| 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 --TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina; and from the state
Page 363 | Page image
of Rhode Island, Mr. [William] Ellery. and from Georgia, Mr. [William] Houstoun.
A letter, of this day, from the Secretary at War, was read, requesting permission to be absent after the 23d instant for a few weeks.1
[Note 1: 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, folio 13.
Also, on this day was read a letter from the Secretary at War dated May 17, announcing the appointment of Joseph Carleton as Secretary of the War Office and Robert Pemberton as Clerk. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, folio 9. See post, May 19.]
Resolved, That the request be granted.
The Committee of the week [Mr. David Ramsay, Mr. Samuel Dick and Mr. Joseph Platt Cook] report that the petition of Mr Walcutt of Boston praying for pay in the double capacity of Steward and Ward Master of the Continental Hospital be referred to the Committee to which was referred the petition of the Revd. Henry Purcell praying for pay in the double capacity of Chaplain and Judge advocate in the late Continental Army.
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of David Ramsay, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folios 597 and 599. It is undated but belongs to this period. See post, May 23, June 3 and September 28, 1785.
On this day, according to the indorsement, was read a letter from Stephen Sayre, dated May 16, 1785, requesting the settlement of his claim. It was referred, together with a report thereon from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [John] Beatty. This committee was renewed June 30 and a report made July 12. Sayre's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 78, XXI, folio 379.]
Page 364 | Page image
Board of Treasury, May 14th. 1785.
Sir: We find from the Journals of Congress that the late Superintendant of Finance had the power of appointing an Assistant with a Salary of 1,850 dollars and a Secretary at 1,000 dollars pr. Annum.
Tho we are by the ordinance vested with all the powers enjoyed by our Predecessor in Office, we wish not to entail an expence which at present is become unnecessary, and shall confine our selves to the appointment of a Secretary.
The former salary annexed to that Officer is not in our opinion adequate to the trust reposed in him whilst we have no assistant, as his duty will not only be of a more important and confidential nature but more extensive in its objects.
We therefore submit to Congress the propriety of making the salary of the Secretary equal to that of the Commissioners of Accounts, as we cannot for a less sum engage the services of a character we wish to employ.
If this measure tended to increase the public expense, we should not propose it, unless it was counterbalanced by obvious advantages, but when a saving will still be made of 1,350 dollars a year, and the rewards of Congress in our opinion be more equally distributed, as the services of our Secretary will probably be greater than those of any Commissioner of Accounts we request the attention of Congress to the subject.
[Note 1: 1 This letter, signed by Samuel Osgood and Walter Livingston, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress No. 140, II, folio 1. According to the indorsement it was read May 17 and referred to Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. J[ohn] Henry Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, Mr. [David] Howell, Mr. [Nathaniel] Mitchell and Mr. [William] Hindman. March 16, 1786, is noted. Committee Book 190 gives the committee on May 17 as King, Henry, Pinckney, Johnson and Howell with a note that Joseph Nourse's letter of May 18, asking for increase in salary, was referred to this committee and that the committee was renewed July 20. A note also refers to April 11 when the last named committee was appointed on a motion for reductions in the civil list.
On this day also, according to the indorsement, was read the report of the Secretary at War, of May 17, on the motion of Mr. [Rufus] King of May 11. It is in No. 151, folio 13.
Also the form of a commission for Lachlin Mcintosh as commissioner to treat with the Cherokee Indians was agreed upon. It is in No. 49, folio 283.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, the project on naval architecture and gunnery submitted by A. Almiras and Stephen Sayre was referred to the Secretary at War, who reported as to Sayre's scheme on May 19.
Also, according to indorsement, was read a petition from Jacob Fowler, dated May 16, praying an appointment to instruct the Indians of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island. See post, May 19.
On this day, according to indorsement, the report of the committee of May 13 on the petition of the Legislature of Georgia in boundary dispute with South Carolina was read. The report, in the handwriting of Rufus King, is in No. 20, II, folio 415. It was passed verbatim June 1 and is there entered in the Journal.
May 17: The following committees were appointed: Mr. [John] Lawrance, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [William] Ellery on the report of a committee on J. Garrigues' petition and the memorial of Peter Anspach for depreciation, notwithstanding settlement of accounts. See ante, May 11.
Mr. [John] Beatty, Mr. [Pierse] Long and Mr. [William] Ellery on the letter of May 17 from John Adam asking an allowance for expenses. This committee was discharged May 19 and the letter referred to the Secretary at War. Adam's letter is in No. 138, I, folio 41.
Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. [William] Grayson and Mr. [William] Hindman on the letter of May 17 from the Secretary at War with a return of names of officers in the Quartermaster and Commissary Departments. A report was rendered July 20. Knox's letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 150, II, folio 29. See ante, May 11.
Mr. [Rufus] King, Mr. J[ohn] Henry, Mr. [Charles] Pinckney, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [David] Howell on letter of May 14 from the Board of Treasury for advancing salary of their secretary. To this committee also was referred, May 18, the memorial of Joseph Nourse praying an increase of salary. The committee was renewed July 20. See ante, May 11, where this committee was appointed to consider the reduction of the civil list.
Committee Book No. 190]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |