| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, MAY 30, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia; and from the state of North Carolina, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight.
Mr. William Houstoun, Mr. John Habersham and Mr. Abraham Baldwin, three delegates from Georgia, produced credentials, dated the 5 May, 1785, by which it appears, that the general Assembly of the State of Georgia, did, at their last session, appoint the said William Houstoun and
Page 401 | Page image
John Habersham, also Edward Telfair and William Gibbons, senr. and the said Abraham Baldwin and William Few, Esquires, delegates, with power to them, or any two of them, to represent the said State in Congress, until the first Tuesday in January, or till others shall be appointed by the legislature.1
The Committee consisting of Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr [Pierse] Long, and Mr [William] Ellery, to whom was referred two applications of Udney Hay, one dated May 16th, 1785, respecting his promotion and its attending emoluments, the other dated May 23rd., 1785, touching a mode for settling his accounts, Report--
That the application of Udney Hay for promotion be referred to the Secretary at War to report, and that his application respecting a mode of settling his accounts be referred to William Denning Esq. Comm. for settling the accounts in the Quarter Masters Department, and that he be authorized and directed in adjusting said accounts to govern himself by the directions given in the fourth clause of the resolutions of Congress of the third day of June 1784.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 133. According to indorsement it was passed June 10.]
The People of the State of Georgia by the Grace of God Free Sovereign and Independent:
Whereas our General Assembly did at their last meeting held at Savannah in the County of Chatham in the said State nominate and appoint William Houstoun, John Habersham, Edward Telfair, William Gibbons, Senior, Abraham Baldwin and William Few, Esquires, Delegates to represent the same in the General S. Elbert With the Great Seal Appendant. Congress of the United States of America assembled, to Continue in Office until the first Tuesdayin January which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty-six, or until others shall be appointed.
Now therefore know ye, That in pursuance of such nomination and appointment WE do by these presents Commissionate the said William Houstoun, John Habersham, Edward Telfair, William Gibbons, Abraham Baldwin and William Few, Esquires, or any two of
[Note 2: 2 On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, Mr. [John] Lawrance was added to the Committee of May 2 on the memorial of Brockholst Livingston, in the place of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson.]
Page 402 | Page image
them Delegates to Represent this our State in the said General Assembly of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, And Do hereby authorize them, and each of them, to hold and exercise all the powers and authorities to the Office or place of Delegate belonging by Virtue of the Constitution of this our State, and the nomination and appointment aforesaid TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Office or place of Delegate, unto the said William Houstoun, John Habersham, Edward Telfair, William Gibbons, Abraham Baldwin and William Few, for and during, and until the first Tuesday in January as aforesaid, or until others shall be appointed by the Legislature, and no Longer.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Caused the Great Seal of the said State to be put and affixed at Savannah, this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty-five, And of our Sovereignty and Independence the Ninth.
By his Honors Command.
J. Milton, Secry.1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Georgia, Credentials of Delegate. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.]
Office for Foreign Affairs, 28th. May, 1785.
Sir: I have the Honor of transmitting to your Excely. herewith enclosed, a Report on Mr. Gardoqui's Letters.
His Character as a Plenipotentiary Chargé des Affaires, appears to me to be of the first Impression; and the Act of Congress directing the Ceremonials to be observed on the Reception of Foreign Ministers, does not expressly extend to it. I mention this that Congress may decide whether any and what Deviations shall in his Case be made from it.
That Act strikes me as abounding in Civility and possibly the Times rendered it expedient that it should be so. Perhaps it would not be seasonable to alter it at Present but a little Change in the Practice upon it, might make it correspond more with self-Respect. There does not seem to be any Impropriety in giving Audiences either public or private to any of these public Characters--what I mean to hint is that Congress would only hear, but not answer in Person. An immediate Answer cannot be expected from a collective Body; and I have no Reason to believe that other Sovereigns return set and
Page 403 | Page image
complimentary Answers to set and formal Addresses from any foreign Ministers.
I have the Honor to be etc.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress No. 81, I, folio 231. According to the indorsement it was read May 30 and "Referred to the Secy. for foreign Affairs to report." The form of Jay's answer to Gardoqui is on folio 235, and was referred back to the Secretary to take order. Resolve Book No. 123 notes under May 30: "Ordered, That the foregoing draught of a Letter to Don Diego de Gardoqui, be referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take Order."]
The Committee of the week [Mr. David Jackson, Mr. William Houstoun and Mr. John Kean] on the letter from the Secretary at War of the 21st. instant enclosing an estimate of the deficiencies of cloathing wanted for the troops to be raised under the resolutions of Congress of the 1st. 7th. and 12th. April 1785, also an estimate of the daily supply of rations necessary for the said troops; beg leave to say that they have examined both estimates and find them conformable to the different resolutions of Congress in those cases made and provided. They therefore report that those estimates be referred to the Board of Treasury to take order.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of David Jackson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 611. The indorsement states that it was agreed to on this day. Knox's letter, dated May 21, with the estimates, is in No. 150, I, folios 43--47. It is indorsed as having been read this day. The letter and estimates are also entered, by Benjamin Bankson, in Resolve Book No. 123 which records: "May 30th. 1785. Ordered, That the foregoing Letter from the Secretary at War together with its enclosures be referred to the Board of Treasury to take Order."]
The Committee of the week [Mr. David Jackson, Mr. William Houstoun and Mr. John Kean] on the memorial of Toussaint Lopez praying for payment of certain notes or certificates of final settlements for his services amounting to 337 83/90 dollars besides interest, urging as a reason that he was ready to go to France; find that the said Lopez served in the late Continental Army only as a private, that to grant relief in his case would be opening a door for an infinity of applications of a similar nature from individuals of the late Army, who might say they belonged to this, that or the other any nation of Europe and wished to return. They therefore report that in their opinion the prayer of his memorial cannot be granted.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of David Jackson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 615. The indorsement states that it was agreed to on this day. See ante, May 18.]
Page 404 | Page image
Board Of Treasury, May 27th. 1785.
The Board of Treasury having considered the memorial of Hendrick Smock referred to them on the 26th. inst. Report.
That on an application, founded on similar principles, Congress Resolved, on the 8th. January 1784.
That, the certificates being made payable to bearer & being probably in circulation the prayer could not be granted. They therefore submit to Congress the following general Resolution.
That in all cases, where certificates of the United States, payable to bearer, have been lost, and no satisfactory evidence given of the same having been destroyed, it would be improper, that any new certificates should issue to replace the same.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 138, II, folio 385. According to the indorsement it was read this day and passed August 19.
May 30: The following committees were appointed: Of the Week: Mr. [Charles] Pettit, Mr. [John] Lawrance and Mr. [John] Kean.
Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Pierse] Long, Mr. J[ohn] Henry, Mr. [Charles] Pettit and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight to revise the regulations of the Treasury Department and report an ordinance for its future regulation. This was a renewal of the committee of April 12 and the committee of this day was again renewed July 11.
Also on this day Ezekiel Forman was nominated by Mr. [Charles] Pettit for Commissioner of the Board of Treasury.Committee Book No. 190.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |