| 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 --THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, eleven states as before.
Congress took into consideration the report of a grand committee, to whom was referred the report of a committee on the subject of Western territory, and the following paragraph being under debate:
"Congress, by their resolution of September 6, 1780, having thought it adviseable to press upon the states having claims to the western country."
A motion was made by Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, seconded by Mr. [Richard] Beresford, to strike out the words "claims to the:" And on the question, shall those words stand the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The report being amended, was agreed to as follows:
Congress, by their resolution of September 6, 1780, having thought it adviseable to press upon the states having
Page 316 | Page image
claims to the western country, a liberal surrender of a portion of their territorial claims; by that of the 10th of October, in the same year, having fixed conditions to which the Union should be bound on receiving such cessions: and having again proposed the same subject to those states, in their address of April 18, 1783, wherein, stating the national debt, and its annual interest, the they recommended for the discharge of the interest the plan of an impost on commerce now under consideration with the states, with such subsidiary funds as they might judge most convenient, and for the discharge of the principal, and expressing some their reliance for its discharge, on the prospect of vacant territory, in aid of other resources, they, for that purpose, as well as to obviate disagreeable controversies and confusions, included in the same recommendations, a renewal of those of September 6, and of October the 10th, 1780; which several recommendations have not yet been fully complied with:
Resolved, That the same subject be again presented to the attention of the said states; that they be urged to consider that the war being now brought to a happy termination by the personal services of our soldiers, the supplies of property by our citizens, and loans of money from them as well as from foreigners; these several creditors have a right to call for precise designation of the funds expect that funds shall be provided on which they are to may rely for indemnification;
That Congress still consider vacant territory as a capital resource; that this too is the tune when our Confederacy, with all the territory included within its limits should assume its ultimate and permanent form; and that therefore the said states be earnestly pressed, by immediate and liberal cessions, to forward these necessary ends, and to remove those obstacles which disturb the harmony of the Union, which embarrass its councils and obstruct its operations.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Thomas Jefferson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 144, folio 81. The indorsement shows that it was delivered March 22.]
Page 317 | Page image
That Congress still consider vacant territory as an important resource: and that therefore the said states be earnestly pressed, by immediate and liberal cessions, to forward these necessary ends, and to promote the harmony of the Union.
[Motion of Mr Jacob Read, referred to Mr Jacob Read, Mr Elbridge Gerry, and Mr Edward Hand.]
Whereas George Washington, Esquire, in consequence of his having commanded in chief the armies of the United States of America in the late arduous war, is constantly visited by numbers of foreigners of distinction as well as by all most of such of the Citizens of America as pass through the state of Virginia, from a desire to pay their respects to so illustrious a character, whereby he is put to very great expences for support of his table and household as well for forage for the horses and provisions for the servants of such visitors.
And Congress conceiving it improper that a General who has so gloriously and disinterestedly led the forces of these United States should be put to an inconvenience or injured in his private fortune by being obliged to bear out of his own purse so great a charge as his late command now exposes him to,
Resolved, That the Superintendant of finance take order for paying to the drafts of George Washington, Esquire, five hundred dollars per month from the 1st day of January last past as a support untill the further order of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 467. It is undated.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |