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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 31, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina;
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and from the state of Maryland, Mr. [James] M'Henry, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
On motion of Mr. R. R. Livingston, seconded by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney,
Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a minister plenipotentiary be appointed to represent the United States of America, at the court of Great Britain; and that the Secretary for foreign Affairs report instructions for such Minister.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 495. The words crossed out are in the original motion and were not entered in the Journal.]
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [James] Monroe,
Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the election of a Minister plenipotentiary, to represent these States at the court of London.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pinckney, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress. No. 36, II, folio 499. These two resolutions were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal, No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal, No. 6, Vol. III.
On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, John Rutledge was nominated as Minister to the Court of Great Britain, by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, and John Adams by Mr. [David] Howell. See post, February 24. Also James Madison was nominated as Minister to the Court of Madrid by Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and R. R. Livingston by Mr. Pinckney; his name was withdrawn February 2; also Thomas Johnson was nominated by Mr. [John Francis] Mercer and Thomas Jefferson by Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.
On this day also a motion by Mr. Charles Pinckney that the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury "give Bond and Security" was referred to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, Mr. [Pierse] Long and Mr. [James] McHenry, who reported January 31 and the report was adopted verbatim February 3.
January 31: The following committees were appointed:
Committee of the Week, Mr. [Pierse] Long, Mr. [Joseph] Gardner and Mr. [Samuel] Holten.
Mr. [Abiell] Foster, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [Joseph] Gardner, on the petition of Benjamin Bankson (which is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, I, folio 338), for compensation for extra services. It was read this day. The committee reported February 3.
Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [Robert R.] Livingston and Mr. Gardner on revising the "Institution of the Secretary of Congress." They reported February 25.
Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwallader and Mr. [Samuel] Holten, on letters from John Jay January 29 and 31 on salary of Under Secretary in Office for Foreign Affairs and books for said office. This committee discharged February 1 and business referred to Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight. The letters are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, I, folios 5--9.
Committee Book No. 190.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr [Samuel Holten, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and
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Mr. [Jacob] Read, to whom was referred a letter from the Comptroller of the treasury with its enclosures stating that a number of the Certificates issued by John Pierce Commissioner for liquidating the Claims of the Army, had been counterfeited: beg leave to submit the following report. That the honor as well as the interest of the federal government requires that the most efficacious measures should be taken to discover the persons who have been guilty of the said forgery, to the end that an Act which the laws of all well regulated governments have marked as an offence may in future be prevented, its injurious effects both to the United States and its Citizens as far as possible restrained, and the Mischievous and wicked Authors of it brought to punishment.--Whereupon resolved, that, the Comptroller be required to trace the said certificates as far back as possible through their several possessors on their progress to the Treasury.
Resolved that the following proclamation be issued offering a reward to any person who will discover the person or persons concerned in the said forgery, or his or their accomplices, and enjoining all officers civil and military to be aiding and assisting in making such discovery (the proclamation)
And the more effectually to guard the United States from farther injury in the present or any future instance of forgery that may be attempted. Resolved, that the Commissioners of the Treasury cause to be sent on as early as possible to the Executives of the different States an Account of all Certificates on liquidated debts, stating the number,--date--by whom issued--in whose favour--and for what sum.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Hardy, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 495. According to the indorsement it was read this day and passed February 2, except the last clause which was recommitted. For text of the proclamation see that date.]
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