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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 --TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pensylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster; from New Jersey, Mr. [John] Beatty, and from Delaware, Mr. [James] Tilton.
The committee, consisting of Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase, Mr. [Edward] Hand and Mr. [Roger] Sherman, to whom was referred a letter of 29 January, from J. Carlton, secretary in the war office, stating, that on the final adjustment of his accounts, as paymaster to the late Board of War and Ordnance, there remains a balance of 320 dollars due from him to the United States, report,
"That they find upwards of sixty millions of dollars passed through the hands of Mr. Carlton in his negotiations, and in the opinion of the committee, the loss of three hundred and twenty dollars, in the course of business of such extent, is very inconsiderable, and cannot be imputed to want of fidelity or neglect, but to unavoidable casualty:" Whereupon,
Resolved, That the register of the treasury be, and he is hereby directed in the settlement of the account of the said Joseph Carlton, to credit him with three hundred and twenty dollars for the loss thus by him sustained.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jeremiah Townley Chase, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 523. Carleton's letter is in No. 60, folio 45.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Beatty, Mr. [Edward] Hand and Mr. [James] Tilton, to whom was referred a letter of 19 January, from Lieutenant Colonel Murnan, of the corps of engineers, desiring leave to resign,
The committee to whom was recommitted the letter and papers from Lt. Col. Murnan, requesting leave to resign his Commission and
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be furnished with letters of recommendation to the French Ministry, beg leave to report: That since the recommitment of the papers, they have received a letter from the Secy. at War "acquainting them that" about two months ago, the Comr. in Chief gave it as his opinion, that the Officers of the Corps of Engineers, who are now in America, should be retained in service: for the purpose of Superintending the works and fortifications of the United States that are now, or hereafter shall be established on the Frontiers for the defence of the Western inhabitants and that the Officers of this Corps, in consequence of this opinion consider themselves in service and entitled to the emoluments of their commissions up to this time. Wherefore your committee submit the following resolutions:
That Lt. Col. Murnan has produced many ample and honorary testimonials of his having distinguished himself a zealous, active, intelligent and brave Officer from the Comr. in chief and the several General Officers under whose particular orders he has at different times served. Wherefore your Committee submit the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the resignation of Lieutenant Colonel Murnan be accepted.
Resolved, That Congress entertain a due sense of Lieutenant Colonel Murnan's abilities and services; and freely him with a copy of this resolution, and that the secretary deliver him a copy of this act, as a testimony of their approbation of his conduct.1
[Note 1: 1 The report, in the writing of John Beatty, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 469. The words crossed out so appear in the report and not in the Journal. Murnan's letter is in No. 78, XVI, folio 403.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Samuel] Osgood and Mr. [Jacob] Read, to whom was referred a motion of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, respecting the papers belonging to the office for foreign affairs,
Resolved, That an under secretary be appointed to take the charge of the papers belonging to the office of the late
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Secretary for foreign affairs, until the further order of Congress: that the members of Congress have liberty to peruse them in the office, that no other persons have access to them and that none of them be taken out of the office nor any copies or extracts taken from them without the special permission of Congress and and that the said under secretary make and lay before Congress, a list of the said papers.1
[Note 1: 1 The report, in the writing of Roger Sherman, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 329. The words crossed out so appear in the report and not in the Journal.]
Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned for the election of the said under secretary.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, to whom was referred a letter from Brigadier General Armand, in behalf of the foreign officers of the corps of engineers, the legionary corps, &c.
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [David] Howell, and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson to whom was referred a letter from Brigadier General Armand of the 26th Jany., 1784, in behalf of himself and the other foreign officers, requesting that measures may be taken for securing the punctual payment of the interest arising on the balances of pay due to them, beg leave to offer the following resolve:
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance be, and he is hereby directed to take measures, as far as may be consistent with the finances of the United States, for remitting annually to the foreign officers of the late corps of engineers, the legionary corps lately commanded by Brigadier General Armand, to Major Segond and Captain Beaulieu, late of General Pulaski's corps and to Captain Pontiere, late aidde-camp to Baron Steuben, the interest of such sums as may remain due to them respectively, after the payments which
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shall have been made to them in consequence of the resolution of the 22d of January last.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 99. It was also entered in the Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. Armand's letter is in No. 164, folio 501.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. John Montgomery, Mr. Richard Beresford and Mr. Elbridge Gerry] report that the memorial of Lieutenant Palmer Cady of General Hazen's regiment, be read in congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Richard Beresford, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 492, indorsed upon the memorial. It was read on February 3 and referred to Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [John] Beatty and Mr. [Abiel] Foster.]
The Committee [Mr. John Beatty, Mr. Edward Hand and Mr. James Tilton] to whom was referred a Letter from B. Gen. Armand, praying for the promotion of Captains De Bert and Le Brun, and Lieuts. De Fontivier and Verdier, late of the Legion, and that Congress would also be pleased to accept his resignation; and the Letter from the Chevalier de la Luzerne, requesting the promotion of Lieuts. Le Roy and Marcellin, late of the Pena. Line, beg leave to report,
That on perusing the papers before them, and the Journals of Congress, they find that the greater part of the Foreign Officers who have served in the army of the United States, have at different times been promoted. That applications for the promotion of those gentlemen were made to Congress when assembled at Princeton, and would probably have been attended with equal success with those of Captains Second, du Pontiere, l'Enfant, Majors Villfranche and Murnan had not the adjournment of Congress intervened. That they conceive it will reflect dishonor on them, since they are going to France where their merit and conduct will be judged of by the marks of approbation Congress shall bestow on them compared with those they have given to others. That they have served with great reputation in the American army until its dissolution, as appears from testimonials produced.
Your Committee therefore propose the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That the commissions of Majors by Brevet in the army of the U. S. be issued to Captains de Berdt and Le Brun, and the Commissions of Captains by Brevet be issued to Lieutenants Fontivier, Verdier, Le Roy and Marcellin.
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Resolved, That the Resignation of Brigr. Genl. Armand be accepted.
Resolved, That Congress entertain a high and grateful sense of the many signal services rendered by B. Gen: Armand in the course of the late war, and that they request him to receive this public testimony of their entire approbation of his conduct as a tribute justly due to his distinguished merit.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Beatty, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 337. The indorsement states that it was read on January 30, and on this day referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [Edward] Hand.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter from Governor George Clinton, dated January 31, regarding garrisons for the western posts. It was referred to Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Roger] Sherman and Mr. [Jacob] Read, who reported February 23. See Post April 3.]
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