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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 --MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1783
Pursuant to the Articles of Confederation, the following delegates attended:
FROM THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Mr. A[biel] Foster, who referred to his credentials dated 18 February, 1783, read in Congress the 29 July last, and recorded in the book of credentials, page 83.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Mr. E[lbridge] Gerry, who produced a certificate under the seal of the State, signed John Avery, secretary, and dated 23 October, 1783; setting forth, that he was elected, on the 27 June last, by joint ballot of both houses of assembly, a delegate to represent that Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States of America.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Council Chamber Boston Octr. 23d. 1783
[Seal]
This may certify That the Honble Elbridge Gerry Esqr. was on the 27th. June last Elected by joint ballot of both Houses of Assembly a Delegate to represent this Commonwealth in the Congress of the United Staes of America
John Avery Secy.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Massachusetts, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
Mr. S[amuel] Osgood, who produced a letter from the said J. Avery, dated 9 July, 1783, informing him, that he was that day elected by joint ballot of the senate and house of representatives, agreeable to the constitution, to serve as a delegate from that Commonwealth in the United States in Congress assembled, for one year, to commence the first Monday in November.
Boston, July 9th, 1783
Sir,
I am directed to inform you of your Election this Day by joint Ballot of the Senate and House of Representatives agreeable to the
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Constitution to serve as a Delegate from this Commonwealth in the United States in Congress Assembled for one year to commence on the first Monday in November next
I am Sir with great Respect
Your Honor's
very hum1 Servt
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
JOHN AVERY Secy1
Honble. Samuel Osgood, Esq.
RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
Mr. W[illiam] Ellery and Mr. D[avid] Howell, who referred to the credentials read in Congress the 30 of June last, and registered in book of credentials, page 76.
CONNECTICUT.
Mr. S[amuel] Huntington and Mr. B[enjamin] Huntington, who produced credentials under the seal of the State, and signed George Wyllys, secretary; by which it appears, that at a general assembly of the governor and company of the State of Connecticut, in America, holden at Hartford, on the second Thursday of May, A. D. 1783, the honorable Samuel Huntington, the honorable Oliver Ellsworth, the honorable Oliver Wolcott, the honorable Benjamin Huntington, Jedediah Strong, esq. Stephen Mix Mitchell, esq. and the honorable Richard Law, were elected and publicly declared to be delegates to represent that State in the Congress of the United States, according to law.
State of Connecticut:
At a General Assembly of the Governor and Company of [SEAL] the State of Connecticut in America, holden at Hartford on the second Thursday of May Anno Dom 1783
This Day being appointed by Law for the Choice of Delegates to represent this State at the Congress of the United States, Proclamation was made, and the Votes of the Freemen were given in to the Persons appointed by the Assembly to receive Sort and count them
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and declare the Names of the Persons legally Chosen to the Office aforementioned which Persons so appointed were, William Pitkin Esqr. Colo. Sage, Capt Hillhouse, Mr Selden, Mr Sturgiss, Capt Mosely and Mr Miles, who were sworn to a faithful discharge of that Trust, And the Votes of the Freemen being brought in Sorted and Counted,
The Honble. Samuel Huntington Esqr the Honble Oliver Elsworth Esqr., The Honbl. Oliver Wolcott Esqr., the Honble. Benjamin Huntington Esqr., Jedidiah Strong Esqr., Stephen Mix Mitchell Esqr. and the Honble Richard Law Esqr. were elected and publickly declared to be Delegates to Represent this State in the Congress of the United States according to Law.
Teste George Wyllys Secrety1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
NEW YORK.
Mr. James Duane, who referred to the credentials of the delegates of that State, produced and read the 25 of November, 1782, and registered in the book of credentials, page 48.
NEW JERSEY.
Mr. E[lias] Boudinot, who referred to the credentials of the delegates of that State, produced and read in Congress the 5 November, 1782, and registered in the book of credentials, page 46.
MARYLAND.
Mr. D[aniel] Carroll, who referred to the credentials of the delegates of that State, produced and read in Congress [March 10], and registered in the book of credentials, page 67.
Mr. J[ames] McHenry, who referred to the credentials produced by him and read in Congress 11 June, 1783, and registered in the book of credentials, page 71.
VIRGINIA.
Mr. J[ohn] F[rancis] Mercer and Mr. A[rthur] Lee, who produced an extract from the journal of the house of delegates of that State, dated Friday, 6th June, 1783, and signed
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John Beckley, Cl. H. D. by which it appears, that on that day, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, John Francis Mercer, Arthur Lee, and James Monroe, esqrs. were elected by joint ballot of the senate and house of delegates, delegates to represent that State in Congress for one year, from the first Monday in November.
Virginia
IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES
Friday the 6th of June 1783
The House according to the order of the day proceeded by joint Ballot with the Senate to the choice of five Delegates to represent this State in Congress for one year from the first Monday in November next and the Members having prepared tickets with the names of the Persons to be appointed and deposited the same in the Ballot Boxes Mr Mann Page, Mr Thruston, Mr Alexander White, Mr Wilson Milos Cary, Mr Edmondson, Mr Stephens Thomson Mason and Mr Zachariah Johnston were nominated a Committee to meet a Committee from the Senate and jointly with them to examine the Ballot Boxes and report to the House on whom the Majority of Votes should fall.
THE COMMITTEE then withdrew and after some time returned into the House and reported that they had according to order met a Committee from the Senate in the Conference Chamber and jointly with them examined the Ballot Boxes and found a majority of Votes in favor of Thomas Jefferson Samuel Hardy John Francis Mercer Arthur Lee and James Monroe Esquires.
Extract from the Journal
John Beckley Cl.: H. D.
Virginia,
IN THE SENATE.
Friday 6th June 1783.
The House according to the order of the day proceeded by joint ballot with the House of Delegates to the choice of five Delegates to represent this State in Congress for one Year from the first Monday in November next and the members having prepared tickets with the names of the persons to be appointed and deposited the same in the Ballot Boxes, Mr Taylor, Mr Bassett and Mr Hubard were nominated a Committee to meet a Committee from the House of Delegates and jointly with them to examine the ballot boxes and report to the House on whom the Majority of Votes should fall.
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The Committee then withdrew and after some time returned into the House and reported that they had according to order met a Committee from the House of Delegates in the Conference Chamber and jointly with them examined the Ballot Boxes and found a Majority of Votes in favor of Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, John Francis Mercer, Arthur Lee and James Monroe esquires.
Extract from the Journal.
Will Drew, C.S.1
[Note 1: 1 The originals are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Virginia, Credentials of Delegates. The certificate from the House of Delegates was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials; but neither was entered in the Journal.]
NORTH CAROLINA.
Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, who referred to the credentials of the delegates for that State produced and read in Congress 14 May, 1783, and registered in the book of credentials, page 68.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Mr. J[acob] Read, who referred to credentials produced by him and read in Congress 17 June, 1783, and registered in book of credentials, page 72.
Mr. R[ichard] Beresford, who referred to credentials produced by him and read in Congress 30 May, 1783, and registered in book of credentials, page 70.
Seven states being represented, they proceeded to the choice of a President; and, the ballots being taken, the honorable Thomas Mifflin was elected.
The President not being present, the states proceeded to the choice of a chairman; and, the ballots being taken, the hon. Daniel Carroll was elected.
On motion of Mr. [James] Duane, seconded by Mr. [James] McHenry,
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be given to the hon. Elias Boudinot, late President of Congress, in testimony of their approbation of his conduct in the chair, and in the execution of public business.
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On motion of Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Osgood,
Resolved, That all committees appointed by the last Congress, and having business before them be, and they are hereby authorised to proceed in the same, and that they make report as soon as may be.
On a report from the Secretary at War, to whom was referred a letter from Colonel Moylan:
War Office, Oct. 29, 1783.
Sir,
In considering the request of Colonel Moylan, which has been referred to me, that he may be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by Brevet, I find that his case, tho' hard for he is justly esteemed a deserving officer, is not peculiar. Colonel Elbert of the Georgia line, Colonel Pinckney of the South Carolina line, and Colonel Russell of the Virginia line were all Colonels in the year 1776, and were superceded by the resolution of Congress of the 9 of May 1782, which has been a source of discontent in the minds of those deserving officers. All others who were superceded by that resolve have been since promoted.
I beg leave therefore to offer to the consideration of Congress the propriety of promoting to the rank of Brigadier Generals by Brevet Colonel Stephen Moylan, Colonel Samuel Elbert, Colonel Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and Colonel William Russell.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, III, folio 271.]
Resolved, That Colonel Stephen Moylan, Colonel Samuel Elbert, Colonel Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and Colonel William Russell, be promoted to the rank of brigadiers by brevet.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Abraham] Clark, Mr. [Richard] Peters and Mr. S[amuel] Huntington, to whom was referred a letter of 4 October, from the paymaster general,
Resolved, That the paymaster general be informed, that all moneys drawn on account of pay, by commanding officers and paymasters of regiments, and not actually paid over to the officers and soldiers of the corps for which such pay was
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drawn, should be accounted for in the settlement of their accounts with the paymaster general; and such accounting will be a sufficient discharge to the commanding officers and paymasters respectively.
Resolved, That the paymaster general deposit in the hands of regimental agents, the certificates for the arrears of pay due to the officers and soldiers of the respective lines, to be by them delivered to the individuals to whom they belong, or deposited for their benefit as the supreme executive of the State to which the respective agents belong shall direct.
Resolved, That the late commissary general of issues be and he is hereby directed superintendant of finance take measures for compelling the officers late in the issuing department, forthwith to furnish the paymaster general, with accounts against the officers of the respective lines, for articles furnished out of the public magazines in that department, to the end, that no farther delay may prevent the adjustment of the accounts of those officers with the paymaster general.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Huntington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 183.]
On a report of the Secretary at War:
War Office Octr. 29. 1783.
Sir,
Captain Pendleton who commanded a company of artificers represents to me that he has offered his accounts to the Pay Master General for settlement and that a doubt arises in the mind of Mr Pierce whether the powers which have been delegated to him will embrace these accounts as the men which compose the company are from different states. And as the states were requested to settle with their own troops, some of the states to which these Men belong have made a partial settlement with them, others have not taken any care of the Men.
Captain Pendleton has been very diligent and successful in procuring the accounts of money advanced to his company for which full credit is given. Nothing more is necessary than to direct the
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Pay Master to adjust the accounts of Captain Pendleton for his company of artificers
A regiment of Men were raised in the northern department by Colonel Bedle in April, 1778, under the orders of Major General Gates, and were continued in service one year during which time monies were advanced to them, but their accounts have not been closed. A doubt also may arise in the mind of the Paymaster whether he has a right by his present power to close the accounts of this regiment which would cause a great delay and operate much to the injury of the Corps, and to the Gentleman who is now here from the State of New Hampshire to obtain a settlement.
From this state of the cases I beg leave to submit to the consideration of Congress the following draught of a resolve:
Resolved, That John Pierce, paymaster general, be directed to settle the accounts of Captain Pendleton, for himself and company of artificers, and those of the late regiment of Colonel Bedle, and give certificates of the balance or balances, should there be any due, as is given to the line of the army.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 149, III, folio 263.]
On motion of Mr. [James] McHenry, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Resolved, That the chairman, in the absence of the President, be, and he is hereby empowered and directed to adjourn Congress on the 6th instant, to meet at Annapolis on the 26th, agreeable to the resolution of the 21 of October last.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 153.]
The Committee consisting of Mr [James] Duane, Mr S[amuel] Huntington Mr [Hugh] Williamson, Mr [Elbridge] Gerry and Mr [Abraham] Clark, to whom were referred the memorial of Mr Joseph Nourse praying for an augmentation of his salary as Register are of opinion that the consideration of the said memorial ought to be suspended until the Committee on the Civil List shall have made their Report.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of James Duane, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 505. According to the indorsement, it was read this day, and was answered by the Act of 23 March, 1787.]
The Committee [Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. William Ellery and Mr. James Duane] to whom was referred the letter of the Superintendant of Finance of the 23d of October, 1783, enclosing a letter from Mr D. Mercier one of the Executors to the will of the late George Measam
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with a copy of his last Will and Testament whereby it appears that he has made the United States his residuary legatee, Submit the following Report:
That Mr D. Mercier be informed that Congress feel themselves sensibly impressed with the disinterested attachment of the testator to the welfare and prosperity of the United States in bequeathing his residuary estate to the Board of Treasury of the United States for the sole purpose of promoting and assisting in the prosecution of the war and bringing the same to happy termination. But as the period is happily arrived when the United States enjoy the object of their wishes by the establishment of peace and independence, the legacy cannot be applied agreeably to the intention of the testator.
Therefore, Resolved, That the United States in Congress assembled do hereby fully release to the executors of the last Will and Testament of the said George Measam all right and title to his estate as the residuary legatees appointed by his last Will and Testament to be applied and distributed among his legal representatives as the law would have directed in case he had died intestate.1
[Note 1: 1 This report in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 419. The indorsement states that it was read this day and on February 1, 1786, postponed.]
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