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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 --FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present as yesterday.
A letter, of 6, from William Denning, was read, informing, that he is under the necessity of declining to accept the office of Commissioner of the Board of Treasury; Whereupon,
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Resolved, That Tuesday next, be assigned for electing another Commissioner for the Board of Treasury, in the room of Mr. William Denning, who has declined that office. 1
[Note 1: 1 Denning's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, VIII, folio 89.]
According to order, the agents for the States of Massachusetts and New York attended, and informed the United States in Congress assembled, that they have respectively been furnished with the credentials of the other party, and have no objections thereto; Whereupon,
Resolved, That the agents for the States of Massachusetts and New York be, and they are hereby directed to appoint, by joint consent, commissioners or judges to constitute a court for hearing and determining the matter in question, agreeable to the ninth of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union.
A motion being made by the State of South Carolina, seconded by the State of Pensylvania,
"That for the more convenient transaction of the business of the United States and accommodation of Congress, it is expedient for them to adjourn from their present residence;" when the question was about to be put, the yeas and nays being requiredby Mr. Read,the determination thereof was put off till to-morrow, by the State of New Jersey.
The Committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Holton, Mr. William Churchill Houstoun, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford, and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, to whom were referred the letters of the Ministers from the United States of America at Foreign Courts and also sundry reports of Committees and other documents respecting C. G. W. [C. W. F.] Dumas of the City of Amsterdam.
Report, That it appears, that Mr. Dumas has for a considerable time past been employed either by the Secret Committee of Congress or through the Ministers of the United States in Europe, in business highly confidential.
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It further appears that Mr. Dumas hath always shewn the greatest zeal and activity in the service of the United States, his despatches being numerous and often containing intelligence, materially interesting to the United States.
That from the papers referred to your Committee it also appears that in consequence of Mr. Dumas being early engaged in the confidential business of Congress and before the cause of America was fully understood, or had many advocates in Holland, he not only incurred great odium, but in consequence of his entire devotion to the views and service of Congress and their Ministers, he hath actually been thrown out of other employments and suffered greatly in his private fortune. Your Committee therefore recommend that it be,
Resolved, That the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States in Europe or any two of them, be and they are hereby empowered and directed to enquire into the sacrifices and services of C. G. W. Dumas and the salaries he hath heretofore received for the same, and to make him a liberal and ample gratuity out of any monies of the United States now in Europe for the sacrifices made and services rendered by him to the United States, also to order such additional salary to that now enjoyed by Mr. Dumas as they in their discretion, may judge proper.
Resolved, That as Congress do not at present deem it expedient to employ in a public character a citizen or subject of any foreign state, the Minister of the United States at the Hague considers Mr. Dumas only as the private agent and confidential servant of the United States in which character he may continue to render essential services to the United States. 1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 153. The indorsement states that it was read on this day. See post, October 14, 1785.
According to the indorsement, a letter of November 20 from Richard Butler and Arthur Lee, was read on this day. It is in No. 56, folio 313.]
[Motion of Mr. Jacob Read]
Resolved, That the Secretary in the War Office do in the name of the United States in Congress Assembled present to Major General the Marquis de Lafayette a standard of those captured at the surrender of the British Army under the command of Lieut. Genl, The
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Earl Cornwallis at Yorktown in Virginia in the year 1781 to the combined forces of the United States of America and France under the immediate command of his Excellency General Washington, Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States, as a testimonial of the high sense Congress entertain of the great bravery and prowess evinced on many occasions by the Marquis and particularly during the siege of Yorktown, by carrying, sword in hand with the American column of troops which he commanded in person one of the enemies redoubts, completely garrisoned, and in an entire state of Military defence.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 473. The indorsement states that it was made this day and referred to the committee of one from each state appointed December 9 on the affairs of General Lafayette. The following, undated, in the writing of John Jay, is on folio 475:
Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette has during the late war discovered great Military talents, having on various occasions given high proofs of skill, activity and bravery, particularly in frustrating the designs of a superior enemy during his separate command in Virginia, and afterwards carrying sword in hand, at the head of an American column, one of their strong works at Yorktown.
Resolved, Thatbe presented to the Marquis as a mark of the high opinion which they entertain of his Military merit.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter of December 5 from Joseph Wright. It is in No. 78, XXIV, folio 487.
Also, probably on this or an approximate date, was read a letter of December 10 from Joseph Carleton, Secretary for the War Office. It is in No. 36, folio 97.
Also, on this or an approximate date a letter of November 18 from Arthur Campbell. It is in No. 48, folio 277.]
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