| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present as yesterday.
A letter, of the 16 March, from John Lewis Gervais, Esq. was read, declining to accept the Office of a commissioner of the board of treasury; Whereupon,1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, X, folio 483.]
Resolved, That Tuesday next be assigned for electing another commissioner in the room of Mr. Gervais, who has declined.
Congress took into consideration the report of a committee, to whom were referred sundry motions relative to the western frontiers, and a paragraph thereof relative to the raising of troops being under debate, a motion was made by Mr. [David] Howell, seconded by Mr. [John] Beatty, that the same be postponed, in order to take up the following: "That it is necessary, that a body of troops, consisting of non-commissioned officers and privates, be raised to serve for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged, for the protection of the north western frontiers, and for guarding public stores; to be raised by the States in the following proportions, viz. N. H. &c.
It is the opinion of the Committee that the United States in Congress assembled should proceed to establish such Garrisons to make requisitions on the states for men and money in order to establish such garrisons.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Charles Thomson and another, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 38, folio 3691. It is undated but seems to belong to this matter.]
On the question, the paragraphs of the report being postponed, and the motion taken up and amended, a division was called for, and on the question to agree to the first clause as amended,
Resolved, That it is necessary that a body of troops consisting of 700 noncommissioned officers and privates, be
Page 224 | Page image
raised to serve for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged, for the protection of the northwestern frontiers, to defend the settlers on the land belonging to the United States, from the depredations of the Indians, and to prevent unwarrantable intrusions thereon, and for guarding the public stores.
After debate on the latter clause of the motion,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed.1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, Mr. [Rufus] King was added to the committee of March 16 on Robert Howe's letter.]
The Committee consisting of [Mr. David Howell, Mr. Pierse Long and Mr. Samuel Holten] to whom was refer'd the petition of John Vincent, a Native Indian of the Huron Tribe, Submit the following report.
That as said Vincent does not support said Petition by any substantial documents they are of opinion it lay on file; but that as the Comee have been informed by Col. Louis that the sd John Vincent has been a faithful friend to the U. States during the late war, and rendered them valuable services, they recommend that it be
Resolved. That in consideration of the faithful services of John Vincent a native Indian of the Huron Tribe in the course of the late war he be allowed and paid by the Commissioners of the Treasury the sum of 600 one hundred dollars.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Pierse Long and David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 121. According to the indorsement and according to Committee Book No. 191, it was read this day and passed April 8.]
The Committee consisting of [Mr. Hugh Williamson, Mr. Archibald Stewart and Mr. David Howell] to whom was referred a Petition of Dr. Morgan, who alledges that on settling his Accounts there appeared a Balance due him of near 476 Dlrs. which he entreats may be paid, submit the following Resolve.
That whenever Dr. John Morgan, shall have accounted for the Stores delivered to his Care, or when the several Charges against his former Department shall have been delivered in, and it shall appear to the Commissioner of Hospital Accounts, that the Doctor's Papers
Page 225 | Page image
and Books were unavoidably destroyed, or that he has rendered the best account of the Stores committed to his Care, of which the Circumstances of the Case would admit, he shall obtain a Certificate for the Balance due him.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 189. It was passed on June 20.]
The Committee consisting of [Mr. John Beatty, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. Pierse Long] to whom was referred the Memorial of Belcher P. Smith praying that he may be allowed depreciation of his pay while he acted as Secretary of Congress beg leave to report--
That B. P. Smith having served as clerk in the Office of the Secretary of Congress retired on the 17th. of April, 1779, and has been paid for his services according to the subsisting Acts of Congress--
That Congress have since that time, Vizt--on the 13th. and 25th. of Septr., 1780, fixed the pay of civil Officers then in their service to be made quarterly in specie or equivalent money, and on the 15th. of Novr. Congress for the couragement of civil Officers who had continued some time in their service allowed them the benefit of the Acts of 13th. and 25th. Septr. from the 2d. of Novr. 1778 and on the 4th. of Decr. Congress gave their civil Officers the further gratuity or indulgence of reaping the benefit of the Acts of September 13th. and 25th. from the 1st. Septr. 1777--
Your Committee are aware that many Officers civil and Military and numberless other Citizens of the U. S. have suffered greatly by the depreciation of money, which, however, they have received out of choice or under the obligations of law, but they conceive it would be extremely difficult and perhaps dangerous to attempt a revisal of all these Accounts and payments with the hope of rendering equal justice, and if the revisal of a single Account is admitted under a claim of the suffering party, they do not see why all accounts shall not be revised: on which they submit the following Resolve--
That Mr. Belcher P. Smith who was a Clerk in the office of the Secretary of Congress and retired on the 17th of April 1779 is not entitled to the benefits which Congress extended to thier civil officers by their acts of 1780 on that subject.
That Mr. Belcher P. Smith who was a clerk in the Office of the Secretary of Congress and retired on the 17th. of April 1779, and has had his accounts settled according to the existing Resolutions of
Page 226 | Page image
Congress is not entitled to the benefits which Congress extended to their civil Officers by subsequent Acts of 1780 on that subject.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Hugh Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 363. The indorsement gives it this date. According to Committee Book No. 191, it was filed.
On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, the letter of the Secretary of Congress respecting the bust of General Washington, taken in pursuance of the act of August 7, 1783, was referred to Mr. [Thomas] Johnson, Mr. [Gunning] Bedford and Mr. [David] Howell, who reported April 6. Thomson's letter is in No. 19, VI, folio 473.
Also, according to the indorsement on the letter of January 10, 1785, from John Adams: "The original of this Letter was reported on by the Secy. for for: affairs 1st. Apl. 1785 and sent to Congress and has not since been found on the Files by the Depy. Secy. Jan. 29th. 1788". A copy of a copy of this letter, which dealt with the state of the Holland loan and payment of salaries of the United States Ministers abroad, is in No. 84, V, folio 367.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |