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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 --[Saturday, June 4, 1785.2]
[Note 2: 2 The Journals show no session of Congress on June 4, yet the record in the Committee Books and from indorsements shows the transaction of matters herewith recorded.]
War Office, June 3d. 1785.
Sir: On the memorial of Major John Adams referred to the Secretary at War I beg leave to observe
That Major Adams was appointed commissary of prisoners in the beginning of the year 1779 and did duty at the post of Elizabeth town until the close of the late war.
That it fully appears from the enclosed letters and certificates of the honorable colonel Beathy, general Dayton and others late officers in the American army, that Major Adams during his continuance in office, must have unavoidably expended large sums of his own money
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in subsisting the prisoners of war both American and British passing and repassing through that post, as there was no issuing commissary regularly established there or any person duly authorized by Congress or the Commander in Chief to supply them with the common necessaries of life.
It further appears by the unquestionable testimony he has produced that his expences have been considerably increased by his humane attention to the wretched condition of the prisoners in supplying them with shoes, stockings &ca. that they might return home in a manner more comfortable to their friends and near connexions. The charges which Major Adams now exhibits and affirms to, for monies borrowed & expended on Account of the public amount to £457..16..11 Pennsylvania currency which sum he alledges is far short of what he has actually expended for the use of the prisoners.
From this representation of Major Adams' case and sufferings; Congress will be pleased to judge of the merits of his claims and of the justice of allowing him a part if not the whole of his account. It is an unfortunate circumstance that the peculiar situation of the Major added to the multiplicity of business he had to transact at the post prevented his procuring the necessary vouchers for the monies which he actually disbursed in behalf of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, folio 63. It is indorsed: "Read June 4, 1785 June 7, 1785 Referred to Mr. [Samuel] Dick, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [William] Grayson."]
I have the Honor to be etc.
Jos. Carleton.
The Committee [consisting of Mr. Charles Pinckney, Mr. David Howell and Mr. John Lawrance] to whom was recommitted a report on a memorial dated New York February 4, 1785, and signed Donald Campbell, beg leave to submit the following report.
Your Committee find that the accounts of the Memorialist as Quarter Master General for the Northern department were settled by the Comptroller of the Treasury on the 24th of November, 1781, and a balance of 5,595 35/90 dollars was found due to the Memorialist, that the sum of 1,595 35/90 dollars, in part of said balance was paid to the Memorialist in specie on the 11 of said month and that he received a certificate for the remainder being 4,000 dollars dated Decr 8, 1781 bearing interest from the 3d day of April preceding.
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Your Committee observe that the Memorialist complains of injustice done him in said settlement to the amount of 941 43/90 dollars the Comptroller having allowed him only 2½ per cent commissions on certain goods by him purchased and delivered for the use of the northern army instead of 5 per cent by him charged, And only 6 per cent: interest instead of 7 per cent by him charged on the balance due to the memorialist on the 3d. day of July, 1776.
The Memorialist has further represented to your Committee that he never has received any compensation for the British half pay of a Lieutenant which he sacrificed on entering into the American service, that he has not received any other payment from the United States during the war than the aforesaid sum of 1,595 35/90 dollars, and that he has a demand on the public on an unliquidated account to the amount of upwards of 20,000 dollars, and moreover that he is extremely pressed for money, and greatly embarrassed by not receiving payment from the public, and that unless some releif can be extended to him he will incur the danger of the total ruin of his fortune and family;
Whereupon your Committee submit the following resolutions,
Resolved, That the board of Treasury take order for paying to Donald Campbell Esquire some time Quarter Master General in the Northern department the sum of 4,000 dollars being the balance of his account as settled by the Comptroller of the 14 of Novr. 1781--And take up and cancel the registered certificate therefor dated Decr. 8, 1781, and bearing interest from April 3d. preceding.
Resolved, That that part of the memorial which contains a claim to 5 per cent commission on certain goods by the Memorialist purchased and delivered for the use of the northern army, And that part which contains a claim to 7 per cent interest on the balance due to the Memorialist on the 3d day of July, 1776 be referred to the Board of Treasury to report.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 499. The indorsement states that it was read June 4, and the papers of Campbell referred to the Board of Treasury July 10, 1786.
On June 4, according to the indorsement on John Halsted's memorials (No. 42 III, folios 461--463) the report of March 28 on these memorials was passed and the papers transmitted to the Board of Treasury, June 12.
On June 4, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of May 29, from Governor George Clinton, announcing the compliance of New York with the requisition for a quota of troops for the Western frontiers. It is in No. 67, II, folio 493.]
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