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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 23, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as yesterday.
Pursuant to the resolution of the 7th of March last, Congress proceeded to the election of a minister plenipotentiary, to succeed Mr. J. Adams at the court of the United Netherlands, and, the ballots being taken, William Livingston, esqr. was elected having been previously nominated by Mr. [Charles] Stewart.
Congress proceeded to the election of a deputy Secretary, and, the ballots being taken, Mr. Roger Alden was elected, having been previously nominated by Mr. [Abiel] Foster.2
[Note 2: 2 From this point to the end of the letter to the U. S. Minister at London and the action thereon, the proceedings were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs No. 5, in the writing of Benjamin Bankson, and in Secret Journal No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III.]
The Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred his Letter of the 19th of May, having reported that in his opinion it would be advisable to permit him the said Secretary to write a Letter of the following tenor, in Cypher, and by a private hand, to the Minister
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plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of London:
"Sir, It is more than probable that this Letter will find you in London. The manner of your reception at that Court, and its temper, views and disposition respecting American objects, are matters concerning which particular information might be no less useful than it is interesting. Your Letters will, I am persuaded, remove all suspense on those points.
While men or States are influenced by their passions and their interests, alternately, without having reduced the pursuit of either to system, it is impossible to predict which of those motives will preponderate on certain occasions, and under certain combinations of Circumstances.
Hence it is uncertain how far and in what instances the national ill temper of Britain towards this Country may lead that Kingdom to gratify it at the expence of a more conciliating and advantageous policy.
It is well known that these Countries, prior to the late war, carried on a valuable trade with Honduras and Campeachy, and employed above one hundred Vessels in exchanging at the English settlements beef, pork, and other kinds of provisions, for Logwood, Mahogany, Sarsaparilla, &c. It being the policy of Spain to keep other nations at a distance from their American dominions, she beholds these settlements with pain and jealousy. The uneasiness which subsists at present between those two nations on that subject seems to offer us an opportunity of negotiating with the English for a participation in their rights to cut logwood, or at least to trade with them there as formerly. They may perhaps think it expedient to strengthen their footing in those parts by interesting us in the advantages resulting
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from their continuing to maintain it. It would not be difficult for you to sound the minister so effectually and yet circumspectly on this head, as to enable yourself to discern his disposition and sentiments on the one hand, and yet avoid committing either Congress or yourself on the other. As the experiment whether successful or not can cost little, as in the one event it may produce good, and in the other no inconveniences can follow, I think it would be advisable to make it.1
[Note 1: 1 Jay's draft of this letter is in No. 81, I, folio 251.]
The Committee of the week [Mr. William Houstoun, Mr. John Lansing and Mr. David Jackson] report
On the petition of Belcher P. Smith, that a Committee hath already reported on the request of the petitioner, which report is now before Congress:
That the Petition of John Vincent lie on the table:
That the Memorial of Increase Carpenter and Nicholas Marchesseau be referred to the Board of Treasury to report.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 617. According to Despatch Book No. 185 the report was made this day. The indorsement states that it was filed, and that it was from the committee of the week appointed June 20. Smith's petition is in No. 40, VII, folio 225.]
[Motion of Mr. Rufus King]
Resolved, That the commissioners for negotiating a treaty with the Indians northwest of the Ohio under the resolutions of the 23d of March last and of the 15th of June instant be and hereby are directed to hold said treaty upon the western bank of the River Ohio at a place called the Rapids, the resolutions aforesaid notwithstanding.
Resolved, That the secretary at war be and hereby is directed to detach one company of infantry from the Troops in the service of the U. S. to attend the said commissioners to, at, and from the place where the treaty aforesaid shall be held, and to be subject to the orders of the said commissioners; and the resolution of the 15th instant directing the secretary at war to order the troops in the service of the U. S. to be in readiness to attend said commissioners is hereby repealed.
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And in case the said one company of infantry shall be insufficient for the protection of the said commissioners and others during the time of holding the said Treaty, it is hereby recommended to the commonwealth of Virginia on the request of the said commissioners to furnish such numbers of the militia of that State not exceeding 250 men in the neighborhood of the place where said treaty is to be held, as will give full protection to all persons attending the same.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 287. The indorsement gives it this date, and states that it was referred to Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [John] Henry, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [William] Grayson. This was a renewal of the committee of March 22 on the same subject, q. v. The committee reported, apparently, June 28, and the report, which varies in minor verbal details only from the above motion, was passed June 29. The report is in No. 30, folios 283--285. To this same committee was referred, on this day, a petition of John Obail, an Indian, in prison for debt. It is in No. 41, VII, folio 322. A report was rendered on this, July 5.]
The Committee, [Mr. David Howell, Mr. John Lawrance and Mr. William Samuel Johnson] to whom was referred the petition of Thomas Tolman, agent for the late Colonel Seth Warher's Regiment in the service of the U. States, dated N. York, June 21, 1785, praying to be allowed payment on the accounts of Major Gideon Brownson and Ensign Israel Merwin deceased late of said Regiment for the purchase of guns and accoutrements for said Regiment, beg leave to report the following resolution:
That the accounts of Gideon Brownson, late Major in Colonel Seth Warner's Regiment, and of the heirs of administrator of Israel Merwin deceased, late an Ensign in said Regiment, for guns and accoutrements by them purchased and delivered for the use of said Regiment, be referred to the Board of Treasury for settlement; and that the Board of Treasury take order for payment of the ballances which may be found due on said accounts.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 43. The indorsement states that it was read on this day, and on July 15 the memorial was withdrawn by Tolman.]
Whereas the honble John Adams Esq. at present minister plenipotentiary from the United States at the Hague was on theday of february appointed Minister plenipotentiary to represent the said States at the Court of London, and it being expedient that a minister should be appointed to succeed the said Mr. Adams at the Hague,
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Resolved, therefore, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a minister plenipotentiary to represent the united states at the States general of the united netherlands.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, IV, folio 63. It is undated, but such presumptive evidence as exists points to its having been offered this day. Adams was appointed Minister to London on February 24.]
The Comee. to whom was referred part of a report of a Grand Comee. on the Subject of the Loan Offices and receivers of Continental taxes beg leave to report in part--
That the receivers of Continental Taxes who have been appointed in the several States by the late Superintendant of Finance, shall receive for their Services a commission on the monies by them actually received for the U. States, at the rates heretofore fixed by the sd. Superintendant of Finance2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 567. According to indorsement it was read June 23 and filed September 19, 1786.
June 23: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. J[ohn] Henry and Mr. [John] Lawrance, on the letter of June 22 from the Indian Commissioners George Rogers Clark and Richard Butler, with petitions of Obediah Robins & Co and Nonhelema or Katherine, alias the Grenadier, a Shawnese woman. The committee reported June 28 according to Thomson; June 29 according to Roger Alden's indorsement. The report was read June 29. Clark and Butler's letter is in No. 56, folio 165. Katherine's petition is on folio 169. Robins & Co's petition is in No. 41, VIII, folio 347.
Mr. [Charles] Pettit, Mr. W[illiam] C[hurchill] Houston and Mr. [Rufus] King, on memorial of Ephraim Blaine, praying the settlement of his accounts. A report was made June 27. The memorial, dated June 23, is in No. 41, I, folio 465.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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