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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 --WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1785.
Congress assembled. Present, as yesterday.
The Secretary to the United States of America for the department of foreign Affairs, having communicated to Congress, a note from the Minister plenipotentiary of the United Netherlands, accompanied with two Commissions from their High Mightinesses the Lords, the States general of the
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United Netherlands, one appointing Adriaan Valk, to be their Consul for Maryland and Virginia, to reside at Baltimore, and the other appointing Jan Boonen Graves, to be their Consul for North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to reside at Charleston;
Resolved, That the said Commissions be registered in the Office of the Secretary of Congress, and that thereupon Acts of Recognition in due form be immediately issued to the states in question, in order that they may furnish the said consuls respectively with their exequatur or Notification of their quality, that the same may be made known and published.1
[Note 1: 1 These two paragraphs were also entered in the manuscript Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs, No. 5. Jay's report, dated July 13, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, I, folio 323. The resolve adopted is identical, with slight verbal variation, with that recommended in the report. "The Commissions and Note with the Translations were transmitted July 15, 1785 to the Office for foreign Affairs."]
Congress took into consideration the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. [James] Monroe, Mr. [Richard Dobbs] Spaight, Mr. [William] Houstoun, Mr. [William Samuel] Johnson and Mr. [Rufus] King, on a motion of Mr. [James] Monroe, for vesting the United States in Congress assembled, with the power of regulating trade, and the same being read,2
[Note 2: 2 See ante, March 28.]
Ordered, That it be referred to a committee of the whole.
Congress was then resolved into a committee of the whole. Mr. [Samuel] Holten was elected to the chair.
The president resumed the chair, and Mr. [Samuel] Holten reported, that the committee of the whole have had under consideration the subject referred to them, but not having come to a conclusion, desire leave to sit again to Morrow:
Resolved, That leave be granted.
The Committee [consisting of Mr. David Howell, Mr. Elbridge Gerry, Mr. Samuel Hardy, Mr. William Grayson and Mr. James
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Wilson] to whom was recommitted a report on a Letter from Baron de Steuben dated New York February 5th. 1785 and to whom was committed a Motion of Mr. [Charles] Pinckney on the same subject, beg leave to submit the following report
That in full consideration of the Baron de Steuben's having relinquished different posts of Honour and emolument in Europe and rendered to the United States most essential services, he be allowed and paid out of the Treasury of the United States the sum of 7,000dollars; and that for the conveniency of the public Finances this sum be paid at three equal instalments the first to be paid on theday ofthe second on theday ofand the third theday ofin addition to former grants.1
[Note 1: 1 This report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, V, folio 535. It is indorsed as read this day and passed September 27. The sum of 7,000 dollars was first written as 8,000 and marked over. See ante, July 7.]
The Committee [Mr. David Howell, Mr. Samuel Dick and Mr. John Lawrance] to whom was referred the petition of Marianne McClure submit the following report.
That the petition and account of Marianne McClure be referred to the Commissioners for settling the accounts of the State of New York.2
[Note 2: 2 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, IV, folio 7. The indorsement states that it was passed on this day. Committee Book No. 191 states that the action recommended was taken July 14.]
The Comee. [Mr. David Howell, Mr. Samuel Dick and Mr. John Lawrance] to whom was referred the petition of S. D. Chenaux report That the Comee. be discharged and that the petition be referred to the Board of Treasury to report.3
[Note 3: 3 This report, in the writing of David Howell, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 19, II, folio 127. It was passed this day and the action recommended was taken July 14. The name is variously written by Thomson as Duchenceaux and Du Cheneau. See ante, March 23.]
The Delegates in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania having received Instructions from the President and Supreme Executive Council of the said State to make Instant and earnest Application to the Minister of Spain for Redress of an Injury done to a Citizen of Philadelphia by the Conduct of Captain Morales in receiving on Board a Spanish Frigate and Conveying away an indented Servant the property of Mr. Thomas Shields.
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And the said Delegates conceiving that such Application cannot with Propriety be made, but by Order of Congress or by one of their Ministers or Servants:
It is therefore moved, That Congress will be pleased to cause Application to be made to the Minister of Spain for Redress of the Injury complained of by Mr. Thomas Shields a Citizen of Pennsylvania.1
[Note 1: 1 This motion, in the writing of Charles Pettit, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, I, folio 331. According to indorsement it was made this day and referred to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs to report. Committee Book No. 190 states that he reported August 16. The papers in the case are in No. 80, I, folios 329--351.
On this day, according to indorsement, was read a report of July 13 from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs on the applications for leave of absence from John M. Pintard and Thomas Barclay. The recommendation of the Secretary was adopted verbatim July 14, excepting a phrase regarding the winter season which Thomson crossed out in the report. Jay's report is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 81, I, folio 319, and is indorsed by Thomson as agreed to July 14.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, a memorial of Jonathan Phillips, of Col. Baldwin's regiment, for pay as an officer and compensation as regimental agent was this day referred to the Secretary at War to report.
Also, according to Committee Book No. 190, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs was directed to take order on his report of the 12th. of April 1785, on a memorial of Pierre Rousille. This order and copies of various papers respecting the case are entered in Resolve Book No. 123.
Also, N[icholas] Eveleigh was nominated by Mr. [Charles] Pinckney for Commissioner for the Board of Treasury in the room of Mr. [John Lewis] Gervais.]
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