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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 --THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present as yesterday.
The committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Triton, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [David] Howell, to whom was referred a petition of Captain Paschke, report,
That it appears, that Captain Paschke, served as an officer in Count Pulaski's legion, from the 14 March, 1777, until the reduction of that corps, the 18 May, 1780; that on the 16 of May, 1780, Congress resolved, "that the sum of three thousand dollars currency of these states, and a bill of exchange for two hundred and fifty dollars specie, be paid to Captain Paschke, late of Count Pulaski's legion, (which being dissolved, Congress have no means of employing Captain Paschke, though a deserving officer) to enable him to return to Europe." That not chusing to cross the Atlantic during the war, he held appointments in the quartermasters' department, in the southern army, until its dissolution the 13 July, 1783: and that he has produced ample testimonials of his bravery, integrity, capacity and industry in the service of the United States. But as the definitive treaty of peace is ratified, nearly the whole of the army discharged, and the Commander in Chief has resigned his commission, it is inexpedient to make the promotion requested by Captain Paschke.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of James Tilton, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 35.]
Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.
The committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood and Mr. [William] Ellery, to whom was
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referred a letter of 29 October, 1783, from Major-General Duportail, requesting some immediate payment for himself and other officers belonging to the late corps of engineers; also a letter from Brigadier-General Armand of the 15 instant as well in behalf of himself and other officers belonging to the legionary corps late under his command, as of the said corps of engineers, report,
That the foreign officers lately in the service of the United States, who were not attached to the line of any particular State, complain of great and singular hardships under which they have laboured during the late war. The pay which they received for a considerable time in depreciated money, was very unequal to their actual expences, nor could they be profited by the recommendations of Congress on the subject of depreciation, which afforded immediate relief to the rest of the army, because there was no State to which they could look for the balance of their pay; hence it followed, that some of them have depended in a great measure for their support, on remittances from their friends in France, while others less fortunate, have contracted considerable debts in America. That in their present situation, they neither have the means of subsisting in America, nor of returning to their native country, unless some part of the money due them by the public shall be paid. Whereupon,
Resolved, That the superintendant of finance take order for paying to the foreign officers of the late corps of engineers, and to the foreign officers lately belonging to the legionary corps, commanded by Brigadier-General Armand, also to Major Seconde, Captain Beaulieu, late of General Pulaski's corps, and to Captain Ponthiere, late aid to the Baron Steuben, such sums on account of their pay as may be necessary to relieve them from their present embarrassments, and enable those in America to return to their native country
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and that he take such measures for facilitating the payment of the balances which may remain due to them as may comport with the condition of the finances of the U. S.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 95. It was also entered in the Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. Duportail's letter is in No. 78, VIII, folio 43. Armand's letter is in No. 164, folio 489.]
On motion of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,
Ordered, That the commissary of military stores be directed not to dispose of any such stores without the express order of Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 303.]
Congress proceeded to the election of a chaplain, and, the ballots being taken, the Rev. Mr. Daniel Jones was elected, having been nominated by Mr. [Arthur] Lee.
Mr. J[oseph] Montgomery, a delegate for Pensylvania, attended, and took his seat.
The committee [consisting of Mr. Samuel Osgood, Mr. Roger Sherman and Mr. William Ellery] to whom were referred two letters from the Paymaster General of the 15th of December last, submit the following report:
Resolved, That the Paymaster General be and he hereby is directed, in settling the accounts of those officers who were furloughed in consequence of the resolution of the 26th of May, 1783, not to credit them for the value of the rations between the time that they were actually furloughed and the time of their final discharge.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Samuel Osgood, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 121. The indorsement states that it was debated this day, "Question taken and lost."
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of November 29, 1783, from Joseph Carleton, inclosing letters from Major Generals Lincoln and Knox. It was referred to Mr. [John] Beatty, Mr. [Edward] Hand and Mr. [James] Tilton. It is in No. 60, folio 35. One of Pierce's letters is in No. 165, folio 190.]
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