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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 --THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster; from Connecticut, Mr. [Joseph Platt] Cook, and from the State of North Carolina, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson.
Mr. Abiel Foster, delegate for the state of New Hampshire, and Mr. Joseph Platt Cook, for the State of Connecticut, produced the credentials of their several appointments, which were read.
The Sovereign and Independent State of
New Hampshire
To The Honorable Abiel Foster Esquire Greeting
We The said State, reposing special trust & confidence in Your wisdom, virtue and fidelity, do by these presents, constitute and appoint You the said Abiel Foster Esquire a Delegate to represent this State in Congress for the term of one year from the date hereof agreeable to the rules and regulations established by Law. And We do hereby vest in You all the powers, authorities, rights and privileges appertaining or belonging to this Your appointment, You governing Yourself from time to time agreeable to such orders as shall be transmitted to you by authority of our General Court.
Witness Meshech Weare Esquire, Our President and Commander in Chief in and over the said State, has given under his hand and the great Seal of the State, this first day of November Anno Domino One thousand seven hundred and Eighty four, and in the Ninth year of Our Independence.
M. Weare.
By His Excellency's command,
Joseph Pearson, Dep: Secyy. [SEAL.]1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, New Hampshire, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
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State Of Connecticut
At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut in [SEAL.] America holden at Hartford on the second Thursday of May Anno Dom 1784
This Day being appointed by Law for the choice of Delegates to represent the State of Connecticut at the Congress of the United States of America,
Proclamation was made in manner accustomed, And then the Votes of the Freemen were given in to the persons appointed by the Assembly to receive Sort and Count them and declare the Names of the Persons legally Chosen to the Office aforementioned, which Persons so appointed are Oliver Elsworth Esqr., Colo Jonathan Wells, Colo Edward Russell, Mr. Benjamin Coit, Majr. Ezra Starr, Capt. Jeremiah Ripley and Colo John Sedgwick, who were all sworn to a faithfull discharge of that Trust. And the Votes of the Freemen being brot in sorted and Counted--
Are Elected and were publickly declared to be Delegates to represent the State of Connecticut in the Congress of the United States of America according to Law.
A true Copy of Record
Examind.
By George Wyllys Secrety1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Connecticut Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
On motion of Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [Jacob] Read,
Resolved, That a standing committee of qualifications to consist of five members be appointed, to report, from time to time, on the credentials of members during this Congress.
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Mr. Egbert Benson, a delegate for the State of New York, attended, and produced the credentials of his appointment, which were read.
The People of the State of New York, by the Grace of God, Free and Independent: To all to whom these presents shall come, send Greeting: Know Ye that We having inspected the Records Remaining in the Secretary's Office of our said State do find there a certain Commission in the Words following to Wit, "The people of the "State of New York, By the Grace of God Free and Independent: To "all to whom these presents shall come send Greeting: Whereas our "Senate and Assembly have on the twenty sixth day of October in "this present year Nominated and Appointed the Honorable John "Jay, Egbert Benson, Walter Livingston, John Lansing Junior and "Zephaniah Platt Esquires Delegates to Represent our said State in "the United States of America in Congress Assembled for one year from "the first Monday in November next: Now therefore Know Ye that "in pursuance of the said Nomination and Appointment we have by "these presents Commissioned the said John Jay, Egbert Benson, "Waiter Livingston, John Lansing Junior and Zephaniah Platt "Esquires, with full power and authority to them the said John Jay, "Egbert Benson, Walter Livingston, John Lansing Junior and "Zephaniah Platt to Represent our said State in the said Congress "accordingly: In Testimony whereof We have caused these our "Letters to be made patent and the Great Seal of our said State to "be hereunto affixed: Witness our Trusty and Wellbeloved George "Clinton Esquire Governor of our said State General and Commander "in chief of all the Militia and Admiral of the Navy of the same, at "our City of New York the fourth day of November in the year of "our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four, and of our "Independence the Ninth": All which we have caused to be Exemplified by these presents, In testimony whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made patent and the Great Seal of our said State to be hereunto affixed: Witness our Trusty and Wellbeloved George Clinton Esquire Governor of our said State General and Commander in chief of all the Militia and Admiral of the Navy of the same at our City of New York, the said fourth day of November in
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the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four, and of our Independence the Ninth.
Geo Clinton
[with the Great Seal appendant]
Passed the Secretary's Office November 4th. 1784
Robt Harpur D Secrty.1
[Note 1: 1 This commission was entered December 2, 1784, in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal. Three of the original commissions are with the New York Credentials of Delegates, evidently the ones issued to Egbert Benson, who attended December 2; John Jay, December 6; and Walter Livingston, December 7, but the names are not indorsed on them.]
A motion was made by Mr [Samuel] Hardy, That the Secretary cause to be provided from each of the States of Pennsylvania New Jersey and New York forty of each of their newspapers for the use of the members of Congress.
Ordered, That this be referred to the Secretary to take order.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Letter Book A, No. 18, folio 46.]
[Mr. Monroe's motion respecting the N. W. Posts.]
Whereas it was stipulated in the 7th article of the treaty between the U. S. and His Britannick Majesty, that the troops of His Britannick Majesty should be withdrawn from the posts and fortifications within the U. S. "with all convenient speed" and whereas the posts of M. Detroit &c &c within the U. S. are still held by B. garrisons and the said troops have not been in compliance with said article, withdrawn from the posts and fortifications within the north western bounds of the U. S. whereby the U. S. have been prevented from taking possession of said posts and their citizens excluded from free passage and navigation of the Lakes, to their iminent disadvantage, therefore
Resolved, That the Com[missioners] for negotiating commercial treaties be instructed to repair to the Court of London represent to his Britannick Majesty the dissatisfaction of the U. S. at said procedure the delay of the Court of London G. B. in complying with the said
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article to require that said posts and fortifications be surrendered as soon as possible his troops be withdrawn from every post and place within the bounds territory of the U. S. agreeable to the 7th article of the treaty and to insist that a precise time be appointed for said purpose.
To assure his Britannick Majesty that it is the desire of the United States to live in amity with him, and they will do everything necessary on their part to cultivate the most friendly intercourse between the citizens and subjects of either power.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of James Monroe, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 243. The indorsement states that it was made on this day and referred to Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Egbert] Benson and Mr. [William] Houstoun.]
[Mr. Jacob Read's motion]
That five Commissioners be forthwith appointed to survey and make an accurate plan of the lands lately ceded to the United States in Congress assembled by the States of New York and Virginia particularly that part purchased from the Indians by the Commissioners of United States in Congress Assembled, at the Treaty held on the 22d. day of October 1784 at Fort Stanwix, in which said map the line of property already laid down, and all such as may be agreed on in any other treaty to be held with the Indian Nations inhabiting the Northwestern, Western or South Western frontiers of the United States shall be clearly and distinctly marked, between the United States and the Indian Villages and hunting grounds. That in such plan all the principal lakes, rivers, creeks, mountains, trading paths and carrying places with other remarkable natural marks shah be noted, more particularly those streams which form or are nearest to the forming a navigable communication between the respective waters of the rivers failing eastward into the Atlantic Ocean, and those leading westward into the Ohio and Missisipi.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 455. The indorsement states that on this day it was referred to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. W[illiam] C[hurchill] Houston, and the committee discharged April 13, 1785. Committee Book, No. 186, states that the committee was renewed January 17, 1785.]
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