| 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 --THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, as yesterday.
A letter, of 18th, from the Secretary at War was read, stating that the troops at Albany under Captain Lane are not doing, and probably they will not be called upon to do, any important service; whereupon,
On motion of Mr. [Rufus] King, seconded by Mr. [Samuel] Holten,
Resolved, That the Secretary at War be authorized and directed to discharge such of the militia now in the service of the United States, as are under the command of Captain Lane, at Albany.2
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Rufus King, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, II, folio 443.]
Congress proceeded in the third reading of the Ordinance for ascertaining the mode of disposing of Lands in the western territory; and a motion was made by Mr. [James] Monroe, seconded by Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, to strike out the following clause, "The township or fractional part of a township, N. 1, in the first range, shall be sold entire, and N. 2, in the same range by lots, and thus in alternate order through the whole of the first range; the township or fractional
Page 371 | Page image
part of a township N. 1, in the second range shall be sold by lots, and N. 2, in the same range entire, and so in alternate order through the whole of the second range, and the third range shall be sold in the same manner as the first, and the fourth in the same manner as the second, and thus alternately throughout all the ranges," and in lieu thereof to insert, "The Commissioner of the loan Office in each state, shall offer for sale all the land transmitted to him, either in townships, fractional parts of townships, or in such smaller quantities as he shall find expedient; provided that he shall sell no smaller tract than one containing seven lots, except in cases wherein the fractional parts of townships shall not contain that amount."
[Motion of Mr. Hugh Williamson]
13. If any Township or Part of a Township remains unsold formonths after the Day fixed on for public Sale the same shall be disposed of in the following manner. The Commissioner of Loans after advertising such Township or Parts of Townships for a time not longer thanmonths nor less thanmonths shall proceed to sell them by Sections to the highest bidder, reserving as above reserved, provided also that he does not sell for less than one Dlr. p. Acre.
The Commissioner having described the Township offered for Sale shall sell the Sections one by one without description and the Person who gives the highest Price shall be entitled to his Choice and thus onwards. But in Cases where two or more Sections in the same T[ownship] is sold for the same Price the first Buyer shall constantly have his Choice. When any section of a T[ownship] is sold and the Money or Certificates received therefor the L. O. shall deliver a deed in the following Terms.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Williamson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, folio 31. It is undated but belongs to this period]
And on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [James] Monroe,
Page 372 | Page image
{table}
So it passed in the negative.
A motion was then made by Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson, seconded by Mr. [Joseph Platt] Cook, immediately after the words moved to be struck out, to insert, "Provided that no Commissioner shall offer a second township for sale in lots, until the first so offered shall have been all sold."1
[Note 1: 1 On this day according to Despatch Book No. 185, the petition of Thomas Walcott was received, praying compensation for pay as hospital wardman as well as steward. According to the indorsement, the petition was read May 20.]
And on the question to agree to this amendment, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson,
{table}
Page 373 | Page image
So the question was lost.
A motion was then made by Mr. [John] Beatty, seconded by Mr. [James] McHenry, to amend the succeeding clause by striking out the word "one," and in lieu thereof inserting "two thirds of a," so that it reads "price of two thirds of a dollar the acre."1
[Note 1: 1 On this date, according to the indorsement, a report from the Secretary at War, dated May 19, on the memorial of Stephen Sayre, was entered. It is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 151, folio 17. See post, May 23.
Also, another report of the same date, from the Secretary at War, on the petition of David Oliphant. The indorsement states that it was passed June 2, 1785. The report is in No. 151, folio 21. See May 16, ante.]
And on the question to agree to this, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. [John] Beatty,
{table}
So the question was lost.
Page 374 | Page image
The Committee to whom was referred the Memorial of John McKinley and the report thereon from the Board of Treasury, submit the following resolution. That the Commissioner for settling the Accounts of the Delaware State, be authorized and directed in adjusting the Accounts of John McKinley to allow him such sums of money as shall appear to have been taken or destroyed by the Enemy, and that in adjusting said accounts and ascertaining such loss he govern himself by the directions given in the fourth clause of the resolutions of Congress of the third of June 1784.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Henry, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 33. See post, May 25.
On this day, according to Committee Book No. 190, the committee of May 17 on the letter of May 17, from John Adam, was discharged and the business referred to the Secretary at War. He reported June 4.]
The Committee of the week [Mr. David Ramsay, Mr. Samuel Dick and Mr. Joseph Platt Cook] report that the petition of Jacob Fowler praying for the assistance of Congress to enable him to instruct certain Indians in reading, writing and the principles of the Christian religion be referred to a special Committee.
The Committee of the week further report, that the letter of the Secretary at War informing Congress of his having appointed Joseph Carleton Secretary and Robert Pemberton Clerk be referred to the Secretary of Congress to register their appointment.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of David Ramsay, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 32, folio 609. The indorsement states that it was agreed to. See post, May 27 and June 2. Fowler's petition, dated May 16, is in No. 42, III, folio 137. According to Committee Book No. 190, however, the Fowler petition was, this day, referred to Mr. [David] Ramsay, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [Samuel] Dick, who reported June 2.]
The Committee [consisting of Mr. John Lawrance, Mr. William Ellery and Mr. William Henry] to whom was referred the memorial of Christopher Ludwick late Superintendent of the Baking Department in the army of the United States praying a gratuity for the services rendered by him in the course of the late War, to the United States, Report--
That it appears from a certificate of the late Commander in Chief and by certificates from General officers and a certificate from the Quarter Master General, That the said Christopher Ludwick discharged the duties of his office as Superintendent of the Baking Department with the strictest integrity, was the cause of much
Page 375 | Page image
saving in that Department, and thereby rendered services to the United States, and thereupon submit the following Resolution.1
[Note 1: 1 This report, in the writing of John Lawrance, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, III, folio 623. It was read this day, according to the indorsement, and the resolve, as recommended, passed verbatim June 13. Ludwick's memorial is in No. 41, V, folio 411.]
PREVIOUS SECTION .. NEXT SECTION .. NAVIGATOR
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |