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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 24, 1784.
Congress assembled: Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Samuel] Holten, to whom was referred a petition of Mr. Ayot, with sundry papers accompanying the same, stating himself as having served as captain in the
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service of the United States in Canada, and praying for a settlement of his accounts and compensation,
Resolved, That the said petition and papers be referred to the paymaster general, to settle the accounts of the petitioner against the United States, and if any difficulty should occur, to report specially.
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry,
Whereas it is essential to the interests of the federal government that the ordinance passed yesterday respecting the erection of federal buildings near the falls of the Delaware should be carried into execution as soon as possible
Resolved, That Congress will immediately proceed to the election of commissioners for carrying into execution the purposes mentioned in the Ordinance of yesterday, on the 13th of January next.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 494.]
On motion of Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [Rufus] King,
Resolved, That the President transmit to the executives of the several states, the Ordinance passed yesterday, and that it be also published.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 457.]
On motion of Mr. [Rufus] King, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell,
Resolved, That Congress entertain a due sense of the attention of the legislature of the State of New Jersey, in providing accommodations for their reception; and also of the exertions of the inhabitants of Trenton, in accomplishing the intentions of their legislature.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 489.]
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On motion of Mr. [Rufus] King, seconded by Mr. [David] Howell, Congress came to the following resolution:
The delegates of Pensylvania, having laid before Congress the resolves of their legislature, of the 27th day of November last,
Resolved,That Congress entertain a due sense of the attention of the Commonwealth of Pensylvania, in offering to Congress the use of their public buildings in the City of Philadelphia, for their temporary residence.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [William] Ellery, to whom was referred a petition of Alexander White, acting executor to the last will and testament of the late Major-General Lee,
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, and Mr. [William] Ellery to whom was referred the Memorial of Alexander White acting executor to the last will and testament of the late Major General Charles Lee praying that on the payment of the balance that may be due from the estate of the said General to the United States that Robert Morris, Esqr., be authorized to release the estate of the said Lee from all assignments, deeds of conveyance, deeds of trust and other authorized by him for assigning to the said R. Morris the estate of the said General Lee or any part thereof for securing the payment of the sum of 30,000 dollars advanced to the said General Lee by Congress on 5th of October, 1776.
Report, That on the 5th. day of October 1776, Congress resolved that the sum of 30,000 dollars be advanced to General Lee upon his giving bond to the treasurer to account for the same, and taking such steps in conjunction with Robert Morris Esq., on behalf of Congress as will secure the most effectual transfer of his estate in England to reimburse the Congress for the advance now made to him. That in consequence of the above Resolve the said General Lee did on the -- day of October pass his bond to Michael Hillegas, Treasurer of the United States for the sum of 60,000 dollars for securing the payment of 30,000 dollars advanced him by Congress
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and for the same purpose assigned over to Robert Morris Esq. as agent on the part of Congress his estates in England and Jamaica; that the Memorialist is now settling the accounts of the late Major General Lee with the U. S., which he hopes shortly to accomplish. Whereupon your Committee submit the following Resolve:
Resolved, That upon the payment of the balance which may appear due to the United States from the estate of the said General Lee, to the treasurer of the United States, Robert Morris, esq. be, and he is hereby authorised to release the estate of the said General Lee, from all assignments, deeds of conveyance, deeds of trust, and other writings made or executed by the said General Lee, or by any person authorised by him for assigning, conveying or assuring to the said R. Morris, the estate of the said General Lee, or any part thereof, for securing the payment of thirty thousand dollars advanced to him by Congress, pursuant to their resolution of the 5 day of October, 1776; and that the bond to Michael Hillegas, for the payment of the same, be cancelled and delivered up to Alexander White, executor to the said General Lee.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Richard Dobbs Spaight, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 543. White's memorial is in No. 41, X, folio 605.]
In pursuance of the resolution of the 10th day of this present month, December, the agents for the states of Massachusetts and New York, made report as follows:
"TO THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.
We the underwritten agents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of New York, do humbly certify, that in pursuance of the pleasure of Congress to us signified on the seventeenth day of December instant, we have agreed on the following gentlemen as commissioners to constitute a court for hearing and determining a dispute or controversy now subsisting between the said states, as set forth in the petition of the said Commonwealth, now on the files of Congress; that is to say, The Honorable Robert Hanson Harrison,
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Esquire, of the State of Maryland; The Honorable Thomas Johnson, Esquire, of the said State; The Honorable John Rutledge, Esquire, of the State of South Carolina; The Honorable George Wythe, Esquire, of the State of Virginia; The Honorable William Grayson, Esquire, of the said State; The Honorable James Monroe, Esquire, of the said State; The Honorable George Read, Esquire, of the State of Delaware; The Honorable Isaac Smith, Esquire, of the State of New Jersey; and The Honorable William Patterson, Esquire, of the said State. And we the said agents do further certify, that it is mutually agreed between the parties, that if any one or more of the said gentlemen so named as commissioners, shall decline the said office, the vacancy shall be supplied by Congress, according to an agreement in writing of this date, signed and interchanged by us the said agents. And further, that any five of the said commissioners who shall finally accept the said office, shall be a quorum, according to the Confederation of the United States. And we do further humbly certify, that it is also mutually agreed between us, that the court for determining the said controversy, shall be holden at such place, as Congress by a vote of the majority of the states to be assembled, when the place for holding the said court is considered, shall appoint. Dated at Trenton, this 24 December, 1784.
[Note 1: 1 The original of this certificate is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 499.
A memorial from Captain Segond, is indorsed "Supposed to have been received in 1784." It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, IX, folios 241--248.]
Adjourned to meet at the City of New York, on the 11 day of January next.1
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