| 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 21, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
On the report of a comee., consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [Egbert] Benson, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [David] Howell, to whom were referred a Memorial from Francis Carboneaux, and the papers accompanying it,
Resolved, That one or more commissioners be appointed to repair to the Kaskaskies and Illionois settlements.
Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned for the election of one Com[missione]r.
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be committed.
The Delegates for South Carolina, laid before Congress a concurrent resolution of the house of Representatives and Senate, passed the 7 and 8 Feby., 1785, Authorizing and continuing the Delegates of that State now in Congress, to act as such until a New election takes place, and a sufficient number of the delegates so to be chosen, shall take their seats in Congress.
[Report of Mr. Walter Livingston, Mr. Richard Dobbs Spaight and Mr. Joseph Gardner On petition of R. Phillips:]
That in consideration of the unavoidable expence to which Mr. Phillips, Steward to the household of his Excellency the President of Congress has been exposed by several removals of Congress, he be allowed the Sum ofdollars and that he be credited with the said Sum in the Settlement of his accounts.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 153. The indorsement states that it was read on this day and "settled by Act 23 March 1787."
On this day, according to Committee Book 186, the committee of December 1, 1784, which was renewed January 24, on the letter of September 30, 1784, from the Superintendent of Finance regarding the Silas Deane accounts, brought in a report and Committee Book 191 notes that it was transferred.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 191, a report was delivered on the petition of Henry Remsen, Jr., which was acted upon March 22. See ante, February 14.]
Page 88 | Page image
[Report of Mr. Robert R. Livingston, Mr. John Beatty, Mr. James Monroe, Mr. William Samuel Johnson, Mr. Elbridge Gerry, Mr. John Henry, Mr. Rufus King:]
The Com: to whom was referred a motion of Mr. Robert R. Livingston and two motions of Mr. [James] Monroe relative to the western posts, together with a letter from Majr. North, submit the following report:
That no measures having yet been taken by Great Britain for the evacuation of the western posts (as far as your committee have yet been able to learn) it becomes expedient in their opinion for the U. S. to pursue such steps as may tend to the security of their frontier, and facilitate their intercourse with the Indian nations within the same, as well as to promote and protect the navigation of the lakes by their Citizens.
That these objects will in the opinion of your Com: be in a great measure effected by taking posts on the Lakes Erie and Ontario as near as may be to those now occupied by the troops of his Britannick Majesty.
That a competent force for this purpose should be immediately raised and put under the command of a discreet and experienced Officer and that such arrangements should take place in the militia of these States, as will best enable them to give support to these measures if (unhappily) they should be productive of a rupture between the United States and his britannic majesty.
Your com: therefore report the following resolutions:
That 1,500 men be raised for three years in the following proportions--
That the Secretary in the war office immediately report the necessary arrangements for regimenting and officering them, dividing them into two regiments with a proper proportion of artillery, not being less thanmen.
That the States be respectively required to furnish their quota of Officers and men and to forward them to such place as the Secretary at War or the Officer that may be appointed to command shall direct.
Page 89 | Page image
That the pay of the privates beDollars pr. Month exclusive of arms accoutrements and Cloathing; that the pay of the non commission officers bear the same proportion to that of the privates that it has heretofore done in the army of the U. S.
That it be recommended to such of the United States as border upon Canada to impose a duty of five per Ct. ad Valorem at the place where they may be landed upon all goods imported from thence.
That it be recommended to the Citizens and Inhabitants of the U: S: to build vessels and to navigate the Lakes without restraint, the U S: engaging to extend to them their support and protection.
That the Ministers appointed to negotiate a treaty of commerce with Great Britain be instructed that it is the wish of Congress that the commercial intercourse to be established between the Subjects of his Britannick Majesty and these States be so regulated as that the U S: and his Britannick Majesty may be left at liberty to lay such restraints as they may respectively deem expedient on the commercial intercourse between these States and the inhabitants of Canada.
On the Letter from Major North, your com: report--
That he be referred to the Secretary in the war office to take order for the cleaning and repairing the arms in the magazines at Springfield and west point, and that he draw on the treasury for the necessary expence.
That if the Secretary in the war office should find it expedient to employ the troops at Albany or in its vicinity or those in Connecticut in this business that they be subject to his order and direction thereon.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Robert R. Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 71. The indorsement states that it was read on this day. Committee Book, No. 191, states that it was filed. It was printed, and considered April 7, and referred to Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston, Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [John] Beatty, Mr. J[ohn] Henry and Mr. [Gunning] Bedford, who reported April 11. A copy of the printed report is in No. 30, folio 397.
On this day, as the indorsement indicates, was read a petition of Anthony Broderick, Matthew Lindsley and John Dod, petitioning for a grant of land in the new state of Washington. On the report of the Committee of the Week it was filed. It is in No. 42, I, folio 342.
On this day, according to Committee Book 190, Isaac Smith was nominated by Mr. [John] Beatty for Commissioner to repair go Kaskaskies and Illinois.
Also, according to Committee Book 191, the committee of January 19, on the letter of January 5, from Joseph Howell respecting the claims of Captain Ayott, brought in a report which was passed verbatim February 24. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 187.]
Page 90 | Page image
In the House of Representatives
February the 7th, 1785.
On Motion,
Resolved, That the Delegates of this State now in Congress shall be authorized and continue to act as such until a new Election takes place and a sufficient number of the Delegates so to be chosen shall take their seats in Congress.
Ordered, That the Resolution be sent to the Honorable the Senate for their concurrence.
By order of the House,
John Sandford Dart
C H R
In the Senate 8 Feby 1785
Resolved, That this House do concur with the House of Representatives in the above Resolution.
Ordered, That the said Resolution be sent to the House of Representatives
By order of the Senate
Felix Warley
Clerk of the Senate.
In the House of Representatives
February the 8th 1785
I do Certify that the within Resolutions are just and true, as taken from the Journals of the House of Representatives
By order of the House
John Sandford Dart
C H R1
[Note 1: 1 The original is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina, Credentials of Delegates. According to the indorsement it was read this day. It was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, and not in the Journal.
February 21: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [Joseph P.] Cook, Mr. W. Livingston and Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, Committee of the Week.
Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. W. Livingston and Mr. [Pierse] Long, on letter of February 7 from the Secretary in the War Office regarding Peter B. Bruin. This committee was renewed August 8.
Mr. R. R. Livingston, Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [James] Monroe, on the report of the committee on the memorial of Francois Carbonneaux, respecting settlers at Kaskaskias and Illinois. A report was delivered March 14.
Mr. R. R. Livingston, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [John] Beatty, to consider and devise a plan for the general regulation of the militia of these United States, in such manner as to render it most useful and least expensive to the respective States in order to ground thereon a recommendation relative to this object to the several States. The committee was discharged May 16 and the business referred to the Secretary at War.
Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight on the letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs on the salary of an Under Secretary and books to be purchased for that Office. A report was rendered March 14. This seems to have been a recommitted report. See ante, February 2.
Committee Book, No. 190.
On this day, according to the indorsement, a report was rendered on a petition of Captain Pierre Ayott. It was passed on February 24, practically verbatim. See that date.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |