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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 --FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from the State of Pensylvania, Mr. [Joseph] Gardner, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
The report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [Jacob] Read, to whom
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had been referred a Motion of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, being called for, and read as follows:
"That the Secretary in the War office be instructed to discharge such of the troops raised in pursuance of the Act of Congress of the 3d. of June last, as are not in actual service."1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, according to Committee Book No. 191, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs reported on the application of John M. Pintard for leave of absence to come to America. It was acted on July 14. It is in No. 80, I, folio 49.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. Joseph P. Cook, Mr. Walter Livingston and Mr. Zephaniah Platt] report, that the Petition of Anthony Broderick, Matthew Lindsey and John Dod; praying for lands in the state of Washington lay on the files.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 593. It is undated, but belongs to this period. The petition from Broderick and others in behalf of certain inhabitants of New Jersey and Connecticut is in No. 42, I, iolio 342.]
On the question to agree to the said report, the yeas and nays being called for by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,
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So the question was lost.
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[Motion of Mr. James Monroe.]
Resolved, That agreeably to the condition of the act of cession from the State of Virga. a commissr. be appointed, who jointly with the comr. on the part of sd. State, shall be authoriz'd to appoint a third, and that they or a majority of them, shall be empowered to adjust and liquidate the accts. of sd. State agnst. the U. S. for the necessary and reasonable expences incurred by that State for subduing any British posts or maintaining any forts or garrisons within, and for the defence or in acquiring any part of the territory ceded by sd. State to the U. S. agreeably to sd. act of cession That the advances of sd. State for the above purposes when liquidated as above and adjusted be deducted out of the requisition for the year 17851
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of James Monroe, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 487. See post, February 28]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston and Mr. [Joseph] Gardner, appointed to revise the institution of the Office of the Secretary of Congress and to report such alterations as they may judge necessary--beg leave to report the following draft of an Ordinance:
An Ordinance for the regulation of the Office of Secretary of Congress and for extending it to the Home Department.
Be it Ordained by the United States in Congress Assembled, that the Secretary of Congress who shall in future be charged with the business of the home department, the following duties and shall keep his Office in or near the State House or building where the Sessions of Congress shall be holden.
He shall carefully preserve the Journals of Congress and all other Papers Committed to his charge, and such as are secret in their nature, or by special Order, shall not be communicated by him to any Person except Members of Congress and such Persons as may be entitled thereto by special resolutions.
He shall not deliver any original Journal out of his office nor shall he deliver any original Letter or Paper out of his Office without an order of Congress and a receipt therefor.
He shall deliver attested Copies of any resolutions of Congress, or public Papers in his Office not secret in their nature, or by Special Order to any Members of Congress, who may require the same in writing.
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He shall transmit to the Board of Treasury Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to the Secretary for the War Department, to the Secretary of Marine, to the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury and to the Postmaster General all papers referred to them by Congress respectively, as well as an authenticated Copy of all Acts, Ordinances and resolutions of Congress touching their respective Departments.
He shall keep a daily account of all Memorials, Petitions and Communications received by Congress, noting therein their object and the steps taken respecting them, and lay the said Account, or register every day on the Table in Congress for the inspection of the Members.
He shall return such answers as Congress shall direct to be given to the Memorials, Petitions, and communications, except where Congress shall judge it proper that the same be given by their President, or where it shall be the duty of any of the Executive Departments to return such answer.
He shall transmit to the several States all Acts, Ordinances, resolutions and recommendations of Congress attend to the execution of them correspond with the States for the purpose of receiving communications from them touching relative to the execution of the same, and make report thereof to Congress, keeping a Book in which shall be entered copies of all such Letters and Communications.
He shall attend Congress during their session, and in their recess the Committee of the States, either in Person or by his Deputy, read the public dispatches, Acts, Ordinances and reports of Committees and make the proper Entries on the Journals.
He shall authenticate all Acts and proceedings of Congress not specially directed to be authenticated by their President, and keep a Register of all Treaties, Conventions, Ordinances and permanent Acts of Congress.
He shall cause to be made and laid upon the Table for every State represented in Congress, and for every Member appearing for any State unrepresented, a Copy of every Ordinance or report upon a matter of importance and not of a secret Nature, for the consideration of which a day is assigned.
He shall keep the Great Seal of the Federal Union and cause the same to be affixed, to every Act, Ordinance, or Paper Congress shall direct. He shall superintend the printing of the Journals, and other Publications ordered by Congress,
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He shall keep a Book in which shall be noted in Columns the names of the several Members of Congress, the State which they represent, the date of their Appointment, and the term for which they are appointed.
Be it also Ordained, that the salary of the Secretary of Congress and for the Home department shall bedollars per annum. That a Deputy Secretary in his Office shall be appointed by Congress, and allowed a Salary ofDollars per annum. That he be also be authorised to appoint an Under Secretary in his Office who shall be allowed a Salary ofdollar per annum, and such a number of Clerks as Congress may from time to time direct, each with an allowance ofdollars, per annum.
That as well the Secretary of Congress and for the home Department, as the Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary Clerks previous to their entering on the duties of their respective Appointments shall take and subscribe the Oaths or Affirmation of fidelity and of Office prescribed in an Ordinance passed on the 27th. day of Jany. 1785 which Oaths shall be taken by the said Secretary before the President of Congress. And that all former resolutions for regulating the duties of the Office of the Secretary of Congress be and they are hereby repealed.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Benjamin Bankson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 31, folio 275. The indorsement states that it was read on this day and Friday, March 4, assigned for consideration. See post, March 18 and March 31.]
The Committee of the Week [Mr. Joseph P. Cook, Mr. Walter Livingston and Mr. Zephaniah Platt] report that a memorial purporting to be the petition of Samuel Warren, but without signature, lay on the files.2
[Note 2: 2 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 591. It is undated but Samuel Warren's petition praying for reimbursement for losses from an unpaid note of Benedict Arnold was read February 25. It is in No. 42, VIII, folio 314.
February 25: The following committees were appointed:
Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [John] Beatty and Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, on letter from George Clinton, February 23, asking for reimbursement for advances made in 1776 and 1777. A report was rendered March 7.
Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [George] Partridge and Mr. [Archibald] Stewart, on the petition of Joanna Young, for half-pay. Mr. [William] Houstoun was added to this committee March 14 and a report was rendered March 22. Mrs. Young's petition is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VIII, folio 467.
Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and Mr. R. R. Livingston, on the report on letter from Arthur Lee, March 10, 1784, asking compensation for services as corresponding agent. See post, March 1.
Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [John] Beatty, on the motion of Mr. [James] Monroe, for appointing the commissioners to settle the accounts of Virginia for expences in occupying and defending the western territory ceded by Virginia to the United States. A report was rendered February 28.]
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