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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 --FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina; and from the state of New Jersey, Mr. [Charles] Stewart, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
On the report of a grand committee of 1784, consisting of Mr. [Thomas] Stone, Mr. [Jonathan] Blanchard, Mr. [Elbridge] Gerry, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Roger] Sherman, Mr. [Charles] De Witt, Mr. [Samuel] Dick, Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Samuel] Hardy, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. [Jacob] Read, to whom was referred a letter of the 29 April, 1784, from the Superintendent of finance,
Resolved, That from and after the first day of July next, all monies collected in the several States, for the use of the United States, shall be paid into the continental loan office in said states respectively, and all other receivers of such monies shall be discontinued.
Ordered, That the remainder of the report be referred to the committee appointed to revise the regulation of the
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treasury department, and report an Ordinance for its future regulation.1
[Note 1: 1 See ante, May 17, 1784. The report, in its printed form, was referred to the Grand Committee of January 17, 1785, referred again to the committee of April 12, on the regulation of the Treasury, and the first resolve passed, as above, April 15. The remainder of the report was referred to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Pierse] Long, Mr. John Henry and Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight. This committee was renewed May 30. The printed report is a badly mutilated fragment and is in No. 29, folio 213.
On this day, the ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of lands in the western territory seems to have been recommitted. A printed copy of its form on April 12 is in the Papers of the Continental Congress No. 36, III, folio 9. With the manuscript changes noted thereon it is as spread on the Journals April 26, 1785.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson and Mr. W[illiam] Livingston, to whom was referred a memorial of Samuel A. Otis,
Resolved, That the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the department of the clothier general be, and hereby is empowered to examine and settle the accounts of the late company of Otis & Andrews, of Samuel A. Otis, and of the late company of Otis and Henley, conformably to the resolves of Congress, as well in the department of the quarter master general, as in that of the clothier general. And to the end that full justice may be done, between the said agents and the United States, touching the depreciation of monies, the said Commissioner is hereby instructed to receive from the Commissioner for settling the accounts of the department of the Quarter master general, all such accounts, papers and vouchers as he may be possessed of, relative to the said agent's transactions with that department; and the said commissioner is hereby farther instructed to revise such accounts with the said agents, in the department of the clothier general, as he may have heretofore examined, comparing therewith the accounts of the said agents for the same period, with the department of the quarter master general, that he may discover the advances
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which have been made to or by them, on either account, and settle the depreciation accordingly.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [David] Howell, to whom was referred a petition of Seth Harding,
Resolved (by nine States), That the board of treasury take Order for paying to captain Seth Harding five hundred dollars, for which his account is to be debited.
That he was wounded on the thirteenth August whilst in the execution of his duty; by which wound he was rendered unable to help himself until the 4th. of April following and that he has received pay to the 10th. October, 1779, only, and praying that pay may be allowed him for the intermediate time.
By certificates accompanying the petition it appears to your Committee that on the 15th. May, 1779, John Franklin was engaged as a guide at £50 Pennsylvania currency per month, that he was wounded at Chemung on the 13th. August following which rendered him unable to help himself until the 4th. day of April 1780 and that he has received pay to the 10th. of October 1779 only. They therefore submit the following resolve.
Whereas it appears that John Franklin who served as a guide on the Indian expedition commanded by Major General Sullivan in 1779 was by a wound he received in the service rendered incapable of assisting or supporting himself from the 13th. day of August 1779 to the 4th. day of April following, and that his pay as a guide ceased on the 10th. day of October 1779.
Resolved, That he be allowed at the rate of 20 dollars specie per month from the 10[th. day of October 1779 to the 4th. day of April 1780 which shall be in full compensation for his expences and loss of time, and that the Superintendant of finance Board of Treasury take order for paying him the same.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Edward Hand, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 335. According to the indorsement it was entered and read May 18, 1784.]
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Edward] Hand, Mr. [Roger] Sherman and Mr. [John] Beatty, to whom was referred a petition of John Franklin, employed as a
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guide, and wounded in the expedition commanded by Major general Sullivan, in 1779,
Resolved (by nine States), That John Franklin, who served as a guide on the expedition commanded by Major general Sullivan, in 1779, and was wounded in the service, be allowed at the rate of twenty dollars specie per month, from the tenth day of October, 1779, to the 4th day of April, 1780, which shall be in full compensation for his service, expenses and loss of time, and that the board of treasury take order for paying him the same.
On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [James] Monroe, to whom was referred a memorial of Thomas Walker,
Resolved (by nine States), That the board of treasury take order for the payment of 1500 dollars to Mr. Thomas Walker, on account.1
[Note 1: 1 On this day, according to Committee Book No. 191, a report was rendered on the petition of Caleb Brewster and the business was transferred.]
[Motion of Mr David Howell]
Resolved, That the Commissioners for settling the Accounts in the great departments be instructed impowered where in their opinion justice may require it to revise the Accounts of claimants against departments other than those for which they are specially appointed, and which accounts may have been settled and settle all depreciation on the same privileges as though all the Accounts were to [torn] department.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 545. According to the indorsement it was offered this day and referred to Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [David] Howell and Mr. [Hugh] Williamson.
On this day a letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, dated April 15, was read, announcing the appointment of Jan Hendrick and Christiaan Heineken by the United Netherlands, as its consuls in Philadelphia and of Herman C. Roy as consul in New York and Jersey. It is in No. 80, I, folio 133.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read the letter of Edward Fox, dated April 14, giving reasons why the offices of the Commissioners for settling the accounts of the five great Departments should not be stationary. It is in No. 78, IX, folio 539, and was referred to Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [Samuel] Holten and Mr. [Gunning] Bedford, who reported April 29.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, Fleury Mesplet's memorial was this day referred to the Board of Treasury, which reported April 26.
Also the report of the Grand Committee on the requisition for 1785 was referred to the Grand Committee of April 6, for a report.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [David] Howell reported this day upon Captain James Nicholson's letter of April 14, soliciting leave of absence. See post, April 27]
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