Congress heretofore for money to defray the expence of levelling and destroying the same.
Nevertheless, should it be thought consistent with justice, that the works erected by the troops of the United States, the troops of his Most Christian Majesty acting as auxiliaries to the United States, or works left by the troops of Great Britain on their evacuating any particular State, should be levelled and destroyed at the public expence, yet such is the state of the public finances, that Congress cannot comply with the request of the State of Virginia to obtain a sum of money not exceeding seven hundred and fifty pounds for the purposes of levelling the fortifications erected by the troops of his Most Christian Majesty at York Town in the County of York, and at Gloucester Town in the County of Gloucester in the State of Virginia.2
[Note 2: 2 This report in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 311. The indorsement states that it was delivered this day, entered and read.]
[Report of Secretary at War on Mr. Eliphalet Dyer's motion respecting promotions after the cessation of hostilities.]
Princeton, July 26, 1783.
Sir,
On the motion of Mr. Dyer, and the report of a committee of Congress on that motion I beg leave to submit the following report.
That, during the existence of the present army, all vacancies be filled up (excepting new appointments of ensigns) as has been heretofore
Page 534 | Page image
practiced. But where rank by brevet is conferred, the act of Congress directing the appointment should express that it is by brevet, and it may now be resolved that in future where commissions by brevet are issued they shall not be considered as granting, or entitling to any pecuniary gratuity or other emolument than rank in the army of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 363. The indorsement shows that it was delivered July 26, entered and read, and on September 3 referred to Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [James] Duane.]
War Office August 30, 1783.
Sir
On a letter from Major General Knox, and a petition from a company of artillery artificers under the direction of Captain Anthony Post, I beg leave to report that I have examined the acts of Congress which respect the settlements of depreciation, and I do not find any one which will apply to the objects of the petition, nor has there been any settlement made similar to the one now requested. But in consideration of the services rendered by the Petitioners, which are authenticated by Major General Knox, I beg leave to submit the following draught of a resolve in their favor.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the States of Connecticut and New York to settle the pay and depreciation of pay of those officers and soldiers belonging to their States respectively, who served in Captain Post's company of artillery artificers, due attention being had, in the settlements, to the real value of their nominal pay when they were inlisted. And that the amount of said pay and depreciation of pay be charged to the United States.2
[Note 2: 2 This report from William Jackson, Assistant Secretary at War, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, III, folio 175. According to the indorsement, and the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, Knox's letter and the petition from the artificers were referred to the Secretary at War on August 27. The report of August 30, from the Assistant Secretary, was delivered September 3, read, and entered. On September 25, it was referred back to the Secretary at War, and he delivered a report September 27, which was acted upon, October 17.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter, of same date, from William Jackson, Assistant Secretary at War, enclosing a letter, of August 17, from Brigadier General William Irvine, respecting settlements beyond the Ohio and the consequent danger of an Indian War. They were referred to Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins and Mr. A[rthur] Lee. According to Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the committee delivered a report, on this and other papers relating to Indian affairs, on September 19, and it was acted upon, October 14. Jackson's letter is in No. 149, III, folio 183, and Irvine's on folio 179.]
Page 535 | Page image
Major General Howe having transmitted to the President, "A full report of the proceedings of the court-martial respecting the late mutiny,"
Ordered, That they be laid before Congress on Tuesday next.1
[Note 1: 1 Howe's letter, dated September 2, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 88, folio 119.]
The superintendant of finance, to whom was referred so much of President Weare's letter of 30th June as relates to the liquidation of loan office certificates begs leave to report,
That the reducing all loan office certificates to their true value, according to the tables of depreciation, is doubtless a desirable object, not only as it may introduce a greater simplicity into the public accounts, but also as it may further the subsequent arrangements which shall become necessary for managing the public debts.
That every operation which can have the slightest connection with public credit ought to be conducted on the principles of equal and reciprocal bargain; so that the object be performed with the perfect consent of the party as well as of the government.
That of consequence, it will be proper to hold out some advantage or at least convenience to the party which may induce him to cooperate with the government. The following resolution is therefore submitted:
That the Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the act of Congress of the twentieth of February 1782 to adjust and finally settle all accounts between the United States and each individual State, be and they hereby are empowered and required to liquidate in specie value (according to the several resolutions and acts of Congress in that behalf made) all such loan office certificates as may be exhibited to them, and to give new certificates similar to those which they issue in other cases, including in such new certificates the interest which may have become due and be still unpaid on the old certificates, up to the end of the year 1782, from which period the said new certificates are to bear interest; and that in cases where certificates have been lost and destroyed, the Commissioners accept as certificates the evidence on which (according to the resolution and acts of
Page 536 | Page image
Congress in that behalf made) new certificates would have been issuable from the loan offices.
Office of Finance, 3 Sept., 1783.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III, folio 57. According to the indorsement, it was delivered September 4, read and entered. See ante, August 5.
On this day, as the indorsement states, a letter of September 1, from the Agent of Marine respecting the Alliance Frigate and enclosing copy of a letter of August 26, from Captain John Barry, was read, and referred to Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. A[rthur] Lee and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry. It is in No. 137, III, folio 45.
Also, a letter of September 3, from the Assistant Secretary at War, enclosing a letter, of August 26, from Ephraim Douglass, which was referred back to the Secretary at War to report a proper compensation. It is in No. 149, III, folio 191, and Douglass's letter on folio 187. According to Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the Secretary at War delivered a report September 29, which, on October 17, was referred to the Superintendent of finance to take order.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |