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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 --FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster, and from the state of South Carolina, Mr. [Jacob] Read.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] 0sgood, Mr. [Arthur] Lee and Mr. [Charles] Morris, to whom was referred a memorial of Philip Moore:
Resolved, That the following form of sea-letters be granted for the ship United States, belonging to the memorialist and others:
Most Serene, Serene, Most Puissant, Puissant, High, Illustrious, Noble, Honorable, Venerable, Wise and Prudent Lords, Emperors, Kings, Republics, Princes, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Lords, Burgomasters, Schepens, Councillors, as also Judges, Officers, Justiciaries and Regents of all the good cities and places, whether ecclesiastical or secular, who shall see these Patents or hear them read:
We the United States of America in Congress assembled, make known that Mr. James Moore, supercargo of the ship called "The
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United States," of the burthen of three hundred tons, or thereabouts, at present navigated by Captain Thomas Bell, is of the United States of America, and as we wish to see the said James Moore, supercargo, prosper in his lawful affairs, our prayer is to all the before mentioned, and to each of them separately, where the said James Moore shall arrive with his vessel and cargo, that they may please to receive the said supercargo with goodness, and to treat him in a becoming manner, permitting him, upon the usual tolls and expences in passing and repassing, to pass, navigate and frequent the ports, passes and territories, to the end, to transact his business where, and in what manner he shall judge proper. In testimony whereof, &c.
The Committee [Mr. Thomas Jefferson, Mr. Elbridge Gerry and Mr. Hugh Williamson] appointed to revise the files of reports and appointment of Committees, and to report what matters will require the attention of Congress previous to an adjournment, have revised the files of Reports, digested them under five heads and agreed to the following report thereon:
The first head comprehends important reports requiring the assent of 9 States, these relate to the ratification of the Definitive Treaty, the military arrangements in time of peace, the civil arrangements foreign and Domestic, the territories on our Western border, and the definition of the powers proper for a committee of the States, which several matters are thought essential for the consideration of Congress before their adjournment.
The second head comprehends reports which also require the assent of 9 States; they relate to matters of acct. and particular claims for money, which may probably be despatched in those short intervals or portions of the day in which it may not be convenient to discuss the first great subjects. Many of them however are such as ought not to detain Congress, whenever they shall be ready for adjournment.
The third head comprehends reports, which may be acted on by 7 States and which therefore may be taken up by Congress immediately.
The fourth comprehends those which should be postponed to another Session, some of them being not at all pressing and others not yet matured for determination.
The fifth comprehends those reports which, having been rendered useless by subsequent events may be postponed generally.
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The Committee having not had time yet to revise the appointment of Committees, and to arrange their objects under the same heads, beg leave to report again, when they shall have made further progress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, undated, in the writing of Thomas Jefferson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 197. According to the record in Committee Books 186 and 191, the committee was appointed December 19, 1783, "reported in part and discharged" January 2, 1784.]
The Committee [Mr. Richard Peters, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. Arthur Lee] to whom was referred Mr. Blaine Letters of the 25 February, 1783, Report--
That it appear to your Committee that the regulations of the 1st. January 1780 for the Commisaries of purchases Department allowing two p cent for all merchantable provisions purchased in twenty fold the prices they were sold at in the year 1774 could not be carried into effect and was virtually repealed by the act of Congress of the 18 march following rating the value of Continental money at forty for one. But as the Commissioner for settling the accounts of that department cannot dispence with said Regulations without an act of Congress, your Committee recommend the following resolve.
That the accounts of the Commissary of purchase department be settled without any regard to the Resolution of the 1st. January, 1781, respecting the allowance of two pr. Ct for all merchantable provision purchased on twenty fold the prices they were sold at in the year 1774, as if the same had never passed.
With regard to that part of Mr. Blaine's Letter resquesting an acknowledgement for his services to allow his travelling Expences your Committee are of opinion that as he does not particularize his demands they cannot determine whether any or what gratuity should be made to him it cannot be granted.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Lewis Gervais, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 451. The indorsement states that it was read on this day and filed September 9, 1785.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a petition of inhabitants of Kentucky. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, V, folios 101--102.
Also, a letter of December 30, 1783, from John Sullivan with a letter of November 6, 1783, from the Legislature of New Hampshire. They were referred to Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Edward] Hand, and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight. Committee Book No. 186 gives as additional members of the committee Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson and Mr. [Arthur] Lee and says that a report was made January 9. Sullivan's letter is in No. 44, folios 207--216; the letter of the legislature on folios 203--206.]
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