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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 --WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia; and from New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster; and from C[onnecticut], Mr. [Joseph Platt] Cook.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, on the department of foreign affairs,
The Committee to whom was referred "Regulations in the office for Foreign affairs," humbly Report,
That a Resolution passed the 22nd. Feby., 1782, empowered the Secretary for foreign affairs to appoint an Under Secretary and one or more clerks; that in the opinion of your Committee this power implies a right to remove them or either of them at his discretion.
That your Committee conceive this right to appoint and remove the Under Secretaries and clerks, that he may find it necessary to employ, has not been revoked by any subsequent act of Congress, and that it was in no wise affected by the resolution of the 3rd Feby. last for the appointment of an under Secretary to take charge of the papers of the Department until the farther order of Congress.
That your Committee are farther of opinion that a reasonable allowance should be made to the Gentleman who may preside over
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this important Department, as a compensation for his services beyond what his dignified station may require him to expend. That Congress in distinguishing between the sums given as a reward for his services and those intended for the support of the office will free him from embarrassments, which he cannot but feel, when he is at a loss to determine whether his own sentiments on this head conform to those of Congress.
Your Committee therefore submit the following Resolutions:
Resolved, That the Resolution of the 3rd February, 1784 for the appointment of an under Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs to take charge of the papers, and the appointment in consequence thereof, continue in force no longer than until a Secretary to the United States for the Department of Foreign Affairs take the oaths and enter upon the execution of his Office.1
[Note 1: 1 This resolution was entered in both the public Journal and the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs. The proceedings for the rest of the day were entered only in the Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal, No. 4, and in Secret Journal, No. 6, Vol. III.]
Resolved, 2nd. That one thousand dollars a year be paid to the Secretary of the United States for the Department of Foreign Affairs as a compensation for his services in that Department beyond the Salary of 4000 dollars, settled on him by the Resolution of the 22nd Feby. 1782, which Congress conceive it may be necessary for him to expend in support and maintanence of his office.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 395.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney and Mr. [William Churchill] Houstoun, to whom was referred a note from Mr. de Marbois, chargé des affaires of France, accompanied with a letter from Don Francisco Rendon, agent of the Court of Madrid, and an extract of a letter from Don J. Galvez, minister of his Catholick Majesty, touching the limits of Louisiana, and the Floridas, and the navigation of the Mississippi--
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Resolved, That the Secretary for foreign affairs be instructed to inform Mr. de Marbois, chargé des affaires of France, that the United States in Congress assembled have received his note of the 19th of November, with the papers enclosed, and are happy in the assurance given that his Most Christian Majesty will see with pleasure measures taken to consolidate and maintain a good understanding between his Catholick Majesty and the United States; and they flatter themselves that their disposition and endeavours to cultivate the friendship of the Catholick King will produce the desired effect.
That Congress have a high confidence in the justice of his Catholick Majesty, and rely that he will submit the mutual rights of Spain and the United States of America to amicable discussion, without adopting measures which may prejudice those rights.1
[Note 1: 1 These resolutions, the first in the writing of James Monroe, the second in that of William Churchill Houston, are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folios 391 and 393.]
TRANSLATIONS.
Philadelphia, November 19, 1784.
The undersigned, chargé des affaires of France, has the honour to present to Congress a letter of Don Francisco Rendon, agent of the Court of Madrid. This letter, and the extract accompanying it, relate to the limits of Louisiana and the Floridas, as well as to the navigation of the Mississippi. The undersigned has the honour to assure Congress, that the King will see with great pleasure every measure which shall be taken to consolidate and maintain a good understanding between his Catholick Majesty and the United States.
(Signed) De Marbois.
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[Rendon's letter.]
Philadelphia, November 16, 1784.
Sir,
I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency an extract of a letter which I have lately received from Don Joseph de Galvez, Minister of his Catholick Majesty for the department of the Indies. I beg you will be pleased to lay it before Congress, and communicate the contents to the governours and presidents of the several states. His Majesty is persuaded that Congress will admit the justice of a claim which is founded on all the rights which an entire conquest and an uninterrupted possession can give to any power; and that they will agree that the cession of the navigation of the Mississippi, made by the King of Great Britain to the United States in the treaty of 1783, can have no real force unless the Catholick King, my master, to whom the navigation of that river belongs, shall think proper to ratify it. I see with pleasure by the contents of the extract enclosed, that there is a probability that Spain and the United States will very soon confirm, by a solid and durable treaty, that friendship which has already for several years subsisted between the two nations. I hope that all objects, about which there is any doubt, will then be settled and terminated to the mutual satisfaction of his Majesty and Congress.
I have the honour to be with respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
(Signed) Francisco Rendon.
His Excellency
the President of Congress.
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[Extract from De Galvez's letter.]
Aranjues, June 26, 1784.
"Until the limits of Louisiana and the two Floridas shall be settled and determined with the United States of America, his Majesty commands that you should give the states and Congress to understand that they are not to expose to process and confiscation the vessels which they destine to carry on commerce on the River Mississippi, inasmuch as a treaty concluded between the United States and England, on which the former ground their pretensions to the navigation of that river, could not fix limits in a territory which that power did not possess, the two borders of the river being already conquered and possessed by our arms the day the treaty was made, namely, the 30th November, 1782. This order I communicate to you that you may conform yourself thereto.
(Signed) Joseph de Galvez.1
[Note 1: 1 On this or an approximate date was read a petition dated December 15, 1784, of Andrew Pepin. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 290.
Also a letter of December 14 from William Paca. It is in No. 78, XXIV, folio 495.]
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