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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, MAY 25, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present as yesterday.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Thomas] Stone and Mr. [Roger] Sherman, to whom was referred a petition of Dr. Gordon, representing that with the desire of cherishing the love of liberty, he has at a considerable expence, been collecting materials for the history of the late Revolution; and praying that he may have access, under the necessary restraints, to the documents and records in the archives of Congress; and that Congress would be pleased to countenance his admission to the papers of the late Commander in Chief.
The Committee [Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Thomas Stone and Mr. Roger Sherman] to whom was referred the Petition of Dr William Gordon who represents that with the desire of cherishing the love of liberty he has at a considerable expence been collecting materials for the history of the late Revolution and prays that he may have access, under the necessary restraints to the documents and records in the Archives of Congress and that Congress would be pleased to countenance his admission to the papers of the late Comr. in Chief and your Committee being of opinion, that it will be proper to give permission to any gentleman of character and learning desirous of the same access to their records and papers which are not under any injunction of secrecy, submit the following resolve.
Resolved, That the Secretary of Congress lay before Dr. Gordon, any papers or files in his Office which may be desired; except Instructions to the ministers of the United States in foreign countries, letters to or from those ministers, or other foreign ministers, or any acts or records which hitherto have been considered as confidential or secret.
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That Congress having the fullest confidence in the prudence of the late Commander in Chief have no objection to his laying before Dr. Gordon, any of his papers which he shall think, at this period, may be submitted to the eye of the public.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 425½. William Gordon's petition is on folio 427.]
The report of the committee, consisting of Mr. [John Francis] Mercer, Mr. [Arthur] Lee, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Ephraim] Paine, "appointed to consider of the measures proper to be adopted, in order to take possession of the frontier posts," being under debate,
A motion was made by Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [James] Monroe,
That there be inlisted, as soon as possible, to serve for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged, four hundred and fifty men, to be employed for defence of the northwestern frontier of the United States; and that the different States furnish their quotas in the following proportions:
A motion was made by Mr. [Edward] Hand, seconded by Mr. [John] Montgomery, to postpone the consideration of that motion, in order to take up the following:
"That there be engaged as soon as possible, to serve for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged, eight hundred and ninety-six men, including non-commissioned officers, for the defence of the northwestern frontiers of the United States."2
[Note 2: 2 [Motion of Mr Edward Hand, seconded by Mr. Joseph Montgomery.]
Resolved, That a Corps of infantry to consist of one Colonel one Lt. Colonel, one Major, eight Captains, eight Lieutenants, eight Ensigns, one Paymaster, one Adjutant, one Quarter Master, one Surgeon, three Surgeons' Mates, one Serjeant Major, one Quarter Master Serjeant, one Drum and Fife Major, thirty two Serjeants, Sixteen Drummers and Fifers, thirty two Corporals and four hundred Private-men, also a Corps of artillery and artificers to consist of one Lt Col. 1 Major, 4 Capts. 4 Capt. Lieuts., 4 first Ltts. 4 second Lts., 1 Adjt., 1 Quarter Master, I Paymaster, 1 Surgeon, I Surgeons Mate, 1 Sergt. Major, 1 Qr Mr Sergeant, 1 Drum and Fife Major, 24 Sergeants, 24 Bombardiers, 24 Corporals, 24 Gunners, 8 Drummers and Fifers, 100 artificers, and 100 Matrosses, be immediately raised in the U. S. to garrison the western Frontier posts thereof and for the preservation of the fortifications and stores at West Point.
This motion, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 389.]
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And on the question to postpone for the purpose above-mentioned, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Edward] Hand,
{table}
So the question was lost.
A motion was then made by Mr. [Francis] Dana, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, to amend the original motion, by inserting immediately after "discharged," the following words: by Congress, or unless the legislatures of five of the states should, by their delegates in Congress, request them, or any part of them, to be sooner discharged, in which case they shall be discharged by Congress accordingly.
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And on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
A motion was made by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, seconded by Mr. [Roger] Sherman, to amend the motion by striking out the words "there be inlisted," and in lieu thereof to insert, "it be recommended to the following states to inlist:" And on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
{table}
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So it passed in the negative.
On the question to agree to the Motion of Mr. [David] Howell, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [David] Howell,
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
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[Report of Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Thomas Stone, and Mr Roger Sherman, on letter 17 May, 1784, from Col. J. Beatty late Commissy; Genl of prisoners]
The Committee to whom was referred a memorial of Colonel Beatty requesting that his travelling expences may be allowed while he discharged the office of Commissary General of prisoners beg leave to report that the Act of May 21st, 1778, allowing the Commissary General of prisoners to charge his contingent expences seems to have had a reference to the depretiated state of money whence the real pay was greatly reduced. This reason however ceases when the account is settled in specie. Wherefore your Committee submit the following resolve,
That in settling the accounts of Colonel Jno. Beatty late Commissary General of prisoners he shall be credited for his pay as hard money but his travelling expences are not to be allowed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 249. Apparently it was read on this or an approximate date:
On this day, as the indorsement indicates, a petition of William Smith, Nicholas Way and Archibald Pateson, dated May 21, 1784, was read and ordered to be filed. It is in No. 42, VII, folio 200.
Also, was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Francis] Dana and Mr. [Roger] Sherman a petition dated Annapolis May 23, 1784, of Robert Sewell It is in No. 42, VII, folio 204.
Also, a petition of Dan Waters and others, dated Boston, May 3, 1784, which was referred to the Agent of Marine to report. It is in No. 42, VIII, folio 290--297.
Also, a copy of the Act of the General Assembly of Connecticut, ceding western lands to the United States. It was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [James] Monroe and Mr. [Thomas] Stone. It is in No. 75, folio 81.]
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