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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 --TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as yesterday.
Resolved, That the resolution of the third day of Feby last, for taking security from the commissioners of the treasury, extend only so far as to compel each of the said commissioners to give security for the due execution of his trust, without
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being answerable for such acts of the board, or his associates, as he did not consent to or acquiesce in.
Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee, on the state of the Southern Indians; and the following paragraph being under debate:
That the Commissioners be authorised to apply to the supreme executive, either of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia, for 150 men, or such part thereof as they may deem necessary, of their Militia, for the purpose of protecting the Comrs. whilst engaged in concluding the said treaties,
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And that they be authorised to draw on either of the said states, for a sum not exceedingdollars, to discharge the expense of holding a treaty, including the pay and Subsistence of the guard for the Comrs, and a sum not exceedingdollars, to be expended in Making presents to the Indians, and that the said state have credit for such advance out of the requisition for the year 1786.
A Motion was made by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, seconded by Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, to fill the first blank with "Nine thousand:" And on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,
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So it was resolved in the affirmative.
The other blanks being filled, and the report being amended, was, on the question, agreed to as follows:1
[Note 1: 1 At this point Benjamin Bankson begins the entries in the Journal.]
Resolved, By nine States, That three Commissioners, with the same pay as is allowed to the Commissioners appointed
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for treating with the Northern Indians, be appointed to treat with the Cherokees and all other Indians southward of them, within the limits of the United States, or who have been at War with them, for the purpose of making Peace with them, receiving them into the favour and protection of the United States, and removing as far as may be all causes of future contention or quarrels.
That the commissioners be instructed as a preliminary, to require that all prisoners of whatever age or sex among the Indians, shall be delivered up, and they are further instructed to demand the Negroes and other property belonging to the Citizens of the United States, which have been captured during the War.
That they be instructed to inform the Indians of the great occurrences of the last War, and of the extent of Country relinquished by the late treaty of peace with Great Britain.
That the Commissioners, previous to their holding any Treaty, shall give due notice of the time and place where it is to be held, to the Supreme Executives of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia; in order that they may each of them appoint one or more persons to attend during the Treaty, if they think proper.
That the Commissioners be instructed to encourage the Indians to give notice to Congress or some of their Officers, of any designs that may be formed in any neighbouring tribe, or by any person whatever against the peace of the United States.
That the Commissioners be authorised to apply to the Supreme Executive of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia, for one hundred and fifty men, or such part thereof as they may deem necessary of their Militia, for the purpose of protecting the Commissioners whilst engaged in concluding the said Treaties; and that they be authorised to draw on any
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of the said States [for a sum not exceeding nine thousand dollars, to discharge the expences of holding the treaties, including the pay of the Commissioners, and the pay and subsistence of the guard for the Commissioners; and a sum not exceeding four thousand dollars, to be expended in making presents to the Indians, and that the said State have credit for such advance out of the requisition for the year 1786.]1
[Note 1: 1 The words in brackets are in Charles Thomson's writing.]
Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the appointment of three Commissioners, to form a treaty or treaties with the Indians in the Southern Department, agreeably to the foregoing Act, for the purposes specified in the same.2
[Note 2: 2 On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, Mr. [Samuel] Holten was added to the committee of February 7 on Moses Hazen's memorial, in place of Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry.]
The Committee appointed to consider whether any, and what measures may be necessary for Congress to adopt in pursuance of their recommendations to the several States of March [April] 18, 1783, beg leave to offer to Congress the following resolutions:
Resolved, That a deputation ofmembers of Congress be appointed to repair to and confer with the Legislatures of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, New York and Georgia, provided they are now in session, or at their next sessions respectively, to state to them the public embarrassments for want of money, and urge on them the necessity of an immediate compliance with the recommendations of April 18th. 1783.
Resolved, That a circular letter be written to all the States excepting Delaware urging the necessity of a full and perfect compliance with that part of the System of April 18th. 1783, which recommends to the States to establish for the term of 25 years substantial and effectual revenues of such nature as they may judge most convenient for supplying their respective proportions of 1,500,000 annually to be appropriated and collected in like manner with the Impost of 5 pr. Ct.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of a clerk, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 24, folio 123. It is indorsed in the writing of David Howell, "Report of a committee on Mr. Mercer's motion relative to the impost of five pr. Cnt." The indorsement by Thomson says it was the report of Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [John] Beatty, read on this day and on January 27, 1786, recommitted to Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, Mr. [John Cleves] Symmes and Mr. [Samuel] Livermore. On folio 124 Thomson has copied Mercer's motion of December 17, 1784.]
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The committee of the Week consisting of Mr J[ohn] Henry, Mr [James] Monroe and [William] Grayson,1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Henry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 625. It is undated, but from the indorsements on the various petitions considered, seems to have been rendered this day.
Fowler's memorial is in No. 41, III, folio 300; Elliot's is in No. 42, II, folio 426. Both were read this day and referred on April 4 to Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy and Mr. [Abiel] Foster. This committee was renewed August 8.
Divine's petition was read on this day. It is in No. 41, II, folio 517.
The petition from the officers of the late American Regiment is in No. 42, VI, folio 113, was read this day and referred to Mr. [John] Bull, Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [James] McHenry. This committee had reported, March 14, on John Pierce's letter of November 6, 1784, on this same subject and that report was recommitted to the committee on April 4. The committee was renewed July 20.
Adams' petition was read this day. It is in No. 42, I, folio 59.
March 15: The following committees were appointed:
Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. R. R. Livingston and Mr. [William] Ellery, on the memorial of Samuel Fraunces. The memorial is dated March 5, 1785, prayed for financial assistance and was read this day. Committee Book No. 191 states that a report was rendered March 28. Fraunces' memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, folio 292.
Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [Abiel] Foster, on the letter from Lieutenant Augustus Christian George Elholm, of Pulaski's legion, for payment of balance due him. Report was rendered March 21.
Committee Book No. 190.]
Report--
That the Memorials of Alexander Fowler and Daniel Elliot requesting to be paid for their advances to the Troops at P. Fort Pitt be referred to a Committee.
That the Petition of Timothy Divine be referred to the Committee FILES. on Canada affairs.
That the Letter from Col. Smith, requesting to be informed of FILES. the manner in which his Salary is to be paid, be referred to a Committee.
That the Letter from Daniel Elliot, stating that he is engaged on the part of Virginia to run the Western Boundary of pensylvania as far as the Ohio, and that as Congress is interested P. in the remainder of the line, he will continue in their Service if agreeable, be referred to a Committee for opening the Land office.
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That the Petition of the Officers of the late American Regiment, stating that Doctor Heart the Surgeon of their Regit. had received, on an order from the paymaster General a Sum of P. Money for the Regimental paymaster, to be applied to the subsistance of the said officers, that on the return of Doctor Heart from Boston and in the absence of the paymaster, they with the approbation of the Doctor distributed to each officer six weeks pay, and gave receipts for so much, as if received of the regimental paymaster which receipts they pray, after considering all the circumstances of their situation and distress, may be allowed by the Comptroller as vouchers to the pay master for the said six weeks pay, be referred to a Committee.
That the petition of William Adams praying for a compensation P. for his losses by the enemy he entered on the files
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