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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, OCTOBER 24, 1783
According to the order of the day, Congress was resolved into a committee of the whole; after some time the President resumed the chair, and Mr. [Daniel] Carroll reported, that the committee had taken into consideration the subject referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again.
Ordered, That the committee of the whole sit to-morrow.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Huntington, Mr. [James] Duane and Mr. [James] Madison, to whom were referred communications made to Congress by the honourable the minister plenipotentiary of France, on the 19th of September last,
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Resolved, That the minister plenipotentiary of France be informed, that Congress receive much pleasure from his communication of the resolution of the belligerent parties not to sign a definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain but in concert with the United States. That it gives them equal satisfaction to learn, that his Most Christian Majesty had in view the commerce of the United States; and that it is their earnest wish that such a spirit of liberality may pervade commercial regulations, on both sides; as will extend the intercourse and mutual interests of the two nations, and preserve and increase the reciprocal confidence and affection which have so eminently distinguished their alliance.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 291. The resolution was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [John Francis] Mercer, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, and Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, to whom was referred a Memorial of Alexander Fowler, have considered the same and thereon beg leave to observe: That the King of Great Britain, in his Proclamation of 1763, did not restrict the lands thereby promised to any particular district of western territory, then the property of the Crown; and they are informed that the State of Virginia in locating the district of vacant lands which she has disposed of since the revolution, gave a preference to all claims under the said Proclamation, by directing warrants to be issued in their favor of a particular tenor, consequently, all such titles, of persons, whose conduct during the late contest has not been inimical to the United States may be considered as now absorbed, except in some particular cases, such as this Memorialist describes his to be, and whenever such occur your Committee are of opinion that any vacant territory that may become, or now is the property of the United States, should be considered as subjected to the fulfillment of the engagements made by the said Proclamation. Whereupon your Committee beg leave to submit the following resolution.
Resolved, That whenever the United States shall proceed to dispose of vacant western territory, Alexander Fowler shall be entitled to
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receive warrants for land in such manner as the United States may hereafter direct the same to be issued to the amount of his claims under the Proclamation of the King of G.B. in 1763, on proving the same and producing a certificate of his having returned into the land office of Virginia those warrants which were thence issued to him in consequence of his said claims.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Francis Mercer, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 315. The indorsement shows that it was delivered on this day, entered and read. The memorial, undated, is in No. 41, III, folio 282, and the committee was appointed, the indorsement states, October 11.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [James] Duane, Mr. [Richard] Peters, Mr. [Daniel] Carroll, Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, and Mr. [Arthur] Lee to whom were recommitted the eighth article of the Report on Indian Affairs, and to whom were committed sundry motions on that subject submit the following resolves:
That the Superintendant of Finance cause to be purchased a quantity of goods and articles proper and necessary for the Indians at the opening of the proposed negotiations to the amount of dollars according to an estimate specifying Kinds Qualities and Proportions to be furnished by the Secretary at War.
That the Secretary at War appoint a suitable person as a Storekeeper to take charge of all goods and articles to be furnished at the proposed treaty. The said Storekeeper to act under the directions of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs whose orders shall be received as vouchers at the Treasury on settlement of his accounts.
That the Commissioners be and they are hereby directed so soon as may be to lay before Congress a complete estimate of the Kinds, Qualities, and Value of the articles which may be required at the negotiations with the Indians in addition to those herein directed to be furnished, to the end that measures may be taken for procuring the same.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Richard Peters, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 199. According to the indorsement, and to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, it was delivered October 24, 1783, entered and read. On March 3, 1784, it was recommitted to Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Arthur] Lee, whose report was delivered March 4, 1784, and acted upon, March 19.]
The committee of the week [Mr. Benjamin Huntington, Mr. John Montgomery and Mr. David Howell,] report
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That the letter signed Gustavus Risberg, James Gamble, John Kean, late deputy commissaries in the issuing departments be referred to a special committee to report.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Huntington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 137, III. folio 288. The letter is on folio 287. It was referred, as the indorsement shows, on this day to Mr. [Samuel] Osgood, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [William] Ellery, and on October 29, to the Superintendent of Finance to report.
On this day was read a letter of October 24 from the Secretary at War enclosing a letter of Stephen Moylan. It was referred, the indorsement states, to the Secretary at War to report. It is in No. 149, III, folio 259, and Moylan's letter is on folio 255.
On this day, as the indorsement indicates, was read an extract from the journals of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, relative to settlement of accounts, and referred to the Superintendent of Finance to report. It is in No. 69, II, folio 469. According to Committee Book, No. 186, he reported December 22, and his report was, on January 9, 1784, referred to a special committee.]
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