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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 --WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, the same as yesterday.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [David] Williamson, to whom was referred a letter from the Secretary in the War Office, of the 20th January, 1785,
Resolved, That Michael Hillegas, esqr. continental treasurer, be directed to furnish Philip Audebert, deputy paymaster general, with the sum of three hundred and fifty nine dollars and forty two ninetieths of a dollar, being the amount of subsistence due to the officers in service for this present month of January, agreeably to an account enclosed in a letter of the Secy in the War Office to Congress, dated January 20, 1785.1
[Note 1: 1 The report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 27, folio 271. Secretary Carleton's letter is in No. 60, folio 115.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a petition of Edward Antill for relief from depreciation of his pay, and referred to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Pierse] Long. It is in No. 42, I, folio 75. According to Committee Book No. 190, a report was made March 9 and Committee Book, No. 191, shows that the committee report was transferred; the indorsement on the petition states that it was filed September 19, 1786.
Also a petition of Michael Byrne for Congress's patronage of his invention which was reported on by the Committee of the Week and ordered to lie. It is in No. 42, I, folio 335.
Also, an address, signed by appointment, of a meeting of Quakers pleading for the abolition of negro slavery. It is in No. 43, folio 347.
Also, on this or an approximate date, a memorial of James Duane and Walter Livingston, agents for New York, protesting against holding a federal court to determine the controversy between said state and Massachusetts at Williamsburg. It is in No. 67, II, folio 515.
Also, on this date, the memorial of Solomon Pellon was referred to Mr. [William] Ellery and the committee on Canadian Applications, which, according to Committee Book, No. 186, was Ellery, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, who had been appointed December 13, 1784; it was renewed March 9, 1785.
Also, was read, the petition of Colonel Edward Antill, dated January 20, for depreciated pay loss. It was referred to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Pierse] Long. See post, March 9. Antill's petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, I, folio 75.]
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The Committee [Mr. John Beatty, Mr. David Howell and Mr. Samuel Holten] to whom was referred a letter from the Governor of Maryland dated Annapolis, December 14th. 1784, recommending Mr. John White of Connecticut to be appointed Commissioner for settling accounts for the state of Maryland in the room of Mr Nourse, lately deceased, beg leave to submit the following report:
Your Committee find that the Commissioner to be appointed under the resolutions of February 20th. 1782 were to "be nominated by the "Superintendant of the Finances of the United States, and approved of "by the legislature, or the executive of the particular state for which "he shall have been nominated, and upon the death removal refusal "or inability to act of such Commissioner, another person to supply his "place shall be nominated by the Superintendant of the Finances and "approved of by the executive, or the delegates attending in Congress "of the state for which he shall be nominated as the Legislature shall "direct."
Your Committee also find that the Superintendant of Finance in a letter dated Philadelphia, Sept. 30th. 1784, informed Congress that he had ceased to act in his official capacity--Whereupon your Committee beg leave to recommend that it be:
Resolved, That until the Board of Treasury be ready to proceed to business, the Commissioners to be appointed under the resolutions of February 20th. 1782 be appointed by Congress with the concurrence of the delegates, representing the particular state in Congress, for which such Commissioner shall be nominated.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 547. The indorsement states that it was read this day and negatived January 28.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Joseph] Gardner [and Mr. Zephaniah Platt] to whom was referred a letter to the
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President of Congress from the Supreme Executive of the State of Pennsylvania enclosing an act of the General Assembly dated 1st. of December, 1784, and a subsequent resolution of the General Assembly dated 16th. of December, beg leave to submit the following resolve,
That it is highly necessary that two or more commissioners be employed in some of the larger states for the sake of liquidating and settling the accounts of individuals against the U. S. in order that the amount of the national debt may be ascertained, and the most speedy and effectual methods may be adopted for doing equal justice to individuals who have trusted their property in the hands of the nation.
That till the Board of Treasury are ready to discharge the duties of their office it will be necessary for Congress to chuse Commissioners who when approved of by the supreme executives of the state or other proper persons shall proceed on business where they are wanted for settling accounts in the several states.
That the Commissioners thus chosen be instructed to settle the accounts of individuals according to the several acts of Congress on that subject and the regulations that have been made by the Superintendant of Finance.
That the Commissioners in each state be instructed to correspond with the Board of Treasury, with other Commissioners of Accounts and with each other in order to prevent confusion or frauds on the part of the claimants.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 67. According to the indorsement it was read this day.]
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