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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 --MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1784.
The Committee of the States assembled: Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
A motion being made by Mr. [Edward] Hand, seconded by Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, and notice given that the years and nays would be required during the debate,
Whereas the Committee of the States were directed by an Act of Congress of the 29th day of May last to prepare an ordinance for making the necessary arrangements of the Treasury and for more particularly defining the powers of the Board of Treasury, and also to revise the Institution of the office for foreign affairs, and the war office; and it is expedient that the same should be done before the Committee adjourns and the public records are removed, to the end that the public interest may be attended to, and the said Act of Congress complied with;
And Whereas, by intelligence received from the western frontier there is reason to apprehend a war with the Indians, unless the cause of their jealousy is removed, and treaties of peace concluded, to effect which the interposition of Government is required, and the exercise of those powers with which the Committee have been invested by Congress is indispensably necessary.
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And Whereas, information may be hourly expected from the Commanding Officer of the British forces in Canada, touching the evacuation of the western posts ceded to the U. S. by the late treaty of peace; which information may call for the immediate attention of Government, and render a suspension of its powers, either by adjournment or otherwise, at this time and under these circumstances, highly injurious to the public welfare;
And Whereas, the Delegates from the States of New Hampshire and Massachusetts have announced to the Committee of the States their intention of returning home, which intention if carried into effect will leave the Committee without a competent number to proceed to business, expose the Foederal Government to every danger that may result from the want of a foederal head, and in the most evident manner contravene the design of Congress and the spirit of the Confederation;
Resolved, therefore, That the Chairman write to the Executives of the different States at this time unrepresented in the Committee of the States, requesting them to send on a member to take his seat in Committee as early as possible, to the end that the business referred by Congress to the Committee may be compleated, the foeederal Government relieved from the danger that may result from the want of a foeederal administration, and the design of Congress and the spirit of the Confederation properly attended to.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Committee Book, No. 10, Journals Committee of the States.
On this day, according to the indorsement, a letter of July 28 from Joseph Carleton was read. It is in No. 60, folio 87.
Also, a letter of August 5 from the Superintendent of Finance. It is in No. 137, III, folio 715.]
New Hampshire withdrew, whereupon, the Committee of the States adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow.
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