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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, FEBRUARY 23, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as before.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Archibald] Stewart and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, to whom were referred a letter from the Supreme executive of the State of Pensylvania, dated the 20 Decr.; a letter of 24 Jany., from William Denning, Comr. for settling the accounts of the quarter Master's department, and sundry other letters and papers.
Resolved, That one additional commissioner be appointed in each of the states of Pensylvania and Virginia, for liquidating and settling the accounts of individuals against the United States; whose duties, powers and allowance shall be the same as those of the other commissioners, who have been appointed pursuant to the act of the 20th of Feby. 1782, and who shall not be an inhabitant of the State for which he shal be appointed.
That till the board of treasury are ready to discharge the duties of their Office, the Comptroller shall exercise the power of appointing such additional commissioners in the same manner as the late Superintendant of finance was authorised to do.
That the Commissioners in the states of Virginia and Pensylvania, confine their settlements to such counties or districts as the supreme executives may direct.
Resolved, That the quartermaster general, Commissary of purchases, Commissary of issues, Commissary of forage, and all the late heads of departments or their successors or agents, be required without delay, to forward to the board of treasury or to the Comptroller, a list of their respective deputies who have been duly authorised to issue certificates. That the heads of departments aforesaid, and each of their deputies who have not settled their accounts, and all other persons who have issued certificates of debts due by the United
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States, loan Office certificates, and certificates of final settlement excepted, be required forthwith to deliver to the board of treasury, or to some Commissioner of accounts in the State where such persons reside, a fair Abstract of all the certificates which they have issued, and they shall specify those certificates for which they have taken receipts as for cash paid, and a copy of those abstracts shall be transmitted by the board of treasury to the several Commissioners of Accounts to whom they may be of use in detecting frauds.
That a copy of these resolutions be published in the gazzettes, or public News papers of the several States, and that if any person or persons so required as aforesaid, shall refuse or neglect, for the space of two Months from such publication, to deliver a full and just Account of the certificates he or they have issued, the board of treasury, or in case it is not at the time Organized, the Comptroller shall take proper steps for causing him or them to be prosecuted according to law.
Resolved, That the Commissioners of Accounts be instructed, to be careful how they admit charges against the United States, on certificates which are not duly supported by the Authority of Congress, and the accounts of the Officers who have issued them.
[Motion of Mr. George Partridge.]
Resolved, That the Act of Congress of the 25th of August, 1780, ordering "that the half pay of Genl. officers shall be in proportion to their pay" ought to be considered as extending to the widows and Orphans of such Genl. Officers as have lost their Lives in the service of the United States.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of George Partridge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, folio 383. The indorsement gives it this date and states that it was referred to Mr. [George] Partridge, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, who reported February 28,]
[Motion of Mr. Elbridge Gerry.]
Resolved, That all persons having unliquidated claims against the U. S. be required within twelve Months from the Date hereof to
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deliver such claims to the Commissioner in the State where such persons reside who is authorized to settle Accounts against the united States, and any person or persons neglecting or refusing to render their Claims as aforesaid, shall be precluded from any allowance adjustmt. thereof, unless made by special at the Board of Treasury
And whereas it is indispensibly necessary to ascertain the Amount of the foederal Debt and to provide for a faithful Discharge thereof, And inasmuch as a Delay of the Adjustment of the publick Accts. tends greatly to embarrass an Adjustment & the Measure and to encourage Fraud whereby the publick may be unjustly
Resolved, That no longer than twelve Months be allowed the Commissioners in the respective States to adjust the Accounts thereof, whether they respect the States or Individuals thereof, unless a further after which Time said Commissioners be discontinued unless in the opinion of the Legislature of any State the further Continuance in office of the respective Commissioner be necessary1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Elbridge Gerry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folios 523 and 533. It was referred, along with Howell's motion of this day, to Mr. Elbridge Gerry, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. Samuel Hardy, who reported February 28.]
[Motion of Mr. David Howell.]
Resolved, That the Commissioners of accounts appointed under the resolution of Feb. 27, 1782 be instructed to keep their respective Offices in the place where Congress may hold their Sessions and that no person appointed or who may be appointed a Commissioner of accounts under the resolutions of Feb. 20, or 27, 1782, be permitted to be engaged either directly or indirectly in any trade or commerce whatsoever on pain of forfeiting his Office as Commissioner2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 535. It was offered this day and referred, as was the Gerry motion above, to the same committee.
To this day was assigned the consideration of the report of a Grand Committee on a letter of October 28, 1783, from the Governor of Massachusetts relative to Continental bills of credit and old emissions. Thomson has so indorsed a broadside of the report which is in the Continental Congress broadsides in the Library of Congress.
On this day, according to the indorsement, the memorial of George Turner, praying for restoration of his rank in the Army, was negatived. It had been read December 8, 1784, and referred to Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [William] Houstoun and Mr. [John] Bull, who reported February 16.]
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The Committee Consisting of Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, and Mr. [Samuel] Holten to whom was referred the Memorial and Petition of Henry Laurens Esqr. in behalf of Francis Eleanor Laurens, the orphan Daughter of John Laurens, Esquire deceased late a Lieutt. Colonel in the army of the United States and some time Commissioned by Congress Special Minister to the Court of France.
Beg leave to submit the following report,
Your Committee find that the Said Lt. Colo. John Laurens deceased some time in the Month of August, 1777, entered as a Volunteer in the Service of the United States and acted as an Aid de Camp Extra to His Excellency Genl. Washington.
That shortly after the Battle of Brandywine in September, 1777, he was given in public orders as an Aid de Camp to the Commander in Chief with the rank of Lieutt. Colonel.
That the said Lieut. Colo. John Laurens Continued to Act in the Army, and so far gained the Attention of Congress that unsolicited by him Congress on the 5th. Novr., 1778, Resolved, "That John Laurens, Esqr., Aid de Camp to General Washington, be presented with a Continental Commission of Lieutenant Colonel in testimony of the Sense which Congress entertain of his Patriotic and Spirited Services as a Volunteer in the American Army, and of his brave Conduct in several actions, particularly in that of Rhode Island on the 29th. of August last: and that General Washington be directed whenever an Opportunity should offer to give Lieut. Colonel Laurens Command agreeable to his rank," which promotion and Commission he refused for the reasons set forth in his Letter contained in the Journals of Congress of the 6th. November, 1778, and obtained on the day last Mentioned the high approbation of that Honourable Body the United States in Congress assembled for his disinterested and Patriotic principles Manifested on that occasion.
That on the 29th March, 1779, a Commission of Lieutt. Colonel was granted to the said John Laurens, who had till that period acted only as an Aid de Camp to the Commander in Chief.
That in December, 1780, the said Lt. Colo. Laurens was Unanimously elected by the United States in Congress Assembled Special Minister to the Court of Versailles, and in obedience to the Instructions of Congress he without delay proceeded to France, accomplished the duties of his Mission and returned to America in August, 1781.
That on the 5th. day of September, 1781, Congress Resolved, "That the Conduct of Lt. Colo. Laurens in his Mission to the Court of Versailles,
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as Special Minister of the United States, is highly Agreeable to Congress and entitles him to public Approbation"; and at the same tame at his request granted him leave to join the Army.
That the Sd. Lt. Colo. Laurens immediately repaired to his post of duty, was present and eminently Serviceable at the Seige and reduction of the British Army under the Command of Lieutt. Genl. the Earl Cornwallis at York Town in Virginia in October, 1781, where he Acted as the Commissioner from his Excellency the Commander in Chief for setling the terms of Capitulation with the British General.
That the said Lieut. Colo. John Laurens afterward joined the Army under Major General Greene in South Carolina, where he was particularly Active, had the Command of the light Troops and Advanced Corps of the Southern Army, and finally fell in bravely endeavoring with a small force to repel a Considerable detachment of the British Army, who were foraging on the River Combahee in the State of South Carolina on the 27th. August, 1782.
Your Committee are informed and believe that the said Lt. Colo. John Laurens never received any part of his pay as Lieutt. Col. nor any Sallary or Allowance under his Commission of Special Minister excepting Certain sums which Appear Charged to his Account in the Treasurer's Books, Vizt. 8400 Livres paid him by Monsr. Grand in Paris by Orders from Doctr. Benjamin Franklin in the Spring of 1781, and 720 Spanish Dollars paid to him the 8th. Septr. 1781, By an order from the Honourable Robert Morris Esqr. Superintendant of Finance, Amounting in the whole to about £520 Sterling. That there is good ground to suppose these Sums were expended in defraying part of the Charges, which the deceased had incurred in the Active and expensive Service in which he had been employed in France, and on his return from thence by the way of Boston. Because it further appears, that for paying some part of his Expenses in France the deceased took up a Considerable sum of Money on the Credit of his Father the Honble Henry Laurens Esquire.
That although it does not appear whether the said Lt. Colo. Jno. Laurens intended to demand either pay or Sallary from the United States, no Minutes or documents of Charge having as yet been found Among his papers or Come to the hands of the Honourable Henry Laurens his Father:
Yet your Committee are of opinion that as the deceased gallant and Meritorious Officer has left an orphan Daughter, the United
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States should Consider themselves as bound to pay to the legal representative of the Said Lt. Col. John Laurens for his Child's use, all such sums as were in equity and justice due the Father.
Your Committee therefore recommend that it be Resolved--
That the Accounts of the late Lieutt. Colo. John Laurens be settled according to the rank he held in the Army of the United States to the time of his death.
That it be recommended to the State of South Carolina to allow the half pay of a Lieutt. Colo. to the Orphan Child of the late Lieutt. Colonel Laurens for the Term of Seven Years, and pass the same to the Account of the United States according to the Act of the 24th. August, 1780.
That in settling the Accounts of the late Lieutt. Colo. Laurens as Special Minister to the Court of Versailles he be Allowed the same pay that was given at that period to the Ministers of the United States at foreign Courts from the time of his appointment to that Embassy until his return and that the Ballance remaining due for his Services as Minister be paid to his representatives.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Jacob Read, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folios 471--475. It was acted on March 1.]
The comee. consisting of Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [Samuel] Holten to whom were referred the instructions from the State of Virginia to their delegates in Congress, dated 30 and 31 Decr., 1784, report as their Opinion:
Whereas it appears that the liquidation, and settlement of the Accounts between the U. S. and the State of Virginia and the inhabitants thereof is stopped by the resignation of Mr. Turner the Comr. appointed pursuant to the act of the 20 feby. 1782, And the Comrs. appointed to Constitute the board of treasury, are not yet ready to proceed in the execution of the duties of their Office.
[Resolved, That Andrew Dunscomb be and he A. D. who was heretofore nominated by the late Superintendant and who has been since Approved by the State] be and he is hereby considered the Commissioner to settle the Accounts between the U. S. and the State of Virginia and the inhabitants thereof and that his duties, powers and allowance be the same as those of the other Comrs. appointed under Act of feby. 1782. That the Comptroller notify the said A. D. of his Appointment and furnish him with a copy of the instructions
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given to the other comrs. and the several Acts and resolutions of Congress for his government, and direct him to proceed in the business with all suitable dispatch.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Charles Thomson, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Samuel Holten, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 20, II, folio 315. It was passed March 10.]
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