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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 --MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
On motion of Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [Jacob] Read,
Resolved, That the grand committee now existing, be, and are hereby instructed, to report a requisition on the states for the supplies of the present year.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, Miscellaneous, in the Library of Congress. It is signed, headed, and dated by Chas. Thomson.]
[Motion of Mr. Charles Pinckney, respecting Count de Grasse:]
That the Secretary of foreign affairs be directed to prepare the draught of a letter from Congress to his most christian Majesty expressive of the high sense Congress entertain of his Majesty's attachment and regard for these states and requesting that in consideration of the eminent services rendered to them by the Count de Grasse while Commanding his Majesty's fleet in the Chesapeake, his Majesty would be graciously pleased to restore the Count to his favour and the military appointments he formerly held.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 493. The indorsement states that it was referred on this day to Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney and Mr. [David] Howell and the business transferred August 19.
On this day the committee appointed January 19 on the letters of Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson was discharged and the letters referred to the Grand Committee.
On this day also was read a letter from James Milligan, of January 20, referring the forged certificates. It was referred to the Committee of January 20 on his letter of January 14. This Milligan letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 35, I, folio 15.]
[Report of Mr John Beatty, Mr Zephaniah Platt, Mr Pierse Long:]
The Committee to whom was referred the Memorial of Mordecai Hale late Surgeon's mate in Col. Lamb's Regiment of Artillery submit the following Report.
That the Act of Congress of the 26th Augt., 1776, having made ample provision for such officers and soldiers as may be wounded or disabled in the Service of the U. S. the application of Doctor Hale ought to should be referred to the Legislature of the State of which
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he is a citizen, as thro' that channel the benefits accruing under the Act are to be obtained.
[The Secretary to communicate the substance of the foregoing report to Mr Hale.]1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Beatty, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 1. The indorsement states that Thomson informed Hale of the decision January 24, 1785. Committee Book No. 191 notes that final action [vide the part in Thomson's handwriting] was taken on January 25.]
[Motion of Mr David Howell respecting contractors for Ox Teams:]
Resolved, That the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations with the U. States be and he is hereby directed forthwith to ascertain the sums due to the Contractors for ox teams in sd State and conductors employed in the Campaign of 1781, and that sd State be authorized to pay such sums to the respective individuals to Whom they may be due and to charge the amount thereof, with interest from the time of payment, to the U. States as part of that State's Quota on the requisition of April 27, 1784.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 205. The indorsement states that it was referred on this day to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [John] Stewart and Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson. A report was rendered February 11.
On this day also the committee appointed January 17 was discharged of Joseph Hardy's letter of January 5.
On letter of September 30, 1784, from the Superintendent of Finance, on the accounts of Silas Deane. This committee had been appointed December 1, 1784, as Mr. [George] Partridge, Mr. John Beatty and Mr. [William] Henry; it was renewed with Mr. [William] Ellery in place of Henry and a report rendered February 21.
Committee Book, No. 186.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. David Howell, Mr. Archibald Stewart and Mr. Hugh Williamson] to whom was referred a letter dated Philada. Dec. 15, 1784, and signed P. Chrs. L'Enfant Engineer in the late Army of the U. States with its enclosures, a memorial on the necessity of establishing a Corps of Engineers, and a dissertation on the qualifications of an Engineer, being of opinion that the situation of the military posts in the U. States does not require the establishment of a Corps of Engineers on the plan of the memorialist, beg leave to submit the following resolution.
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Resolved, That the papers be placed on file in the office of the Secretary of Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, 539. See post, January 25. L'Enfant's letter, with enclosures, is in No. 78, XIV, folios 579--92.
January 24: The following committees were appointed:
Mr. [Archibald] Stewart, Mr. [John] Bull and Mr. [Joseph] Gardner, Committee of the Week.
Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [James] Monroe, on memorial of Thomas Walker for losses sustained in Canada. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 665. Report was rendered April 11.
Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Archibald] Stewart and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, on letter of William Denning, dated January 24, on settlement of accounts of the Quartermaster General's department. It is in No. 78, VIII, folio 93. Report was made February 11.
Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, on letter of John Jay, January 23, on duties of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Jay's letter is in No. 80, I, folio 3. Report was rendered February 2.
Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [William S.] Johnson and Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston, on petition of Timothy Bradly for an addition to pay allowed in 1777--8. The petition is in No. 42, I, folios 320--324. Report rendered February 1.
Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, on cases of Laurent Olivier and Jean Menard, Canadians. Olivier's letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 35, I, folios 135--141, Menard's on folios 157--173. The committee was renewed March 9 and Lafayette's letter and various other papers respecting Canadians referred to it. It was discharged of the Olivier case April 28, and reported on the others May 2.
Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [James] McHenry, on memorial of Capt. Paschke for 300 dollars to enable him to return to his own country, which was read December 22, 1784. Report was rendered February 17.
Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [David] Williamson, on letter from Joseph Carleton, January 20, for funds to pay subsistence money to officers in service for the month of January. Report rendered January 26.
The following Committees were renewed: On motion of Mr. [James] Monroe for giving to the United States the general regulation of trade. This committee had been appointed December 6, 1784, as Mr. [John] Jay, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and Mr. [William] Houstoun; it was renewed with Mr. [William S.] Johnson in place of Jay and a report rendered February 16.]
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