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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 --SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1783
ANNAPOLIS.
A number of members met [November 26] according to adjournment, but there not being a sufficient number of states assembled to proceed to business, Congress was adjourned from day to day, till the present, when seven
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states appearing the following states and members appearedfrom
The delegates for Pensylvania and Maryland produced credentials, which were read.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
By His Excellency John Hancock Esqr Governor of [SEAL] the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
To all unto whom these Presents shall come Greeting
Whereas the General Court of the Commonwealth aforesaid did on the twenty eighth day of June Ao. Dl. 1783 agreeable to the Constitution
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of said Commonwealth appoint The Honble George Partridge Esqr. a Delegate to represent this Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States of America.
Now therefore Know Ye That I do by these presents, and in pursuance of the said Appointment Commission the said George Partridge Esqr. to represent this Commonwealth in Congress and vest him with all and singular the Powers and Authorities to the said Office or place of Delegate belonging by Virtue of the Constitution of this Commonwealth and the Appointment aforesaid. And to hold said Office until third day of November 1784. And the said George Partridge Esqr. is hereby required to observe the Instructions which from time to time shall be given to him by the General Court of this Commonwealth
In Testimony whereof I have caused the Public Seal of this Commonwealth to be hereto affixed
Witness John Hancock Esqr Governor as aforesaid.
Dated at Boston the thirtieth day of September A.o D.l 1783 And in the Eighth Year of the Independence of the United States of America
John Hancock1
[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. According to the indorsement and the record in No. 179, it was read December 13.]
By His Excellency's Command
John Avery Secy
State of Pennsylvania
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Wednesday November 12--1783--A. M.
On motion,
The House proceeded to take up the order of the day, for the choosing Delegates to represent this state in Congress, when, the ballots being taken, it appeared that the Honorable Thomas Mifflin, Richard Peters, John Montgomery, Cadwalader Morris and Edward Hand, Esquires, were duly elected.
Extract from the Minutes.
Peter Z. Lloyd
Clerk of the General Assembly.2
[Note 2: 2 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal. The letter of transmittal, signed by George Gray, Speaker, is in No. 78, X, folio 463.]
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MARYLAND
The Senate proceeded to the Election of Delegates to represent this State in Congress the Ballot Box was prepared the Ballots deposited therein sealed up and delivered to the Committee of the Senate appointed to meet the Committee of the House of Delegates who retired to the Conference Room and after some Time returned and reported that James McHenry Thomas Stone Samuel Chase and Edward Lloyd Esquires have a Majority of Votes Whereupon it is declared in the Senate that James McHenry Thomas Stone Samuel Chase and Edward Lloyd Esquires are duly elected Delegates to represent this State in Congress.
True Extract from the Journal
J. Dorsey, Clk of the Senate.
November 26, 1783.
By the House of Delegates November 26, 1783.
The house proceeded to the choice of four Delegates to Congress by ballot and the Ballots being deposited in the Ballot Box the Gentlemen named to Strike retired and after some time returned and reported that upon examining the Ballots it appeared that James McHenry, Thomas Stone, Samuel Chase and Edward Lloyd Esquires had a Majority of Votes.
Whereupon, Resolved, That James McHenry, Thomas Stone, Samuel Chase and Edward Lloyd Esquires be and are hereby declared to be Delegates to represent this State in Congress.
True Extract from the Minutes
Wm. Harwood, Cl. Ho. Del.1
[Note 1: 1 The originals are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Maryland, Credentials of Delegates. They were entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
The President then laid before Congress, a joint letter from the ministers of the United States at Paris, dated at Passy, 10 September, 1783, accompanied with the definitive treaty between Great Britain and the United States of America, signed at Paris, 3 September, 1783, which were read.2
[Note 2: 2 This paragraph was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. According to the record in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, the definitive treaty and the joint letter of Adams, Franklin, and Jay were, on December 13, committed to Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Jacob] Read, and Mr. [Benjamin] Hawkins, who reported December 16. The joint letter, of September 10, is printed in the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution (Wharton) VI, 687. A letter dated November 21, from Elias Boudinot to Thomas Mifflin, forwarding letters from Franklin and a copy of the definitive treaty, is in No. 78, IV, folio 421.
According to the record in Committee Books No. 186 and No. 191, letters from Adams, Franklin, Dana, Dumas, and T. Barclay were on this day referred to Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, who reported December 22.
A letter of November 18 from General Washington, enclosing a copy of a letter of November 12, from Sir Guy Carleton, fixing date of evacuation of New York, and Washington's reply thereto, was read on this day. It is in No. 152, XI, folio 515, and is printed in Writings of Washington (Ford) X, 334.
On this or an approximate date, was read a letter of November 10 from the Superintendent of Finance, enclosing an account of notes issued on the credit of the United States. It is in No. 137, III, folio 291.
Also, a letter from the Superintendent of Finance of December 2, enclosing letters from Europe. It is in No. 137, III, folio 299.
Also, a letter of November 11 from John Pierce, Paymaster General. It is in No. 165, folio 686.
Also, a letter, of November 26, from Thomas Kilbuck. It is in No. 78, XIII; folio 587.]
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