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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 --SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1784.
The Committee of the States assembled: Present, nine states as yesterday.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase and Mr. [Jacob] Read, to whom was referred a letter from George R. Clarke, of the 26th April, 1784.
Resolved, That Brigadier-General Clarke be informed, in answer to his said letter, that Congress appointed him a commissioner for treating with the Indian nations, from a thorough persuasion of his abilities to discharge that trust. That his appointment is still in full force, his name being included in the general commission for treating with the Indians, but that his attendance to the duties of the office acceptance must be altogether optional with him. That in any casual conference he may have with the western Indians or any of them, the Committee of the States can only authorise him to acquaint them, that it is the earnest desire of the United States in Congress assembled, to be at peace with them; that they have, for that purpose, appointed commissioners to treat with them; that those commissioners have plenary powers; that they are directed to fix on the most convenient times and places for assembling the several nations and tribes of Indians, of which they, the said Indians, will, with all convenient despatch, be informed. And that they may rest assured, the United States will not, in the mean time, undertake any thing to their disadvantage, unless provoked thereto by them hostilities on their part.
Resolved, That copies of General Clarke's letter, and the answer thereto, be transmitted by the Secretary to the Commissioners for treating with the Indians.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 39. Clark's letter is in No. 78, VI, folio 231.]
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Resolved, That the Honorable the Commissioners for Treating with the Indian nations be and they are hereby empowered to confer with Colonel Geo. Morgan of Princeton in the State of New Jersey relative to the instruction of the Indian youths at Princeton and with him to take such measures as may appear proper and most for the Satisfaction of the said youths and beneficial to the Interest of the United States of America for the proper support of the said youths and for their return to their own Country as in the wisdom of the said Commissioners shall seem meet.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution, undated, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 61. It belongs, apparently, to this period.]
On a report of the same committee, to whom was referred a letter of the 15 June, from Ebenezer Hazard, postmaster general,
The Committee Consisting of Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase, and Mr. [Jacob] Read to whom was referred a letter of the 15th June, 1784, from Eben Hazard Post Master Genl., setting forth "That he had directed a suit to be instituted against Gershom Johnston for a violation of the 5th Section of the ordinance for regulating the post office; that Johnston appeared to be sensible of his error and wished that the prosecution might not be suffered to go on; that he did not think himself authorised to discontinue the suit, and prayed for the orders of the Committee of the States,"
Having taken the same into consideration, beg leave to report, that by the 6th. Section of the ordinance for regulating the post office, it is ordained, "That if any person not being a post or express rider in the service of the Genl. post office, shall carry any letters, packets or other dispatches from one place to an other within these U. S. on any of the post roads to any place within these U. S. for hire or reward, except in cases as is herein before excepted, or shall not when bringing letters from beyond Sea for hire or reward, deliver the same at the post office, if any there be at the place of his or her arrival, he or she shall, in each of the before mentioned cases forfeit and pay, for every such offence, Twenty dollars; to be recovered by the postmaster genl. or any of his deputies, in an action for debt in the State wherein the offence shall have been committed, with costs of suits." That Congress by their act of the 29th. day of May last have resolved,
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that the committee of the States shah not "repeal or contravene any ordinance or act of Congress."
Your Committee therefore beg leave to offer the following resolution:
Resolved, That Ebenezer Hazard, postmaster general, be informed, in answer to his letter of the 15 day of June last, that the committee of the states do not find themselves at the liberty are not authorised to order a discontinuance of the suit commenced by his direction against Gershom Johnson, for a violation of the 5th section of the ordinance for regulating the post office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 31. Hazard's letter is in No. 61, folio 173.]
[Report of Mr. Edward Hand, Mr. Jeremiah Townley Chase, Mr. Jacob Read to whom was referred a letter of June 24, 1784, relative to petition of Robert Shewell in case of Brig L'amiable Elizabeth.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Edward] Hand Mr. [Jeremiah Townley] Chase and Mr. [Jacob] Read, to whom was referred a letter of the 24th. of June, 1784, from Chas. Thomson Secry. of Congress.
Beg leave to report, That in their opinion, the Committee of the States are fully competent to decide on the report of a Committee of Congress on the petition of Robert Shewell.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 37. The indorsement states that it was read this day.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Francis] Dana and Mr. [Roger] Sherman, to whom was referred a petition of Robert Shewell, with sundry papers enclosed,
Resolved, That copies of the papers relating to the brig l'Amiable Elizabeth, a French vessel that was deserted by her crew at sea, and was boarded and taken up by citizens of the United States, on the 5th April, 1783, and carried into St. John's, in Newfoundland, where she was seized by a public officer, and her cargo disposed of, be sent to our ministers for negotiating treaties of commerce with foreign
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powers; and that they be instructed to inquire into the circumstances of the seizure and destruction of said vessel to require of the British Court, that the full value of the said brig and her cargo, be restored for the benefit of Robert Shewell, by whose order she was taken up at sea, and other just claimants, according to the laws and usage of civilized, commercial and friendly nations.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 35. A copy signed by Thomson is in No. 44, folio 431.]
[Motion of Mr. Francis Dana seconded by Mr. Jacob Read, referred to Mr. Francis Dana, Mr. Edward Hand Mr. Richard Dobbs Spaight]
That a Committee be appointed to take into Consideration an advertisement signed St. John agent for the French packet boats dated Boston May, 1784, published in the Boston Gazette and the Country Journal of the 31st. of May last and to report to the Committee of the States the measures necessary to be taken to prevent the revenue of the post office from being prejudiced thereby.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 75.]
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