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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, MAY 27, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina; and from the state of New York, Mr. [Melancton] Smith; from North Carolina, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
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Mr. Charles Pettit, a delegate for the state of Pennsylvania, attended, and produced credentials; by which it appears, that on the seventh day of April, 1785, he was appointed a delegate of that State for the present year.
Pennsylvania, SS. [SEAL] John Dickinson. In the Name and by the authority of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.--The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth
To the Honorable Charles Pettit Esquire.
Whereas on the seventh day of this Month You was by the General Assembly of this Commonwealth appointed a Delegate: You are therefore hereby Commissioned a Delegate to represent this State in Congress for the present Year.
Given in Council under the hand of His Excellency John Dickinson Esquire, President, and the Seal of the State at Philadelphia this eighteenth day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five.
Attest: John Armstrong, Jr. Sy.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Pennsylvania, Credentials of Delegates. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Melancton] Smith, Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [James] Wilson and Mr. [David] Howell, to whom was referred a memorial of the late contractors for the moving army,
Resolved, That J. D. Mercier, William Malcolm and Isaac Roosevelt, esquires, having made oath that they will faithfully discharge this trust, be authorized to enquire into the particulars, and to determine what damages, if, any, have been sustained by Tench Francis, Comfort Sands, and others, late contractors for the moving army, from the late Superintendent of finance having failed to make good the stipulated payments, or from his withdrawing the contract; and make report to Congress.
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On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [William] Grayson,
Resolved, That the geographer of the United States be continued in Office for a term not exceeding three years; and that he be allowed, during his continuance in Office, six dollars per day, for his services and expences.
According to order, Congress proceeded to the election of a Surveyor from each State, in conformity to the "Ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of lands in the western territory," and, the ballots being taken, Mr. Nathaniel Adams was elected from the State of New Hampshire; Mr. Rufus Putnam from Massachusetts; Mr. Caleb Harris from Rhode Island and Providence plantations; Mr. William Morris from New York; Mr. Adam Hoops from Pennsylvania; Mr. James Simpson from Maryland; Mr. Alexander Parker from Virginia; Mr. Absolom Tatum from North Carolina; Mr. William Tare from South Carolina. They severally having been previously nominated by the delegates of the respective states.1
[Note 1: 1 According to Committee Book No, 190, these nominations were made May 25.]
On a report from the board of treasury, to whom was referred a memorial of Henry Mesplet, printer,
Resolved, (by nine States) That the sum of four hundred and twenty six dollars and forty five ninetieths of a dollar be paid to Mr. Fleury de Mesplet, on account of expences attending the transporting himself, family and printing utensils, from Philadelphia to Montreal.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Pierce] Long, Mr. [Joseph] Gardner and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, to whom was referred a memorial of Robert Patton,
Resolved, (By nine States) That Robert Patton be allowed seventy five dollars, for seven months and an half extra expences, from the 26 May, 1784, to the tune Congress met in New York.
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On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [John] Bull, Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. W[illiam] Henry, to whom was referred a memorial from sundry regimental agents, in whose hands were deposited, for distribution, Certificates of the arrears of pay due to the Officers and soldiers.
Resolved, That the legislature of the respective states to which regimental and other agents (appointed for the purpose of receiving, from the pay master general, Certificates on a final settlement of the balances due to the officers and soldiers of the late army) belong, be, and they are hereby requested to cause the services of the said agents to be examined, and make them such allowance as they may think them entitled to, and charge the same to the United States.
That such agents deposit the certificates that may remain in their hands, with the Supreme executive of the States to which they respectively belong, agreeably to the resolution of Congress of the 3 of November, 1783.1
[Note 1: 1 See ante, Feb. 16]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. David Ramsay, Mr. William Samuel Johnson and Mr. Samuel Dick] to which was referred the petition of Jacob Fowler praying for the assistance of Congress to enable him to instruct the Indians of the Montauk tribe in reading, writing, and the principles of the Christian religion, report that they have conversed with and enquired the character of the said Petitioner and find him a person suitable to be employed in the business which he prays the assistance of Congress to enable him to perform. They also are of opinion that not only the principles of religion but sound policy requires that the benevolent intentions of the said Jacob Fowler meet with the encouragement of Congress. Your Committee therefore recommend the following resolution.
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury advance to Jacob Fowler the sum of one hundred dollars to encourage him to instruct the Indians in reading, writing and the principles of Christian religion and that he be recommended to the Legislature of New York and to all charitable well disposed individuals as a person deserving
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encouragement and their charitable aid to enable him to prosecute his laudable intention with respect to the Indians.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Ramsay, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 313. According to the indorsement it was read this day and passed June 2. See ante May 17.
On this day, according to indorsement, was read a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated May 26 and relating to an extract from a letter from General Philip Schuyler as to clothing for Indian hostages. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, I, folio 185, and is indorsed by Thomson: "Referred to the board of treasury to take Order" In the Resolve Book, No. 123, p. 11, Benjamin Bankson has entered Jay's letter and the Schuyler extract.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, the letter of Don Diego Gardoqui, of May 21, announcing his arrival in Philadelphia, and the character with which he is invested, was referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. Report was made May 30. Gardoqui's letter is in No. 97, folio 1; the English translation is on folio 5. Jay's letter, May 27, forwarding Gardoqui's to Congress, is in No. 80, I, folio 181. It is indorsed: "Ref'd to Secy for forn. Affs. with letters enclosed to report. Gardoqui letter filed with report of Secy. for for. Affs. July 4, 1785. N. B. these papers transmitted to the office f. f. Affairs Novr. 10, 1789."
May 26: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [William] Grayson, on the note of Mons. de Marbois, dated May 16, relating to interest due French subjects, money due Sabatier and money advanced William Bingham. This note was transmitted in a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated May 26, which according to the indorsement was read May 27. July 7 the committee was discharged, according to Committee Book No. 190, and the matter referred to the Board of Treasury, which reported, according to the indorsement on Jay's letter, on August 2. This report was filed and Marbois' note, "transmitted to the Office f: for Affrs Nov. 1787."Committee Book No. 190.
On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, Mr. [John] Lawrence was added to the Committee of May 2 on the memorial of Brockholst Livingston, in the place of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson.]
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