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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, MAY 2, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina and from the state of Connecticut, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, from Delaware, Mr. [John] Vining, and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
On the report of a Committee, consisting of Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [William] Ellery, and Mr. [David] Howell, to whom was referred a memorial of Captain James Nicholson,
Resolved, That the Board of Treasury take order for discharging certain notes of hand, given by three of Captain Nicholson's Officers for Board, while they were Prisoners of War on Long-Island, which are endorsed by Captain Nicholson, viz. the obligation of David Morrow, Surgeon, for thirty dollars; ditto of Joseph Smith, purser, for thirty dollars; ditto of Peter Manifold, an Officer of Marines, for Twenty-one dollars, with which sums the accounts of those Officers respectively are to be charged.2
[Note 2: 2 According to indorsement the report of the committee of April 20 on the report of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of April 18, was read this day. It was passed May 11.]
Congress resolved itself into a committee of the whole house, to take into consideration the Ordinance for ascertaining
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the mode of disposing of Lands in the Western Territory; and the ballots being taken, Mr. [Samuel] Holten was elected Chairman of the Committee.
After some time spent in Committee, the President resumed his seat, and the Chairman reported, that the Committee had had the Ordinance under their consideration, and several amendments having been moved, but no question put, it was agreed to report the Ordinance without amendment to the house.
[Amendment by Mr [James] McHenry in the Entry of the 25th. April 85. Agreed to in Congress the subsequent monday.]
The following part of the ordinance being under debate, "provided that none of the lands within the said territory be sold under the price of one dollar the acre, to be paid in specie or loan office certificates reduced to specie value by the scale of depreciation or certificates of liquidated debts of the United States including interest besides the expence of the survey and other charges thereon, which are hereby rated at forty nine dollars the township, in specie or certificates as aforesaid and so in proportion for a fractional part thereof." It was moved by Mr [James] McHenry seconded by Mr [Melancton] Smith to amend the same by inserting the words "half" between the words "one" and "dollar," so that it read "one half dollar the acre."1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of James McHenry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 47. The indorsement states that it was agreed to this day.
On this day, as the indorsement states, was read a memorial of Brockholst Livingston praying compensation for his services as private secretary to John Jay in Europe. It is dated April 25, 1785, and was referred to Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Hugh] Williamson, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson. Mr. [John] Lawrence was added May 30 in place of Williamson. It is in No. 41, V, folio 389.
Also, a letter of February 10 from D. Humphreys, praying the indulgence extended to foreign officers in payment of interest on public securities in his possession. It is in No. 78, XII, folio 375.
Also, a letter of April 29 from Captain James Nicholson, offering himself for appointment as marine agent. It is indorsed as having been read May 2 and ordered to be filed. It is in No. 78, XVII, folio 175.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter from the Secretary at War, dated April 29, on the need of pay for the troops at Fort McIntosh and West Point. It was referred to the Board of Treasury to report. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, I, folio 1.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, the committee of April 11, on Connecticut's cession of western lands, was this day renewed as Mr. [Samuel] Holten, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. J[ohn] Henry, Mr. [William] Grayson and Mr. [David] Ramsay. This committee was again renewed January 18, 1786.
Also, the committee of March 14 reported this day on the memorial of Augustin Prevost Jr. See post, May 6.
On this day, according to Despatch Book, No. 185, a letter dated February 9, from John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson was received. It is noted as containing the following enclosures--No. 1: Letter from the Ambassador of Portugal, 1784, Dec. 22. No. 2: Letter from Baron Thulemeier. No. 3: Letter from Adams, Franklin and Jefferson to Baron Thulemeier. No. 4: Letter from Mr. Walterstorf, 1785, February 1. No. 5: Answer to No. 4. Nos. 6 and 7 Answers to the Courts of Naples and Turin, and a private Ordinance establishing the privileges of Messina as a free port. See post, May 5.]
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The Committee consisting of Mr. [William] Ellery, Mr [James] Monroe, Mr [Jacob] Read, Mr [Hugh] Williamson and Mr [Richard Dobbs] Spaight to whom applications from Canadian refugees have been referred, report the following Resolutions.
That the Commr for settling the account of the State of New York with the United States be authorized and directed to P. examine the Accounts of such Canadian refugees, as have furnished the late Armies of these States with any sort of supplies, and report thereon to Congress.
That the said Commissioner cause the foregoing Resolution to be published in Canada, and in such of the States in the P. Union as he may judge proper to the end that such Canadian refugees may be duly informed thereof.
That the papers of Canadian refugees who have applied to Congress for a settlement of their accounts be returned to them on their application, by the Secretary of Congress.
That rations be continued until the further order of Congress to such Canadian refugees (general and field Officers excepted) as are thereunto entitled by the resolution of Congress of the 9th. of August 1783.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of William Ellery, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 22, folio 225. According to the indorsement it was read this day. See post, June 7.]
The committee [consisting of Mr. Rufus King, Mr. James Monroe and Mr. William Samuel Johnson] to whom was referred A Report
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from the Secretary of the U. S. for the department of foreign Affairs of the 18th. Apl. with its inclosures submit the following Report
That it is expedient to adopt the resolve reported by the Secretary of foreign Affairs, touching the consular appointment Passed 11 May 1785 of the Sieur Ignatius Romain Chevalier D'avistay de Chateaufort.
The committee further report, that on the 14th. day of Sepr. 1781 it was resolved by Congress1--
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 25, II, folio 427. The continuation of the report, from the above point, was incorporated verbatim in the Journal of May 11, q. v. Committee Book No. 191 notes the report as transferred.
May 2: The following committees were appointed:
Of the Week: Mr. [John] Lawrance, Mr. [William] Houstoun and Mr. [James] Wilson.
Qualifications: Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [William] Grayson and Mr. J[ohn] Henry. This committee was renewed August 8. See ante, March 14.
Mr. [William] Grayson, Mr. [James] McHenry and Mr. [David] Howell, on the memorial of William Barton, dated April 28 and praying compensation for extraordinary services, etc., in opposition to the British in Rhode Island, in May, 1778. The memorial is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, I, folio 423. A report was rendered May 9 and read May 11.
Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [William] Ellery and Mr. [James] McHenry "Submitting some observations relative to the disproportion of pay between Infantry & Artillery &c." Discharged June 10; referred to the Secretary at War.
Committee Book No. 190.]
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