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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 --THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia; and from the State of New Hampshire, Mr. [Abiel] Foster.
In further pursuance of the resolution of the 10 day of December last, the agents of the States of New York and Massachusetts, made the following report:
To the honourable the United States in Congress assembled, The Subscribers, Agents of the State of New York and Massachusetts,
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beg leave to represent, that they have agreed upon the honorable Samuel Johnson, esqr. of North Carolina, the honorable William Fleming, esquire of Virginia, and the honorable John Sitgreaves, esqr. of North Carolina, to be judges, instead of the honorable John Rutledge, Robert Hanson Harrison, and William Grayson, esquires who have declined their appointment to sit in the federal court, for a trial of a controversy between the said states of Massachusetts and New York, which controversy is suggested in the petition of the former, now on the files of Congress; and thereupon the said agents do humbly request, that notice may be given to the said Samuel Johnson, William Fleming and John Sitgreaves, esquires and that upon their acceptance a Commission may be issued to them, together with the honorable Thomas Johnson, George Wythe, George Reed, James Monroe, Isaac Smith and William Patterson, esquires constituting them a court according to the confederation, to meet at the City of Williamsburg in the State of Virginia, on the third tuesday of November next, to hear and determine the controversy aforesaid."
John Jay,
Rob. R. Livingston,
Walter Livingston,
Agents for New York.1
[Note 1: 1 The report, signed by the agents, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, folio 511.]
J. Lowell,
James Sullivan,
Theop. Parsons,
Rufus King,
S. Holten,
Agents for Massachusetts.1
On motion of Mr. [James] Monroe, seconded by Mr. [David] Ramsay,
Resolved, (by nine States) That the board of treasury be, and hereby are directed to take order for the payment of three hundred and thirty three dollars and one third of a dollar to the guardian of Hugh Mercer, son of the late general Mercer, for one year's education and board.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of James Monroe, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 3.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Charles] Pettit, appointed to consider, what sums it may be necessary to advance to the geographers and surveyors, for carrying into execution the Ordinance of 20 May.
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Resolved, That the board of treasury advance to Thomas Hutchins, geographer of the United States, seven hundred dollars on Account.
That the board of treasury advance Thomas Hutchins, Geographer of the United States, six thousand dollars, for which he is to be accountable, to be applied by him, from time to time, to the use of the several Officers concerned in carrying into execution the Ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of Lands in the western territory.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Grayson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 235. According to the indorsement, it was read and passed this day.]
Congress resumed the consideration of the motion made yesterday by Mr. [James] Monroe, and the same being amended,
Resolved, That the commissioner to be appointed to settle the accounts of the State of Virginia against the United States, under the Act of Cession of her claims to territory north-westward of the river Ohio, be allowed six dollars a day, so long as he shall be necessarily employed in that business, in full compensation for his services and all expences; and that the resolution of the 21 day of April last, so far as it respects the salary of the said Commissioner, be, and it is hereby repealed.
Congress proceeded to the Election of a Commissioner, in pursuance of the resolution of the 13 day of April, 1785; and, the ballots being taken, Mr. Samuel Holden Parsons was elected; having been previously nominated by Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson.
The committee [consisting of Mr. James McHenry, Mr. Rufus King and Mr. William Samuel Johnson] to whom was referred a letter from the Secretary of foreign affairs inclosing a letter to him signed Wm. Shaw dated New York 19 May, 1785.
That your committee are of opinion that so much of Mr. Shaw's letter as respects the voyage to and from Canton be published.
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That the Secretary of Foreign affairs inform Mr. Shaw that Congress feel a peculiar satisfaction in the successful issue of this first effort of the citizens of America to establish a direct trade with China, which does so much honor to its undertakers and conductors; and that they have ordered the two pieces of silk presented by the Fuen of Canton to Mr. Shaw and by him Congress to be carefully preserved in commemmoration of so interesting an event.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 323. It is indorsed as read this day and "the first paragraph referred to the Secy of Congress to take Order. The second to the Secy. for foreign Affairs to take Order." A copy by Thomson is in No. 25, II, folio 431, in which the last sentence lined out is noted as "struck out by a subsequent act of Congress." Committee Book No. 190 notes the date of striking out as June 15 and that the Secretary of Congress was on that same day discharged of the duty of publishing Mr. Shaw's letter. See post, June 22.]
Office for Foreign Affairs, 9th. June, 1785.
The Secretary of the United States for the Department of foreign Affairs to whom was referred a Letter from John Carter to the Honorable David Howell Esquire of the 19th. April last respecting Mr. Richard Low and other Americans who haveing been made Prisoners by the British during the late War, are not yet released--Report--That in his opinion a Copy of the said Letter should be transmitted to the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of London, with Instructions to lay the Same before the Minister and to demand that Orders be immediately given for the Release and Discharge of all such American Soldiers, Seamen and Citizens as having been captured during the late War may yet be detained in his britannic Majesty's Prisons, Garrisons, Armies or Ships.
All which is Submitted to the Wisdom of Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress No. 81, I, folio 243. It is indorsed as referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to take order.]
Board of Treasury, June 7th., 1785.
Sir; We do ourselves the honor in obedience of the Act of Congress of the 25th. May last of transmitting to your Excellency the following estimates.
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On the statement No 3 we must observe that we have within a few days received intelligence from Mr. Webb in Virginia that he has received the sum of Thirty nine thousand Dollars since the 30th. April last, but the prospect of further receipts in that state is far from flattering.
From the State of New York has been received the sum of Fifteen thousand Dollars, which is not entered in this account.
It is with regret we are constrained to observe that the collection of General Taxes in the several States goes on with so much Languor, and meets with such obstructions, that in our opinion a Sufficient Sam in Specie will not be paid into the Public Treasury during the present year (unless the most vigorous and immediate exerctions are made) to defray the Ordinary Expences of Government.
This is a Serious, and most alarming Situation to all who are interested in preserving the Union of the States, and particularly to those Officers of Congress, who are Entrusted with the Administration of the Finances, and are thereby daily exposed to the importunity of Just Claims, which it is not possible to comply with.
If to this sum be added about gl. 200,000, which (if the Loan has been completely filled) will come into the hand of the Dutch Commr. the balance to be appropriated will amount to about Two hundred and Fifty thousand Guilders. This sum will not be sufficient to defray the interest due on the Six Million French Loan, which, without doubt, becomes payable the present year, and to make up the deficiency of the monies remitted to Mr Grand in the last year to pay off the interest which had accrued on the 5th. Novr. 1784, on the Ten Million Livres borrowed of Holland, under the guarantee of France. So that Congress will observe that not the least dependance can be placed on the funds in Europe to make up for the deficiencies
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of Taxes in the present year to defray the Ordinary Expences of Government.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livington, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 140, II, folio 13. According to the indorsement it was read, with the accompanying estimates, June 9, See post, June 13.]
Estimate of the Foreign and Domestic Debt.
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Register's Office the 1st June, 1785.
Jos: Nourse, Register.1
[Note 1: 1 The original of this Estimate is missing. The above is copied from the Force transcript.]
Estimate of One Years Interest on the Foreign & Domestic Debt
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Registers Office.--1st June, 1785.--
Jos: Nourse, Register.
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State of the Quota's, with the Amounts paid and Balances due of 8,000,000 Dollars required by Act of Congress of 30th October, 1781, as stated in the Accounts of the late Superintendant of Finance (No. 12) to 30th October, 1784, and from thence to the dates of the Receivers last Returns.
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Note.--The Certificates received in the States of Massachusetts and Delaware were issued by the Loan Officers in payment of Interest on Monies Loaned; CoLlected in Taxes, and paid as Cash to the Receivers.
Registers Office, 1st June, 1785.
Jos. Nourse, Reg.
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Messrs. Wilhem & Jan Willink Nicholas & Jacob Van Staphorst and De La Lande & Finje: Commissioners of Loans opened on account of the United States in Holland.
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Registers Office, 1st. June 1785.
Extract from the Treasury Books.
Joseph Nourse, Register.
The Committee [consisting of Mr. David Howell, Mr. Samuel Holten and Mr. John Beatty] to whom was referred a memorial, from Jacob Gerard Diricks, late Lieut. Col. in the service of the U. States submit the following report.
Your Comee. find that on the 17 of May, 1781, Congress passed the following resolution, Viz. "That Lieut. Colonel Diricks be informed that although Congress have received the most satisfactory proofs of his zeal and capacity to serve these U. States, it is impracticable to employ him in the service of these States consistent with the arrangement of the Army; That his account for pay and subsistence be settled by the Board of Treasury in specie value, up to this day, and that the Board of Treasury take order for the payment of the balance that shall be found due to him, together with a sum equal to one year's pay; and that from hence forward, he be no longer entitled to pay and subsistence, pursuant to the resolution of Decr. 29, 1779." Your Comee. also find that instead of receiving payment of the Board of Treasury in actual money on the above recited resolution, the petitioner received three Loan Office certificates, dated May 21, 1781, two of which were for 1,000 dollars each, and the other for 559 and 71/90 dollars. Whereupon, your Comee. submit the following Resolution.
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Resolved, That the Board of Treasury take order for paying to Jacob Gerard Diricks, late a Lieut. Col. in the service of the U. States the sum of one thousand dollars with interest thereon from May 21, 1781, and take up and cancel the original Loan Office certificate issued to him for that sum in pursuance of the Resolution of May 17, 1781.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 91. It is indorsed as read June 9 and the report rejected June 17. A summary of the action of Congress in Diricks' case from May 18, 1778, to May 17, 1781, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is on folio 95.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. William Grayson, Mr. Samuel Holten and Mr. William Ellery] to whom was referred the memorial of Joseph Carleton Esquire, Report--
That it appears to them, he entered into the service of the United States on the 9th day of October in the year 1778 as treasurer to the board of war and ordnance and continued therein to the 15th of February, 1781.
That during that period very considerable sums of money passed through his hands amounting to sixty six millions of dollars,
That he did this business without an Assistant on a salary only of nine hundred dollars a year when several other officers in situations less responsible and laborious received more for their services.
That on the 17th. February, 1781, he was appointed secretary to the board of war in which office he acted until the 19th day of November, 1781, when General Lincoln came into office receiving therefor fifteen hundred dollars per annum.
That from that period until the 12th of November, 1783, when Genera] Lincoln resigned he acted in the same capacity on a salary of a thousand dollars per annum.
That from the 12th day of November, 1783, untill the 25th of April, 1785, when General Knox arrived in consequence of his appointment as secretary at war he was charged with the whole management of the war department and received therefore only the last mentioned salary.
That in all these different offices the said Joseph Carleton conducted himself as an able diligent upright and faithful servant of the United States, and has given the most entire satisfaction as well to Congress as to all those under whose immediate direction he acted.
That it appears the sums he has received from time to time have been inadequate to the Services he has rendered the United States and have borne no proportion to those of other officers.
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That it is the opinion of this Committee it is just the said Carleton should receive as a compensation for his services at the rate of fifteen hundred dollars a year for the whole of the time he was engaged in the public service untill the arrival of General Knox.
Resolved therefore,
That the board of treasury be authorized and directed to settle with said Joseph Carleton at the rate of twelve hundred and fifty dollars per annum from the 9th day of October 1778 to the 25th. of April 1785 exclusive of the time that he received fifteen hundred dollars crediting the United States with such sums of money as may have been already advanced on account of his services.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress No. 19, I, folio 529. According to indorsement it was read this day. The last paragraph was crossed out by Thomson on September 27 when Congress took action.
On this day, according to indorsement, was read a petition of Alexander Lock, dated June 6, praying to be appointed a surveyor in the western territory. It is in No. 41, V, folio 415.
Also was read a petition from John Logan, dated June 4, praying to be indemnified for loss sustained by a contract for supplying the army in 1782. It is in No. 42, IV, folio 388.
Also was read a letter of June 4, from Matthew Griswold, Governor of Connecticut, enclosing an Act of the State for raising a quota of troops for western frontier duty. It is in No. 66, II, folio 302.]
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