| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pensylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from the State of Rhode Island,∥
Page 68 | Page image
Mr. [William] Ellery∥; from New Jersey, Mr. [John] Beatty, and from Delaware, Mr. [James] Tilton.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [Edward] Hand, to whom was re-committed a report on a letter of 22 January, from Brigadier-General Armand, and a letter from the honorable the Minister of France,
The Committee consisting of [Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Jacob Read and Mr. Edward Hand] to whom were referred letters from the Minister of France, from Br. Genl. Armand and from Mr. General Dupertail with sundry other papers requesting that promotion may be granted to certain foreign officers, beg leave to report that from the letters and papers in their hands, it appears that during the session of the late Congress and before the resignation of the Comr. in Chief applications had been made by the minister of France in favour of Lieuts. Le Roy and Marcellin, and by General Armand in favor of Captains De Birt and Le Brun and of Lieuts. Verdier and Fontivieux, that on the sixth of November, an application was made by Major General Du Portail in favor of Captain Castaign his Aid de Camp who had served with him during the sieges of Chas. Town and York without obtaining any special promotion, and that on the 19th of Nov. last Captain Houdin had petitioned for promotion, his request being supported by certificates from the Commander in Chief and sundry other general officers. It further appears that the gentlemen referred to during several years active service here, acquired the reputation of vigilant and good officers. That about the time in which these applications were made, sundry ether foreign officers were promoted whose claims and services were similar to those of the officers just mentioned, whence it is apprehended that as the applications were made in due time and while those officers in general were in service, their want of success, which appears to have been accidental may bear a construction unfavourable to the character of those officers, when they return to their native Country, wherefore your Committee submit the following resolve:
That the Commissions of Major by Brevet be issued to Capt. De Bert, Capt. Le Brun Capt. Castaign and Capt, Ml. G. Houdin, and
Page 69 | Page image
the Commissions of Captains by Brevet be issued to Lieuts. Verdier, Lieut. Fontivieux Lieut. Le Roy and Lieut. Mareellin.
Major De Brahm who has served near six years as a major in he Corps of Engineers, having represented that his leave of absence from the service of his Prince the Elector of Thiers did not extend beyond the continuance of the war in America, and requested such marks of attention as have been shown to other foreign officers in like circumstances,
Resolved, That the Commission of Lt. Col. by Brevet be granted to Ferdd. J. S. de Brahm, and that he be informed by the Under Secretary at War that his farther services to the U. S. are dispensed with.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 335.]
Resolved, That the commissions of major by brevet, be issued to Captains De Bert, Le Brun Castaigne and M. G. Houdin; and the commissions of captain by brevet, be issued to Lieutenants Verdier, Fontivieux, Le Roy and Marcellin.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and Mr. [James] Triton, to whom was referred a letter from Major F. J. S. de Brahm,
The Committee consisting of Mr [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, and Mr. [James] Tilton to whom was recommitted a letter of the 29 Decr. 1783 from Major de Brahm praying that a sum sufficient to defray the expence arising from his stay in Philadelphia and that of his passage to Europe may be granted him on account of his pay, &c., and applying for promotion, Report that his request as far as it respects an advance of money has been complied with by a resolution of Congress of the 22 January, 1784.
On his application for promotion, your committee report, that Major de Brahm has served in the rank of Major from the 11 February, 1778, and that in their opinion the indulgence which has been generally granted to other Foreign officers, ought to be extended to Major de Brahm. They therefore submit the following resolution.
Resolved, That a brevet commission of lieutenant colonel, be issued to Major de Brahm, of the late corps of engineers,
Page 70 | Page image
and that he be informed that his farther services are dispensed with.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 21. Armand's letter is in No. 164, folio 497. On January 22 it was referred to Mr. [John] Beatty, Mr. [Edward] Hand and Mr. [James] Tilton, and recommitted at some later day.]
Ordered, That the order of the day for electing an under secretary, to take charge of the papers in the office for foreign affairs, be postponed to Tuesday next.
The Committee consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [John] Beatty and Mr. [Abiel] Foster to whom the letter of the Superintendent of Finance of the 16th January, 1784, respecting a claim of D. Sprout for Money advanced to the Naval prisoners with its enclosure was referred, report,
That if any supplies were furnished by David Sprout to any citizens of the United States while they were prisoners to the British during the late War, at the request of States to which they belonged, or at the request of such citizens; to such States or citizens he should apply for compensation; but as it appears from his letter that no public charge was ever intended to be made by him, the United States in Congress assembled are not accountable.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Abiel Foster, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 381. The indorsement states that it was read this day and on February 11, 1784, referred to Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and Mr. [James] Tilton. See post, May 3.]
Extract of instructions from the general Assembly of Pennsylvania to their Delegates in Congress dated Decr. 9th. 1783:
"This state as a Member of the republic of the United States has ever considered its immediate interest but in subordination to that of the great whole, and as national honor is of the first consideration, this house cannot be too solicitous that all engagements to the public creditors of every species and particularly the army who have so distinguished a claim to our esteem and gratitude, should be faithfully performed. They are therefore of opinion that the requisitions of Congress upon the states for funds, if yet insufficient, should be extended till they are fully commensurate to this object; and that the business of setting off the lands designed by Congress for our line should be expedited, and the allotment of them in the vicinity of their other lands granted by this state requires your particular attention it being considered by them as an essential point.
Page 71 | Page image
Certain measures now pursuing by some European states having a tendency materially to injure the general trade of America the attention of this house is naturally turned to the affairs of Commerce and herein are struck with an apparent defect in the constitution of Congress for as the local exercise within the states, of the powers of regulating and controlling trade, can result only in discordant systems productive of internal jealousies and competitions, and illy calculated to oppose or counteract foreign measures, which are the effect of an unity of Council; this house are clearly of opinion that the individual as well as general good will be best consulted, by relinquishing to Congress all these separate and independant powers,
And this house are willing and desirous on the part of Pennsylvania to concur in substantiating this idea, by the necessary legal acts.
Another object of national consideration has been the establishment of a mint, and this house are desirous, your abilities should be employed to carry that useful design into effect."
Submitted by
Thomas Mifflin.
John Montgomery.
Edwd. Hand.
Annapolis, 5th. February 1784.1
[Note 1: 1 This extract is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 175. The indorsement states that it was read on this day and referred to Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase. See post, April 22, 1784.]
[Motion of Mr. Jacob Read.]
Resolved, That the deputies from the late hostile Tribes of the Six Nations now assembled atbe informed by the Commissioners for Indian affairs, that Congress are well pleased with their visit and accept it as a mark of their disposition to renew the friendship which subsisted so many ages between their ancestors and the citizens of these States.
That Congress have resolved to take the earliest opportunity to enter into a treaty of friendship and commerce with the Six Nations and other Indians lately at War, and for that purpose will appoint Commissioners to meet their chief men at the Jenesse upper town some proper place on the first day of June, and that in the interim
Page 72 | Page image
Congress recommend to the Six Nations to employ themselves in hunting and in raising corn for the support and maintenance of their women and children, and that as a mark of the disposition of Congress toward the Six Nations, Traders shall be allowed to go among them in the Spring.
Resolved, also, That the Agent for Indian Affairs for the Western Department be directed to take the proper steps to assemble the chief men of the late hostile western nations of Indians at Detroit, to meet Commissioners whom Congress will appoint to be there on the first day of September next, for the purpose of making terms of peace, and entering into a treaty of friendship and commerce with those nations. That in the meantime Congress recommend to them to employ themselves in hunting and planting corn to provide for their women and children, and that Congress will permit traders to go among them immediately.
Resolved, That the said Agent be directed to take the most effectual steps to invite the chief men of the Indian nations inhabiting north of Illinois river and east of the Mississippi, and of all the nations inhabiting on the waters of the lakes from Michigan to the Lake of the Woods inclusive, to meet Commissioners from Congress on the 1st day of October next at Michilimackinac for the purpose of entering into Treaties of friendship and commerce.
Resolved, That the said Agent confer with the Superintendant of Finance on the expences of this business.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 203. According to the indorsement it was referred on this day to Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry. See post, February 10.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a petition of Lieutenant G. Diong. It is in No. 42, II, folio 303.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. John Beatty and Mr. David Howell] report that the foregoing petition from several foreign officers be referred to a special committee.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Edward Lloyd (?), is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 92. The petition, from Lillie, Liebert, Gosselin, Diony and Selin, of Hazen's regiment, undated, is on folio 89. The indorsement states that it was read on this day.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of February 5, from Brigadier General Moses Hazen's and referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [George] Partridge and Mr. [Arthur] Lee. It is in No. 78, XI, folio 285. Committee Book, No. 186, says the committee reported March 27.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |