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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, APRIL 11, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
Mr. John Haring, a delegate for the state of New York, attended, and took his seat in Congress.2
[Note 2: 2 For Haring's credential see ante, March 29.]
[Motion of Mr. David Howell]
That the Comee. be instructed to report a reduction in the pay of the commissioned officers to raise the corps to be employed be appointed to command the troops to be raised in pursuance of the resolution of April 1st.3
[Note 3: 3 This motion, in the writing of Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 30, folio 401. It is indorsed by Thomson "Referred to the Comee. to whom their report was recomd. on raising 700 men." See ante, April 7, and post, April 12.]
The Committee consisting of Messrs. [William] Ellery, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [David] Howell to whom was referred a petition of Seth Harding of the 5th April, 1785, setting forth that he is confined in the Gaol in this city and praying that Congress would grant him such a part of his just demands as will enable him to procure the necessaries of life, and defray the expenses he has been at for about six weeks past, report,
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That the board of Treasury take order for paying Captain Seth Harding 500 dollars, for which his account is to be debited.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 51. It was adopted April 15, q. v.]
The Committee consisting &c. [Mr. Gunning Bedford, Mr. William Grayson and Mr. Rufus King] to whom was referred a letter from Wm. Duer, Esq., of the 5th. of April instant, report--
That they have conferred with Mr. Duer, and find that the sum of 3,000 dollars was ordered to be paid to him by a resolve of Congress of the 18th. day of February last as a necessary advance on his contract; of this sum one thousand was paid on the 26th. of February and owing to a deficiency of money in the Treasury, the other two thirds remain still unpaid to Mr. Duer.
As this sum was intended as an advance, but hath not been paid, they think it unreasonable to deduct the same from the amount of issues for the months of April and May, conformably to the Resolve of the 18th. of February, and thereupon submit the following resolve--
That the sum of three thousand dollars ordered to be advanced to Mr. Duer by the Resolve of Congress of the 18th. Day of February last be deducted from the amount of Issues for the two last months of his contract the former resolve of the 18th. to the contrary notwithstanding.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 149. According to the indorsement it was read this day. See post, April 12.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. David Howell, Mr. Gunning Bedford and Mr. William Ellery] to whom was referred a Letter signed Robert Morris and dated Philadelphia, March 26, 1785, containing information that he had caused five hundred copies of "A statement of the Accounts of the U. States of America during the administration of the late Superintendant of Finance" to be printed and offering as many thereof to Congress as they might deem necessary, beg leave to report--
That the accounts exhibited to Congress in the printed book accompanying the Letter referred to your Committee do not appear to have been examined and adjusted, since the resignation of the late Superintendant, by any person duly authorized for that purpose, and this measure being previously necessary, in the opinion of your Committee to enable Congress to determine, with propriety on the Subject of sd. Letter, they beg leave to recommend the following resolution--
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Resolved thatbe and they are hereby authorized and directed to examine and adjust the public accounts of the Superintendant of Finance during his Administration. And to report a Statement thereof to Congress.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 441--2. It is indorsed by Thomson: "Entd. read 11 April 1785 Wednesday 13, 1785 Assigned for consideration. 13 copies to be made of this. passed 20 June 1785." A copy, in the handwriting of a clerk, is in No. 31, folio 311.]
The Commee. consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [John] Bull, and Mr. [John] Sitgreaves to whom the petition of Duncan Campbell and its inclosures were referred, Report That the petition of Duncan Campbell with its inclosures be referred to the Paymaster general Commr. of Army accounts to report.2
[Note 2: 2 The report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, I, folio 515. It is indorsed by Thomson "Mr. Ellery, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Spaight, Mr. McHenry. Entd. read 11 April 1785" and in a different hand "passed April 26, 1785". The above report was referred to the committee named by Thomson's indorsement and to this committee was also referred Campbell's petition of March 15. The action recorded in the Journal April 26 implies that the committee of April 11 coincided in its view with that of the committee of February 14.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. Rufus King, Mr. David Howell, and Mr. James Monroe] to whom was referred the Memorial of Mr. Thomas Walker praying compensation for his great sufferings and losses in Canada, submit the following Report:
That Mr. Walker for many years previous to the late war was of the Magistracy of the Province of Quebec and a reputable merchant at Montreal. That at the earliest period of disagreement between the late Colonies and Great Britain Mr. Walker took a decided part in favor of the principles that justify the separation of the two Countries, and by an uniform conduct gave an example of patriotism to the friends of liberty in Canada, which drew upon him the barbarous resentment of the Military then stationed in that Country.
Mr. Walker industriously circulated the address of Congress to the people of the Province of Quebec in the yearunder circumstances of hazard and imminent danger and for his active support of the measures recommended by Congress, was imprisoned by Genl. Carleton on a charge of treason, loaded with heavy irons and liberated only by the arrival of General Montgomery in Canada. His house and store were burnt at the time of his arrest, and his goods plundered by a party of armed men.
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Upon obtaining his freedom he aided the forces sent against Quebec, and advanced of his remaining property for their convenience. The Committee are sensible that Congress by a resolve of April 23rd., 1783, pointed out a mode of compensating Canadians for sufferings during the late war; but they are of opinion that the great losses and peculiar suffering of Mr. Walker, and his present situation, authorize a compensation in addition to that proposed by the resolve aforesaid; and therefore submit that it be
Resolved, that the sum of 2000 dollars be granted Board of Treasury take order for the payment of 1500 Dollars to Mr. Thomas Walker towards a compensation for his losses and sufferings in Canada, and that it be and hereby is recommended to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to pay and deduct the same from their quota of the requisition of the year 1785. on account
The Committee ask further to recommend that the memorial of Mr. Walker be referred to the Committee on Canada applications.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, VI, folio 141. According to the indorsement it was read this day. See post, April 15.
April 11: The following committees were appointed:
Committee of the Week: Mr. [John] Haring, Mr. [Melancton] Smith and Mr. [Rufus] King.
Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. J[ohn] Henry and Mr. [Pierse] Long, on Fleury Mesplet's memorial. This was a renewal of the Committee of March 11, with Henry and Long in place of Richard Dobbs Spaight and Zephaniah Platt. The committee was discharged April 15 and the memorial referred to the Board of Treasury.
Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. J[ohn] Henry and Mr. [Gunning] Bedford, on the offer of the Connecticut delegates in conformity to an Act of that State, January, 1784, ceding western lands to the United States, and a motion that Congress accept the cession. This was a renewal of the committee of February 15, and this committee was again renewed May 2.
Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. J[ohn] Henry, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [David] Howell, on the motion for reducing the Civil List. This committee was renewed July 20.
On this day also Postmaster General Ebenezer Hazard's letter of April 4, 1785, requesting leave to reside in Philadelphia, was referred to the committee of March 14 on the Post Office. See ante, April 8.
Also Edward Williams's letter resigning as Commissioner for settling accounts between the United States and the State of Georgia was referred to the Board of Treasury to take order; both letter and order axe entered in Resolve Book, No. 123. See ante, April 8.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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