| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, as before.
The Comptroller, to whom was referred a memorial of capt. Giles Wolcot, with the accounts accompanying it, having, according to order, reported thereon,
Ordered, That the said report, with the memorial and accounts, be referred to the Commissioners, for settling the accounts of the quartermaster's department; and that he report specially, if he find any difficulty in settling the accounts and claims of the said Giles Wolcott.2
[Note 2: 2 The comptroller's report, dated February 9, with the order indorsed upon it by Charles Thomson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, X, folio 621. It was read this day.
On this day, according to the indorsement, were read two letters from Col. Josiah Harmar, of December 5, 1784, and January 2, 1785, relating to Indian treaties and returns of troops. They were ordered to be filed and are in No. 163, folio 389 et seq.]
The delegates for Maryland laid before Congress, the following Acts, passed by the legislature of that State, viz.
Page 64 | Page image
goods, and all prizes and prize-goods, for the payment of the debt contracted by Congress during the wax.1
[Note 1: 1 These acts are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 75, folios 314--330.
On this day, according to the indorsement, the report of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, on the petition of John Lamb, was referred to Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. R. R. Livingston and Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, who reported February 15.
Also, was read a letter from John Jay, dated February 11, with a letter from M. de Marbois on the subject of Mr. Longchamps, which was referred back to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. It is in No. 80, I, folio 61. Also a letter of the same date from Jay on a letter from William Carmichael, was read and referred back to the Secretary. It is in No. 80, I, folio 69.]
The Committee [Mr. David Howell, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. Pierse Long] to whom was referred the petition of Bartholomew Van Heer, late Capn. of Light Dragoons in the Service of the U. States, dated Philada. January 12, 1785 beg leave to submit the following report:
Your Committee find that the petitioner first joined the American Army under General Montgomery in Canada in the year 1775 and served as Lieutenant and Adjutant in the regiment of Canadians commanded by Colonel James Livingston. In 1777 he joined the northern Army and was appointed a Captain in Colonel Procter's regiment of Artillery, in which capacity he served till the Spring of 1778, when he was ordered to raise a Troop of light Dragons, which he compleated in a short time, and commanded till it was disbanded at the close of the war, when he was promoted to the rank of Major by brevet; and that in these several services Major Van Heer has conducted himself as a zealous, active and good officer.
The prayers of Major Van Heer's petition are
Your Committee are of opinion that, if these charges are well founded, the Pay-master-general is already cloathed with ample powers to admit them, and to make a final and just settlement.
As this certificate appears to have been issued by the keeper of the Loan-office in the State of Pennsylvania, and as the provision made in that State under the requisition of April 28, 1784, for payment of
Page 65 | Page image
interest on L. O. certificates issued from that Office, has been extended to all holders thereof without limitation, the Committee are of opinion that it is unnecessary for Congress to take any further measures.
Your Committee find by a certificate signed Fred. de Weissenfels, that Major Van Heer, previous to his coming to America, held a Commission in the Spanish Service, and that the documents, in proof hereof, after having been shewn to General Montgomery, were inevitably lost in the retreat from Quebec in the year 1776. Whereupon your Committee recommend to Congress the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury, advance, on account of his pay, to Major B. Van Heer, late captain of light dragoons in the Service of the U. States, 500 Dollars, to enable him to return to his native Country.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 117. According to the indorsement it was passed February 15.]
On motion of Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston, seconded by Mr. [John] Sitgreaves,
Resolved, That the Ministers of the United States who are directed to form treaties with the Emperor of Morocco, and the Regencies of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoly, be empowered to apply so much of the money borrowed in Holland, or any other money in Europe belonging to the United States, to that use as they may deem necessary, not exceeding eighty thousand dollars; and to draw for the same accordingly.
That they be further empowered, if the situation of affairs should render it inexpedient for either of them to proceed to the above Courts, to appoint such persons as they may deem qualified to execute this trust.
That the Secretary for Foreign Affairs be directed to write to the above Ministers, pressing upon them the necessity of prosecuting this important business, and forwarding to them Commissions and Letters of Credence,
Page 66 | Page image
with a blank for the name of such person as may be directed to conclude the said Treaties.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion was entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal, No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal, No. 6, Vol. III. The motion is in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 509.
February 14: The following committees were appointed:
Committee of the Week--Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [William] Hindman and Mr. [Pierse] Long.
Mr. [John] Bull, Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [John] Henry, on a letter of January 30 from several officers of the late Connecticut Line, praying for a settlement of the accounts of that Line. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, I, folio 443. A report was made February 16. An indorsement and also Committee Book No. 190, refers to December 8, 1785.
Mr. [William] Livingston, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and Mr. [Joseph] Gardner on a petition from Richard Phillips, for increase of his pay as steward to the President of Congress and also on a letter from Henry Remsen, Jr., asking for indemnification for public money stolen from him. Report was rendered February 21. Remsen's letter is in No. 78, XIX, folio 475. Phillips's is in No. 42, VI, folio 294 and is indorsed: "Answered by the Act: March 23d, 1788."
Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [James] Monroe and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, on the letter of January 28, from the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, with the treaty made by them with the Western Indians. They reported March 7. The letter from the Commissioners is in No. 30, folio 271.
Committee Book No. 190.
On this day, according to Committee Book No. 186, the committee of January 17 on the motion of Mr. John Francis Mercer was "renewed with addition of two members." Committee Book No. 190 shows that these were Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [John] Beatty. Mercer's motion, which was made December 17, 1784, was "That a Comtee. be appointd. to consider whether any and what measures may be necessary for Congress to adopt in pursuance of their recommendats. to the States of April 18, 1783." A report was rendered March 14.
Also, according to the indorsement, the petition of February 12, from Duncan Campbell, praying for reimbursement for pay losses through depreciation and for a settlement of his account, was read this day and referred to Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [John] Bull and Mr. [James] McHenry. See post, April 11. Campbell's petition is in No. 42, II, folio 251.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |