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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, MARCH 21, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and from Georgia Mr. [William] Houstoun.
A letter, of 20, from James Monroe Esqr. was read, informing that he accepts the appointment of one of the judges of the foederal court, for hearing and determining the controversy between the states of Massachusetts and New York.2
[Note 2: 2 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XVI, folio 431.
On this day, according to Committee Book No. 191, the report on Lieut. Elholm was recommitted. See post, April 4.]
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Congress proceeded to the election of three Commissioners to treat with the Cherokees, and all other Indians southward of them, within the limits of the United States, pursuant to the act of the 15th of the present Month, and, the ballots being taken, Benjamin Hawkins, Esqr. was elected, having been nominated by the delegates of North Carolina; Daniel Carroll, Esqr. having been nominated by Mr. McHenry; William Peery, esqr. having been nominated by Mr. [Gunning] Bedford.
State of South Carolina
By His Excellency William Moultrie Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State aforesaid.
To the Honorable Jacob Read Esquire
Know Ye that by Virtue of the Power and Authority in me Vested by the Honorable the Legislature of this State You are hereby Commissioned as a DELEGATE to represent this State in Congress and you are to Continue in your Delegation until the first Monday in November next.
And to obviate the Inconveniencies which may arise from the State being at that time unrepresented You are hereby authorised to act in Congress as DELEGATE until you shall be relieved by the Legislature of this State.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State in Charleston this twenty first day of February in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty five and of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America the Ninth.
By His Excellency's Command
John Vanderhorst,
Secretary,
Willm: Moultrie
[With the Great Seal appendant]1
[Note 1: 1 A similar commission to John Bull and one to Charles Pinckney were read the same day. The originals are in the Papers of the Continental Congress, South Carolina, Credentials of Delegates. Read's commission was entered in No. 179, Record of Credentials, with a note that the other two were also read on this day.]
On motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, seconded by Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight,
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Resolved, That two additional Commissioners be appointed for holding treaties with the Southern Indians, agreeable to the Act of the 15th instant, and that any three shall form a quorum.
On the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays having been required by Mr. [Charles Pinckney,
{table}
So it was resolved in the affirmative.
Congress proceeded to the election of the two additional Commissioners, and, the ballots being taken, Andrew Piekens, esqr. was elected, having been nominated by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney; Joseph Martin, Esqr. having been nominated by Mr. [Samuel] Hardy.1
[Note 1: 1 The form of a commission to Hawkins, Pickens, and others, in Charles Thomson's handwriting, is in No. 49, folio 273.]
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On motion of Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [Hugh] Williamson,
Resolved, That the Secretary in the War Office take Order for discharging such of the troops raised in pursuance of the resolution of June 3, 1784, as are not in actual service and that the States to which such Troops belong be authorized to pay the ballance that may be due to the said troops raised by such States and to deduct the same from their quota of the requisition of April 27, 1784, [and that the board of treasury take order for paying the said troops out of the requisitions for the year 1784.]1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, except the part in brackets, which is in the writing of Hugh WiLliamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 531. The word, lined out so appear in the original motion and not in the Journal.]
On Motion of Mr. [Archibald] Stewart, seconded by Mr. [Grinning] Bedford,
Resolved, (by 9 states) That in order the more effectually to relieve lieut. colonel Lewis Atayataghronghta, from the distresses in which his zeal for the service of the United States has involved him, the president draw a warrant on the treasurer of the United States, for the sum of six hundred dollars, and the interest now due thereon, being in full of a certificate for that sum, signed by Mr. Pierce, dated the first day of Jany, 1783.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Archibald Stewart, is in the Paper, of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 531.]
On Motion of Mr. [Samuel] Holten, seconded by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney,
Resolved, That Monday next be assigned for the election of another chaplain, in the place of the revd. Mr. Jones, who has resigned.
On the report of a comee. consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Hugh]
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Williamson and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, on a Memorial of Alexander Stewart.
Ordered, That the said Memorial, with the papers enclosed, be referred to the paymaster general, to enquire into the circumstances therein mentioned, and report thereon.1
[Note 1: 1 Committee Book No. 190 states that on "July 25, 1788 on motion of Mr. [Abraham] Clark in behalf of the petitioner A. S. has leave to withdraw his petition."]
The Commee consistg. of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, and Mr. [James] McHenry to whom the petition of Timothy Divine and its inclosures were referred, beg leave to state to Congress,
That the said Divine (while the late army of these States was in Canada) furnished the same with a quantity of Sea-cole [coal], bricks and lumber, for which he recd. no satisfaction.
That he is worn down with years, sickness and distress, and prays that Congress would relieve him by ordering payment of his account. Whereupon your Commee submit the following Report.
Resolved, that the President draw an order upon the Treasurer in favour of Timothy Divine, a Canadian Refugee, for Sixty dollars for which his account is to be debited.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 113. According to the indorsement it was read and passed this day,]
On a report of the said committee, on a petition of Timothy Devine and a petition of doct. Pelion, canadian refugees,
Resolved, by nine states, That the president draw a warrant on the treasurer, in favour of Timothy Devine, a Canadian refugee, for sixty dollars, for which his account is to be debited.
Resolved, That the president draw a warrant on the treasurer, in favour of Doctr. Pellon, for sixty dollars, for which he is to be charged.
A report of a comee., on a letter from James Smith, being read,
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Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners of the treasury to take Order.1
[Note 1: 1 From this point, the proceedings for March 21 were entered only in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, and in Secret Journal No. 4. A copy is in Secret Journal No. 6, Vol. III.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a letter of March 21, from William Grayson declining to act as Commissioner in the boundary dispute between New York and Massachusetts. It is in No. 78, X, folio 495.
Also a letter of March 17 from Andrew Porter dated March 17, applying for appointment as Register in one of the new states. It was ordered to be filed. It is in No. 78, XVIII, folio 539.]
On the report of a Committee, consisting of Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. W[illiam] C[hurchill] Houston, Mr. [Jacob] Read, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford and Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, to whom were referred sundry Letters from the Ministers of the United States at foreign Courts,
Resolved, That the Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to the States General of the United Netherlands be instructed to communicate to Monsr. de St. Saphorin, Envoy extraordinary from his Danish Majesty to the States General, the high sense the United States in Congress Assembled entertain of the liberal decision made by his Majesty on the question proposed to his Majesty's Minister at the Hague by Mr. Adams, Minister from the United States, respecting the Ordination of American Candidates for holy Orders in the episcopal Church, commonly called the Church of England.
Ordered, That the Secretary for Foreign Affairs transmit to the Executives of the several States Copies of Mr. Adams's Letter of the 22d. day of April, 1784, as well as of the papers therein enclosed relative to episcopal Ordination.2
[Note 2: 2 This report and order are entered in the Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, No. 5.
March 21: The following committees were appointed:
Committee of the Week, Mr. [John] Vining, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford and Mr. [William] Grayson.
Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight and Mr. [James] McHenry, on the petition of Duncan Campbell dated March 15. A report was rendered April 11. This petition is in No. 42, II, folio 247, and is similar to that of February 12. See ante, February 14.
Mr. [James] McHenry, Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford and Mr. [William Churchill] Houston, on the letter from John Jay, March 19, and the note from de Marbois respecting the interest due to French holders of Loan Office certificates. Jay's letter was read this day and is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 80, I, folio 105. It is indorsed as referred to the Grand Committee as given, but Committee Book No. 190 states that it was referred to the Grand Committee of January 17.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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