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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 --Proclamation. BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.
Whereas information has been received from the Comptroller of the treasury, that various certificates of final settlement issued by the Commissioner for settling the Accounts of the Army, to the Officers and soldiers of the United States, have been counterfeited by some fraudulent and wicked persons, by erasing the sums for which they were first given, and inserting others to a much greater amount. And whereas it is expedient, that the most effectual steps should be taken, to detect a villainy so injurious to the interest of the citizens of these States, and destructive of public credit; the United States in Congress assembled, have deemed it necessary to offer, and do hereby promise a reward of five hundred dollars to any person or persons, who shall discover and make known the person or persons guilty of the said forgery, or his or their accomplices, so that he or they may be legally convicted. And that the most speedy and effectual check may be given to a crime, tending in its consequences so materially to affect the credit of the said certificates, and the interest of the United States, they do hereby recommend it to the Executives of the different States, to be aiding and assisting in discovering and apprehending the author or authors of the forgery aforesaid, or his or their Accomplices, to the end, that the credit of the United States of America may be secured from farther injury, and the perpetrators of so atrocious an Offence brought to condign punishment.
Done at New York, this second day of Feby in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, and of our Sovereignty and independence the ninth.1
[Note 1: 1 The draft of this proclamation, in the writing of Samuel Hardy, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 503. A fair copy, signed by Richard Henry Lee and Charles Thomson, is on folio 499.]
And whereas it is necessary that the most effectual security should be provided for the punishment of such person or persons as may hereafter be convicted of forgoing any certificate or certificates on the liquidated debts of the U. States.2
[Note 2: 2 The words crossed out are in the motion of Samuel Hardy which is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 506, and do not so appear on the Journal.]
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Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to revise their laws respecting forgery, and affix such penalties as they may adjudge necessary, to prevent the forgery of securities of every denomination issued by authority of the United States in Congress Assembled.
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be re-committed.
The Committee consisting of [Mr. Samuel Hardy, Mr. Samuel Holten, Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. Jacob Read] to whom was referred a Motion, submit the following Report.
To enable the commissioners of the continental loan-offices in the several states, to detect frauds in the negotiation of the certificates issued by the paymaster-general, and to pay the interest of such certificates agreeably to the appropriation of Congress.
Resolved, That the board of treasury, or previous to their meeting, the comptroller of the treasury, be directed to transmit from time to time, to the several commissioners of the continental loan-offices, lists of all the certificates issued by John Pierce, paymaster general; specifying the dates, numbers, names of persons to whom issued, and the amount of such certificates respectively: And that on the receipt of the lists of such certificates, or of any part thereof, the commissioner of the continental loan-office in each state, be authorized and directed to pay to the citizens thereof, the interest due to them to the last day of the year 1782, on such certificates, in the mode which the legislature of the state may direct, pursuant to the requisition of Congress of the 27th of April, and the resolution respecting facilities of the 28th of April, 1784, and to endorse on the back of each certificate, the time to which the interest shall have been paid, and amount thereof; provided that the date, number, name and sum shall correspond with lists to be so transmitted; and provided also, that the holders of the said certificates respectively, shall receive the interest due thereon as aforesaid, from the continental loan-officer of the state in which they reside, although the debt may not have been contracted in such state, upon producing to him a certificate from any justice of the peace of the said state, that they have taken the following oath or affirmation, viz. Ido solemnly swear or affirm, that I am the true, real, and sole proprietor of the following certificates issued by John Pierce, paymaster general, or that I hold them in trust, as executor or administrator
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tolate a citizen of the state of, viz. One certificate (as the case may be) datedNo.payable toand amounting to&c.1
[Note 1: 1 On this, or an approximate date, the above report was rendered and read. It is in printed form, undated, among the Continental Congress Broadsides in the Library of Congress. The committee was that of January 20 and this report is, apparently, on the recommitted clause of the report of January 31,q. v., and a motion which was made during the consideration of said report.
On this, or an approximate date, a motion was offered to enable the Commissioners of the Continental Loan Offices in the several States to detect frauds in certificates, etc. It was referred, apparently, to the Committee of January 20 on the letters of James Milligan, but Thomson furnishes no further record of the matter. See post, May 13.]
The Come. to whom was referred the Memorial of Jas. Warren dated Boston 23rd. Nov., 1784, praying an allowance of Depreciation on an acct, with the Commercial Comee. in the years '77 and '78--beg leave to submit the following report--
That they find on a similar application of Jas. Tayler, Congress did on the 23rd. day of March, come to the following Resolution;
"Resolved, That the Comptroller of Accounts be and he is hereby authorized and directed to cause a settlement to be made of the Accts. between the U. S. and the secret and commercial Committees of Congress and all others existing under Contracts made with the sd. Committees, according to the Usual mode of setling accounts at the Treasury, and to report such settlement to Congress";
Whereupon your Comee. have agreed to the following Resolution.
Resolved, That the Comptroller of the Accts. be and he hereby is authorized and directed to cause the accts of Jas. Warren to be adjusted upon principles of equity agreeably to the usual mode of setling accounts at the Treasury, and to report such setlement to Congress.
Resolved, that the memorial of Mr Warren be referred to the Board of Treasury, who are authorized to revise his account, and make such an adjustment as shall be consistent with Equity to report thereon to Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of John Beatty, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folios 163 and 167. See post, February 18.
On this day, according to Committee Book 190, Mr. Arthur Middleton was nominated for U. S. Minister to the Court of Madrid, by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney.
Also, the committee of January 24 on the letter of John Jay, of January 23, on the duties of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, brought in a report this day.
Also, the committee of January 13, on the motion of Mr. Elbridge Gerry for the removal of papers in the Post Office, War Office, Treasury Office, etc., to New York, brought in a report. To this same committee (Gerry, Ellery, and Williamson) was referred, on January 15, the letter of Joseph Carleton, respecting the removal of the War Office to New York. A report on this letter was rendered this day, the business combined with Gerry's motion, and a report made on the whole, February 7.]
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The Committee &ca. [consisting of Mr. James Monroe, Mr. Zephaniah Platt, Mr. Jacob Read, Mr. Samuel Hardy and Mr. Richard Dobbs Spaight] to whom were referred sundry letters from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs submit the followg. resolves
Resolved that in pursuance of the Resolutions of the 22nd Feby 1782 all Communications as well to as from the United States in Congress Assembled on the subject of foreign affairs shoud be made thro the Secretary for the department for foreign affairs and that all Letters Memorials or other papers on the subject of foreign affairs for the U. S. in C assembled shoud be addressed to him
Resolved that all papers written in a foreign Language which may in future be communicated to Congress from the office of the department of foreign affairs shall be accompanied with a fair Translation into English
Resolved that the Secy. for the departmt. of f:Af. be authorized to appoint an Interpreter to the United States in Congress assembled to be appointed whose duty it shall be to Translate all such papers as may be referred to him as well by the United States in Congress assembled as by Committees of Congress the Secretary of the department of foreign Affairs the Secretary of the U. S. in Congress assembled the Board of Treasury of the Secretary for the Department of War who shall be entitled to receive such allowance as the Secy. of f. Affairs may think sufficient, not to exceed the annual pay of a Clerk in the Office a salary ofhundred Dollars per annum for his Services and who previous to his entering on this duty as Interpreter shall take the usual Oath of fidelity and an Oath of Secrecy and of office prescribed in an ordinance passed on the 27th day of January last a registry of which shall be kept in the office of the Secy. of the United States in Congress assembled, and that it be referred to the said Secy of the Dept. of foreign affairs to make inquiry for some fit and proper person to act as Interpreter.
Resolved that the Secy for the Deptmt of Forn Affs. be and he is hereby authorized to appoint a door keeper to his office whose wages shall be 200 dollars 150 Dollars per annum
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Resolved that the Commissioners of the Treasury of the U. S. do advance to the Secy. of the Deptmt. of for Affrs. the Sum of 1000 Dollars for the Contingencies of his office he to be accountable
Resolved that the Wages of the Messenger Doorkeeper to the office of foreign affairs be considered as part of the contingent expences of said office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Samuel Hardy, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 413. In addition to the letters from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs this report also disposed of Jacob Read's motion for the employment of an interpreter. According to the indorsement it was read this day and passed February 11. This report was also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs.]
The Committee consisting of Messrs. [William] Ellery, [James] Monroe, [Jacob] Read, [Hugh] Williamson and [Richard Dobbs] Spaight to whom the petition of Alexander Stewart with its two enclosures, were referred--Report
That Alexander Stewart sets forth in his petition that he was a soldier in the service of the United States--that he was marched into the government of Canada and there made prisoner in the month of May, 1776, and detained as such until the 16th. day of July, 1784, that he was returned dead, and no pay drawn for him &c. Whereupon your Committee are of opinion, that the petition of Alexander Stewart, and its two enclosures should be referred to the Pay Master General, that he should enquire into the circumstances mentioned in said petition, and report thereon to Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 423. According to the indorsement it was passed March 21.
On this day also, according to Committee Book 186, Philip Schuyler was nominated by Mr. W[alter] Livingston for Commissioner for erecting the federal buildings and Pierre Charles L'Enfant by Mr. [Samuel] Hardy. Schuyler declined the appointment March 3.]
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