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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 --MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from the State of Connecticut, Mr. [Joseph Platt] Cook, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
On the report of a comee. consisting of Mr. [George] Partridge, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, to whom was referred a Motion relative to the half-pay for seven years, to which the widows of Officers who have died in the service are entitled,
Resolved, by Nine States, That the act of Congress of the 25 August, 1780, on the half pay of general Officers, ought to refer, and the same is hereby declared to refer, as well to the resolution of the next preceding day relative to the same subject, as to that of the 15 of May, 1778.1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a petition of Stacy Potts, praying appointment as Register of the new state to be formed on the Ohio River. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 42, VI, folio 298. See post, March 4.
Also, on this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, Mr. Henry Marchant was nominated by Mr. [William] Ellery as Commissioner to repair to Kaskaskies and the Illinois, and Col. William S. Smith was nominated by Mr. [James] McHenry.]
The Commee. to whom was referred a Motion made in Congress relative to half pay for seven years &c. report.
Your Commee. find that on the 15th. of May, 1778, Congress passed the following resolution, viz., that all military Officers commissioned by Congress who now are or hereafter may be in the service of the
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United States and shall continue therein during the war and not hold any office of profit under these states or any of them shall after the conclusion of the War be entitled to receive annually for the term of seven years if they live so long one half of the present pay of such Officers, provided that no Genl. Officer of the Cavalry, infantry or artillery shall be entitled to receive more, than one half part of the pay of a Colo. of such corps respectively; and provided that this resolution shall not extend to any Officers in the U. States unless he shall take the oath of allegience to, and shall actually reside within some one of the U. States--That on the 24th. of Augt., 1780, Congress passed the following act viz. That the Resolution of the 15th. of May, 1778, granting half pay for seven years to the Officers of the Army who should continue in the service to the end of the war be extended to the Widows of those Officers Who have dyed or shall hereafter dye in the service to commence from the time of such Officer's Death and continue for the term of seven years, or if there be no widow, or in case of her intermarraige, the half pay to be given to the Orphun Children of the Officer dying as aforesaid, if he shall have left any, and that it be recommended to the Legislatures of the respective states to which Officers belong to make provision for the paying the same on Account of the United States.
Your Commee. also find that on the next Day viz. on the 25th. of Augt., 1780, Congress passed a Resolution in the words following viz. Resolved, that the half pay of General Officers be in proportion to their pay
Whereupon your Commee. submit the following Resolution.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of George Partridge, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 21, II, folio 373. According to the indorsement it was entered, read, and passed this day,]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy to whom was referred a motion of Mr. Gerry and a Motion of Mr. [David] Howell submit the following resolves:
Whereas it must conduce to the preservation of public Credit and the equal distribution of Justice that the amount of the national Debt be ascertain'd with the utmost expedition And as delay in the settlement of Accounts tends to render them obscure and to encourage Frauds by preventing the means of detecting them, resolved
That all Persons having unliquidated claims against the U. S. be required within 12 months from the date hereof to deliver such Claims
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to some Commissioner in the State in which they respectively reside who is authorized to settle accounts against the U. S; and any Person or Persons neglecting refusing to deliver their Claims as afforesaid shall be precluded from any adjustment of the same except at the Board of Treasury.
Resolved that all Persons who shall neglect to deliver in their Claims as aforesaid to the Commissioner of Accounts within one Year or to the Board of Treasury within two Years from the date hereof shall be excluded from the Benefit of settlement or allowance.
Resolved that the Commissioners of Accots. appointed under the Resolutions of 27th Feby. 1782 be instructed to remove their respective Offices to the Place in which Congress resides before the first of May next unless such of them as by special Order of Congress have been appointed to settle Accounts in some other Place.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 26, folio 527. According to the indorsement, it was read this day and Thursday March 17 assigned for consideration. It was so considered and passed that day. A rough draft by Williamson, with changes by Gerry, is on folio 519. A printed copy with ms. alterations to the final, adopted form is on folio 515.]
The Committee [Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Elbridge Gerry and Mr. Joseph Gardner] to whom were referred a motion of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and a motion of Mr. [David] Howell respecting News Papers submit the following Resolves.
That Congress be supply'd with three Copies of such News Paper from each state, as may be published by the Printer for the State, or by such other Printer as the Delegates from the state may recommend, which Papers shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary and in the Committee Rooms in such manner that they may be preserved and ready for occasional Inspection.
That Congress be supply'd every day on which a News Paper is published in the Place of their Residence with a Copy for each Member and three Copies to be filed of such Paper as may be recommended by the Delegates from the State.
That the Instructions given the Secy. on the 2 Decr. 1784, respecting News Papers be repealed. Ordered, That the foregoing report be referred to the Secretary of Congress to take Order.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, folio 217; the order is entered in Resolve Book No. 123, p. 1.]
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[Report of the Committee on the administration of the Department of the Post Office.]
The Committee consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Rufus] King, and Mr. W[illiam] Livingston who were appointed pursuant to the Act of June 17th., 1782, to enquire into the Proceedings of the Department of the Post Office beg leave to Report,
That it appears by a Letter from the Post Master Genl., that after defraying the Expences of the Post Office during the last Year there was a Balance remaining in favour of the Office of 1,981 Dlrs. which has been paid into the Treasury of the U. S. which Payment completes 5,878 Dollars, that have lately been paid in Discharge of Debts contracted during the War by the Post Office.
Your Committee nevertheless think it their duty to report that they have heard many Complaints of the want of Expedition in the Postage of Letters and they have observed some Instances of very exceptionable Delay. Your Committee have also heard Complaints that sufficient Regard is not had to the Safety of Letters and Packets which are committed to the Post Office and they apprehend that those Complaints which are very frequent may have some Foundation, Wherefore they submit,
That a Committee be appointed to prepare an additional Ordinance for the better regulating of the Post Office.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 61, folio 529. The indorsement states that it was read on this day and passed.
February 28: The following committees were appointed:
Of the Week Mr. [Abiel] Foster, Mr. [Archibald] Stewart and Mr. [William] Hindman.
Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Archibald] Stewart and Mr. [David] Howell, on the memorial of Dr. John Morgan for payment of the balance due him. A report was rendered April 1. Morgan's memorial is in No. 41, VI, folio 385.
Mr. [Zephaniah] Platt, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. R. R. Livingston, Mr. [Lambert] Cadwallader and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, on the memorial of the Contractors for the Moving Army, 1782, on the failure of contract on the part of the U. S. and praying to settle the matter by arbitration. A report was rendered and the committee renewed April 5.
Mr. [Pierse] Long, Mr. [George] Gardner and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, on the memorial of Jotham Blanchard, who is being sued for contracts made to supply the army in 1779, and a petition of Robert Patton for compensation for services. A report was rendered on Blanchard's memorial March 4 and on Patton's March 28.
Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Jacob] Read and Mr. [William] Houstoun, to prepare an additional ordinance for the better regulating of the post office. This committee was renewed March 14.
Committee Book No. 190.
Also on this day "all the letters and papers this day received from Ministers at Paris, Dumas and Branmuller" were referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. See post, May 11.
On this day, also, according to the indorsement, a report was rendered by the committee of February 25, on the motion of Mr. [James] Monroe, of that date. It is in No. 30, folio 571. It was read this day and Monday next assigned for electing the commissioner. The report was passed, verbatim, April 13,]
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